Our society can be very cliquey and this isn't something that Christians are immune to. It's pretty textbook that people with similar interests, backgrounds and social statuses group together but when they do so to the extent that they are held in an elevated social state and other groups or individual are excluded, it becomes harmful.
There are lots of people in our society whose needs and experiences are neglected by the majority. As Christians, we shouldn't adhere to social norms which see so many shut out those who are in need, but seek them out and support them.
We learn many lessons on how to be a friend to those on the margins of society from Jesus. He was no stranger to showing his disregard for social barriers when it came to meeting with, caring for and treating those who were considered of low rank by the communities in which they lived.
Here are three simple things that you can do to show your solidarity with those who are excluded in society.
Sit with someone who's on their own
At school, in the workplace and just about every other social setting, eating on your own regularly can be a sign of exclusion. If you're at school or at work you've probably come across at least one student or colleague who is visibly lonely and left out by others. Sharing a meal with someone, even it just consists of eating your separate lunches across the table from one another and engaging in small talk, can be just the thing that someone who is left out needs.
Alternatively, there might be an elderly neighbour on your street who has essentially been forgotten or someone else who you know has been outcast. Think about how you can reach out to them to demonstrate the inclusivity of Christ's love.
Never think you can't make a difference
A lot of people avoid interacting with those who society deems deserved of the bottom rung of the social ladder because doing so makes them feel disheartened. 'How is it that some of God's children suffer so greatly?' 'How can those who hunger and thirst for righteousness while being denied it be blessed?' But our faith requires us to have hope. So even when our intervention in the lives of those who are neglected by so many others may appear futile from the outside, when we have faith we realise that our acts have great potential because of God's ability to use us to do magnificent things.
Don't let the apparent hopeless of other people's circumstances stop you from lending a hand. No matter how small your contributions, if they are accompanied with a great faith, your support can make a real difference.
Forget about your reputation
Hanging out with the "wrong" crowd aka the kind of people who aren't going to boost your street cred or make you the envy of all your peers and may even cause you to lose friends can make some people hesitant about associating with them. But if we're doing God's work, what other people think of us is irrelevant. God is the one whose judgment holds the most weight and will have the most consequential and lasting impact on our lives.
While it's tempting to hold back on helping those who are looked on unfavourably because of what other people might think of you, God's opinion of you should be your only concern. When you feel yourself moderating your urge to be like Christ and reach out, try instead to fix your mind on Him and draw inspiration from the example he set.
