Over the past few months, situations have arisen that have sparked conversations with friends and certain family members about how we treat one another, especially as Christians. Just the other day I shared with another gal that, “Some of the worst treatment I’ve received is from Christian women.” And that’s how the topic of this write-up came about.

Here’s a scenario: A group of women get together once monthly for lunch. Let’s say they’re mothers and daughters. The daughters are hoping to introduce their moms to others for companionship – and it works. The moms begin doing things together… but then a clique arises out of the group of moms.
What’s a “clique?” Miriam-Webster defines it like this: “a narrow exclusive circle or group of persons.” The Cambridge Dictionary adds a bit more to the definition: “a small group of people who spend their time together and do not welcome other people into that group.” By a more modern term, they could be called “mean girls.”

Continuing with the scenario: The clique of moms begins lunching weekly, separately from the main group. Then one day a couple of the main group moms show up at the clique’s weekly lunch, but they’re not greeted pleasantly because the clique wants to be exclusive.
Is that Christian like behavior?

Let’s say you’ve hired someone to do some work around your home, but a conflict arises, so you reach out through a text to try to sort it out. But then your handling of the situation is not so great, and the person just really doesn’t want to deal with you anymore. So, instead of apologizing, you resort to threats and ultimatums.
Is that Christian like behavior?

When someone answers the Lord’s call and turns to Him, they often have a lot to learn as a Christ follower – a lot of “stinking thinking’” that needs to be turned around. Is it biblical not to be accepting of new sister- or brother-in-Christ just because that person may have some life issues to work through? Should that person be shunned by more seasoned Christians (a clique of “righteousness”) as too much drama.
Is that Christian like behavior?

And it’s not that, as Christians, we have to like everyone, but when we’re greeted with a smile or a hello, should that simple greeting just be ignored? Do you walk by someone you’re acquainted with but who you don’t really like and greet them with a blank stare or just walk on by?
Is that Christian like behavior?

What if a fellow Christian has some habits that you’re not fond of? Maybe it’s the music they listen to or the food they eat. Maybe it’s tattoos or their choice of clothing. Should people be poo-pooed just because they do things different than you?
Is that Christian like behavior?

When the Lord brought Simon Peter and Cornelius together in Acts Chapter 10, through their story scripture teaches us the new dimensions that the Lord brought between the Jews and Gentiles – the New Covenant brought through Jesus.

               “So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that
God shows no partiality,”
Acts 10:34 – ESV
…
“While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.
And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were
amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.”
Acts 10:44 – ESV

The Apostle Paul called out two women in the Philippian church because of their disunity. This article from The Gospel Coalition has a great explanation as to why https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/apostle-paul-called-two-women-church/. I love that the writer states, “They can be sisters and not be the same.”

During the last several weeks at my home church, Calvary https://calvaryaz.com/, we’ve been studying Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,  faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such thing there is no law.”

These verses are known as the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:16 (ESV): “You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?”
Here’s what that means https://www.gotquestions.org/you-will-know-them-by-their-fruit.html.
And here’s a great article from Compassion International about fruit of the Spirit https://www.compassion.com/christian-faith/fruit-of-the-spirit.htm#:~:text=Paul’s%20writing%20about%20the%20fruit,things%20there%20is%20no%20law.
And again, from Got Questions.org, a wonderful explanation of what Christian behavior entails, https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-behavior.html.

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith
but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in
daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace,
be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things
needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith
by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
James 2:14-17 – NIV