Us vs Them: Attitude

Prejudice.

Racial prejudice has been an issue in our nation for decades and has even crept into God’s church. Of course, there are also other kinds of prejudice.

A person is marked as prejudiced whenever they prejudge others. Think about that term: pre-judge. A judgment is made beforehand. In other words, before learning about a person an evaluation is made. The individual is ‘sized up’ so that conclusions are drawn without knowledge.

Prejudice creates an ‘us versus them’ mentality. People are categorized into two groups, those who are more like me (us) and the others (them). Such division might be motivated by opinions about skin color, clothing, employment, economic standing, one’s accent or vocabulary, one’s state of birth, current residence, political preferences, hobbies, and the list goes on.

An ‘us vs them’ attitude justifies ‘us’ looking down on ‘them’ because of the noted difference(s). ‘We’ feel more comfortable or entitled to belittle ‘them’ because ‘they’ are clearly lower or lesser than ‘us.’ We are superior.

There is no ‘us’ and ‘them’ in the church. We are all children of God. Even though God has assigned different roles there is no human hierarchy. Our leaders, that is, our elders, are members of the body of Christ. Our deacons, preacher, and teachers are members of Christ. The youngest and least experienced Christian is as much a member as the oldest and wisest.

Consider the following Scriptures that emphasize our oneness:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

--Galatians 3:28

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 

--1 Corinthians 12:13

Speaking of our renewal in Christ, Paul wrote that…

...There is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Sythian, slave and freemen, but Christ is all, and in all.

--Colossians 2:11

It was told Jesus that his mother and brothers wished to see Him.

But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” 

--Luke 8:21

Without any further distinction or qualification...

But as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right to become children of God even to those who believe in His name.

--John 1:12

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God...The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. 

--Romans 8:14, 16

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

--Galatians 3:26

In Christ’s church, there is no ‘us’ and ‘them.’ Such an attitude causes strife and left unchecked, ends in division. Guard your attitude regarding your fellow saints in Christ. Remember that, even though we may differ in many ways, we are all children of God, and God makes no distinctions.

Mark Stinnett

May 24, 2026