Living as an "Other"

Our society is very individualistic when it comes to a great many things.  We are encouraged to buy things to our desire, to make us happy, and to even make us more appealing.  Each person even has a right to their own opinion (even if some beat your opinion to the ground).  Our society strives to produce people who can live on their own.

Many people are placed into a category based on their views.  For example, are you liberal or republican, believer in God or atheist, rich or poor, beautiful or ugly.  We do this from the sight of a person, to the questions we ask them.


Every person has a job to do in society to provide the greater good for oneself.  Within this society, we have an obligation maintain our rights, our beliefs, and our individual place in society.  One question that I have been asking myself is how does a Christian live in society?

One answer, which seems to be the most common, is to live life teaching people about the love of God.  This seems like a difficult task living in a society based on mere opinions over facts, and individual goods over the good of others.  It's even more difficult for Christians when it comes to our beliefs in the public society.  How are Christians to represent themselves?

I have been wrestling with this question for awhile.  Not only is this a difficult question that the church in general should answer, but how each individual person should live.  If the church is called to minister the grace and love of God, how does a mere college student take these steps.  What if a person is a truck driver, doctor, firemen, or even someone living on the streets without anyone there for them?  If you ask any typical Christian, the goal would remain the same- minister the love of God.

What if there is more to this idea of ministering the love of God than one thinks?  Often, this answer is interpreted as telling someone about God's great love.  But, what if telling people about God's love is not enough?  We often then hear that it depends on our actions. 

James 1:27 have been two verses that have stuck with me the entire semester this year.  Verse 27 says,  "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."  What if living as "other in society meant living different than society teaches.  What if categories, individualism, and mere opinions did not rule our lives, but living a life of love toward those in need?


I do not believe this passage only refers to taking care of the economic poor alone.  But, loving those who are emotionally poor as well.  This is a true religion that is bent on service and love for others.  This involves living differently than society.  James calls for the church to live differently, or other than, society.