The “WE” vs. “THEY” Mentality

The “WE” vs. “THEY” Mentality

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank You, that I am not as other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.” – Luke 18:10-14

This parable shows a typical “we” vs. “they” mentality that is not unique to just this story. We can pick up this mindset in conversations, sermons, and in Bible studies whether at church, on the radio or on television. Today it is perhaps said in more subtle terms but the meaning is the same. One often hears the word “nominal” used in reference to others who are not of their fellowship or church. The meaning of “Nominal” is in name only. This is quite a judgment-call on the part of the one who uses the term towards others. Down deep you might find pride the motive behind such a judgment. It comes across as a put-down of the one/ones referred to. With some this is even sub-consciously set in their minds. It has been a part of their church-culture and they don’t even realize its implication.

Do these words sound familiar to you: "I am quite sure no Israelite in the days of Israel's prosperity ever had a more certain conviction that he belonged to a peculiar people whom the Lord had chosen for His own, than I did. There was for me an absolute break between "us" and anybody else. This phariseeism was never taught me, nor encouraged directly by anybody, but I none-the-less had it. If I had anything in the world to glory over it was that I was a Quaker. Others about me had a good deal more that was tangible than I had. Their life was easier, and they did not have as hard a struggle to get the things they wanted as we did. But they were not the chosen, and we were! As far back as I can travel in my memory, I find this sense of superiority---a sort of birthright into Divine grace and favor. I think it came partly from impressions I got from traveling Friends, whose visits had an indescribable influence upon me. It will, of course, seem to have been a very narrow view, and so it was, but its influence was decidedly important to me. I belonged to God's own people; out of all the world, we had been selected to be His, and that His wonders had been worked for us showed we were the objects of His special love and care.

So certain were the "Friends" that theirs was the true faith set forth in the Bible and preached by the Apostles that in speaking of it, they always in my day called it “The "Truth," with a capital "T," and spoke of the religious work as the "service of The Truth". With the unquestioning faith of childhood, I fully believed all this, and grew up with the distinct idea that we "Friends" had a monopoly of "The Truth," with a strong emphasis on the definite article, which differentiated it entirely from the holding of one truth among many. Ours was the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and could not be improved upon. Such was my idea in the days of my youth."

Does the above have a familiar ring to it? Does it describe how you feel about your beliefs and those with whom you meet? I would ask you to replace the word "Quaker" with whatever name your religion is known by and then see if it still applies. The above quotation is from a book entitled "The Unselfishness of God," and was written by Hannah Whitall Smith.

What is the lesson here? Clearly it is that to have the attitude that we have the "one and only" religious truth and are the only group with which God is dealing is to have the attitude possessed by the Pharisees of Jesus' day. It has in it the spirit of pride and is condescending in its attitude towards others outside our small "circle of belief". It is to have the spirit of sectarianism, which the Apostle so strongly condemned. Any group of believers who polarize around any other person than the Lord Jesus Christ should carefully examine who it is they are following. Christ is not divided! This point was very strongly emphasized by the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor 1:10-15, "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul;" another, "I follow Apollos;" another, "I follow Cephas;" still another, "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name."

It should be noted that if we are not following Christ and Christ alone, then we are following man. Any religious group that bases its doctrines and beliefs on the writings of any other source than the Word of God, the Bible, falls into the category of the Apostle Paul’s clear warning in the above Scriptures.

It is possible to be mentally in bondage to a religious group and their beliefs and not realize it. Any group that frowns upon or discourages expression of thought other than the accepted doctrine is sectarian in nature. The definition of a sect is “a religious denomination or group of people having a common philosophy of beliefs." “Sectarian” is defined: “of or devoted to a sect; narrow-minded.”

If acceptability among your group is dependent upon uniformity of belief to the "accepted" doctrines and teachings, then there is a binding pressure of conformity ever present in that group or sect.

It is so easy for pride to slip into our minds if we are not on the alert against Satan’s wily fiery darts. It is said that pride is seen by everyone else before its possessor is aware that he/she has it. Pride is always associated with self. Some symptoms of pride are: exclusivity, feelings of superiority, the tendency to find fault with others, a closed-mind attitude, boastfulness, quickness in ridiculing others who disagree with them, believing that knowledge is the most important thing, ingratitude, an unwillingness to accept gifts from others, lack of concern with the needs of others, self-centeredness, self-satisfaction, self-seeking. And more could be added to the list of symptoms of this sin-sickness that God hates most of all. In Proverbs 6:16-19, Pride heads the Lord’s list: “These six things the LORD hates: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren.”

We find a very wise teaching in 2 Corinthians 10:12 by the Apostle Paul: “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: for they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” This is clearly warning us that man’s standard of measurement is faulty and inaccurate. If we become satisfied with our Christian walk by measuring our progress with others around us, it is not only unwise, there is a great potential for laying ourselves open to the ugly work of the flesh, pride. Jesus tell us in Matthew 7:16 and 20 the only way we are to look at our brethren and the only measurement or standard is to be by their (spiritual) fruit which Paul outlines for us in Galatians 5. Yes, “You shall know them by their fruits.” “Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.”

E. Weeks

“The life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ is a rebuke to every form of pride to which men are liable.” Gospel Message



Source: THE NEW CREATION magazine, Jan/Feb 2006 issue. Used by permission.