Have you ever had a natural gas leak in your home or office?
Gas leaks can be deadly, you know. They are invisible, they are poisonous, and left untreated, they can kill with deadly force.
It's the same with church cliques. They are invisible, they are poisonous, and left untreated, they can kill with deadly force. The problem is, lots of people claim they can identify a clique at their church…but almost NOBODY would ever admit to being a part of one.
So let me offer this three-part exam to help you assess yourself.
Number 1: If you have ever secretly regretted someone else being a part of a church project or ministry that you're working on, you might be part of a clique.
Number 2: If you honestly (but quietly) resent it when new people come join your circle of friends at church, you might well be a part of a clique.
Number 3: If you cannot recall inviting someone newer to your church over for dinner…or to a social function of any kind…you might just be part of a clique.
Cliques, by the way, are rarely the product of intentional design. They are, rather, the byproduct of an unchallenged—even sanctified—selfishness. Nor are they new.
Church cliques go all the way back to the first church. Paul took a look around and observed rather bluntly that “Some were of Apollos. Some were of Cephas. Some were of Paul.” But Paul made it quite clear that such cliques were unacceptable.
So how could we possibly be so unaware of them creeping into our churches? And how could we possibly allow them to flourish…through our own participation?
Any time… any thought… any word or any action excludes any one…it's a clique. Meaning a clique could be made up of just two. So let me ask you—honestly. Are you part of a clique? Or are you moving away from a clique? Only one of those two statements can be true about you.
There will be no cliques in heaven.
There ought not to be cliques on earth.