Why do people form cliques?

[Catsmeow]

Wouldn't you say that this kind of behavior within a clique isn't Christian-like? I say it's not Christian-like at all.

What do you think?

Kat

KitKat: Maybe we're the only two on the planet...I dunno...but I'm with you. I hate them. I think they're hurtful and I see them all the time at churches and my husband and I inevitiably leave churches because we feel excluded because of the "group" mentality.

I know all the excuses for them but they just make many people feel like out outcasts.

[AllforJesustheLord]

People need to have love, and many times they are not willing to turn to God, and thus the people groups who favor them, they turn to them.

[Guest kitkat]

Hello Kitkat

Cliques are a form of mini community and most people are attracted to community. those within a clique do not necessarily think they are superior to others they can form when people who have the same feelings come together for mutual support and encouragement. Of course cliques can be made up of people who do think they are superior to others and will keep others out as long as they think they do not measure up. That

[Guest kitkat]

what are some of a persons hobbies?

coin collecting?

stamp collecting?

R-C modeling?

Bible Studies?

horseback riding?

singing?

a person can go on and name more and more and more....

as was stated, a clique is a group of people that have things in common and like doing the same thing.

unfortunately, there are some cliques that their common interest is gossip, or elivating them selves above others...... the Bible speak about both of these.

now, would a person that is into R-C modeling feel at home going to a meeting where the coin collectors are meeting? talking about coins? their interest is not in R-C Modeling, but in coins, and the modeler has no interest in coins, so he (or she) want to attend meetings? on the other hand, you have the R-C Modeler that also likes Bible studies as does some of those from the Coin Club, now they are on common ground, and they are talkingabout the same thing and even on the same page....

how many cliques do you belong to that you are unaware that you do????

are your cliques uplifting? or tearing down.....

some times a person just stands at the edge of a clique also, where they do not really go all the way in, but are still concidered one of the group by others outside the group...... sometimes this is the own persons doings, other times it is the group checking out the person to see if they will allow this person to become a full member of their group or not...... and other times it is done in jest, to tease the person into thinking they are being welcomed but really are not.

other examples of cliques: Church Choir, Praise and Worship team, Home Visitation team, Deacons, Board of Trustees, Pastors ( yes, they are a clique, by lifting each other up and supporting them and getting support from each other and such ), we also have the clique of sunday school teachers, and the clique of sunday school students ( I have even identified myself as one that goes to Robins Class, others may say I go to Ken Rileys Class, and so forth...... )

the best clique to belong to is the one that says:

WE FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST, WHO IS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, THAT CAME TO THIS EARTH TO SHOW US THE WAY TO THE FATHER, THAT WE MAY NOT BE LOST TO HELL THAT WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE THRU HIM(JESUS)..... so forth and so on......

which cliques do you belong to, and what is that clique all about???? up lifting or tearing down....

mike

My mother and dad and I left a church and just quit for a while when I was still at home, because the church we had been attending was full of cliques. We attended that church for several years before we left, thinking if we just gave it more time, we would become more acquainted or would feel like we fit in with that particular church. We did have friends there that we made during the time we attended, but even those friends were into cliques that we weren't a part of. I really think this is a common problem in most churches and that's too bad, because for a newcomer that may not be saved, they may be needing to feel accepted by the people of the church as well as feeling accepted and saved by Jesus. I've seen some of my friends go to a church where they were snubbed and the cliques just made them quit going and the sad part about that is, I felt that I helped lead someone to the Lord that this happened to, to a church I recommended to them.

I understand what you're saying about interest groups with things in common. When I played golf, I hung around the golf course and made friends with people that played golf. It makes perfect sense to want to be around those that share the same interests you have and golfing here is just one example of the interests I have.

As far as belonging to a clique, I can honestly say that I don't. The friends that I have are friends that are willing to open up to others and let them in and I feel the same way also. As far as I know, none of us feel threatened that our friendship would be in jeopardy if we allowed other people into our lives as friends.

God Bless,

Kat

[Guest kitkat]

I teach the 10-12 year olds at church and we actually talked about cliques last month.

The question we had was "Are all cliques bad?" the answer is "Yes"

Christians should not be part of a clique. Sure, we are going to hang out with people that we have developed close relationships with and have similar interests to ours, BUT if we do not allow others to join our group, it is wrong.

As Christians we should be accepting of ALL people, not just people like us. We should be approachable.

I can honestly say that we do not have "cliques" at my church. Anyone who walks in our church is immediately welcomed and they can talk to anyone. It is awesome, the love that my church has for others.

Great Topic Kat! :hug:

Debbie

Called, you have definately found a great church, if you've found one without cliques and I totally agree with your post here.

God Bless,

Kat

[Kay]

Kat

Wow what a thought. I have been thinking about my life and if this is something I need to work on. I look at my former church and think; maybe that is whyI didn't fit. I am a square peg so to speak. Jesus went for the unlovely, He loved everyone without a clique. He had his disciples which He was training up to teach HIS word after calvary. You know they were the closest to HIM. But a clique? I don't think so in looking at the situation.

When questions like this are posed I tried to see how Jesus lived, His style. And HE LOVES everyone and welcomes everyone in.

So to have a clique as you already said, is not what we christians should do

Love

K

[Guest dollface]

do you have a family clique. Is there someone in your family that is excluded? :il:

[Guest kitkat]

Hi Kitkat,

I don't understand cliques. I have never belonged to one. I do understand good friendship though. I think, sometimes, we feel there are Cliques because people talk to the same people more than they do others. I believe that is because they have known some longer than others have. I don't think they are keeping people out. They just know the other one's interests more than newer people. It is not that anyone is keeping newer people out.

Take our "mod squad" for instance. Sometimes it seems like they are a

[Guest kitkat]

do you have a family clique. Is there someone in your family that is excluded? :il:

Maybe, at times. With four girls in our immediate family, there's always been sibling rivalry and I suppose at times, there always will be. I think at different times each one of us has felt left out for some reason or another, especially if there has been a misunderstanding of some sort and sides are taken, but that has gotten better than it was before, because I think we've all grown in the Lord and have learned to be more united. I was the youngest of the family and quite a bit younger than my sisters, so they had more in common with each other at certain times in their lives than they did with me.

God Bless,

Kat

[Guest kitkat]

Kat

Wow what a thought. I have been thinking about my life and if this is something I need to work on. I look at my former church and think; maybe that is whyI didn't fit. I am a square peg so to speak. Jesus went for the unlovely, He loved everyone without a clique. He had his disciples which He was training up to teach HIS word after calvary. You know they were the closest to HIM. But a clique? I don't think so in looking at the situation.

When questions like this are posed I tried to see how Jesus lived, His style. And HE LOVES everyone and welcomes everyone in.

So to have a clique as you already said, is not what we christians should do

Love

K

That is absolutely right Kay. If we apply what Jesus would do in this circumstance and all other circumstances and follow that, then we can know that we're doing the right thing. Deep down inside I know that my conscience always lets me know when I'm doing something that is wrong, even if it is a minor thing. Sometimes I ignore that and that's something I need to correct in myself as well.

Much love in Christ,

Kat

:hug: