Nobody likes to be left out. There is a very subtle but very powerful influence on us to fit in with the group. If we are excluded, we tend to migrate to another group that will proclaim “We never want to be with those folks in the first place!”
But that isn’t true. We want to belong. To be
accepted. Part of what C.S. Lewis called the Inner Ring. Those that are “In”.
We may want to be
there but it might not be where Christ is.
Therefore Jesus also, that He might
sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So,
let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.
Hebrews 13:12-13
Christ’s mission required him to not follow
the norm or go with the crowd. His sacrifice required him to ‘go outside the
camp’. Not to do what had always been done. Not to please the keepers of
the status quo. Not to be like everyone else. He had to set out to go a way
that had not been done.
And that way can be
lonely.
Many a time we leave Christ, so we can stay
with the crowd. We pick popularity over piety. Belonging over boldness. Status
over service. Our commitment stops when
we have to step outside the camp.
It may bring us reproach
among the crowd to follow Christ but it will bring us to a better group, the
Faithful.
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