OUR COMMON FAITH - The Elite Or The Elect?
by Pastor Ron Gatrelle

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Us four and no more?" That statement is the label which has been attached to those individuals or groups who appear to or actually put themselves forth as the only ones who are going to make it to heaven.

None of us like those churches or individuals who come across as if they are better or the only ones who are going to make it. But you know, most of us have come across this way at one time or another. Catholics, Protestants, Pentecostals--we all think that our group is the only one which really has it straight.

So where did this elitist attitude come from?

A lot of it is due to our American root-for-the-home-team mentality. You know, the "my country, state, town, family, team" thing. But it also comes from a misapplication of our Christian upbringing. That's right. You see, Christianity teaches that it is the only way to heaven and that Christians are the "elect," the chosen few. Christianity, like most other religions, is a (gulp) "us four and no more" religion.

What we have here is a real paradox and a real problem.

The problem is an elitist attitude which nobody likes, turns people off, and all Christians should be against. The paradox is that by nature Christianity is, in fact, an us four and no more religion.

The key in making sense out of all this is in realizing that the undesirable ELITIST attitude comes from the worldly "my team" environment, while the state of being the ELECT is by the grace of God. Thus, being of the elect does not make one of the elite!

Our common faith is narrow-minded in that it sees only Christianity as the possessor and dispenser of saving faith, but it is not elitist! Any elitist attitude among Christians, between denominations, or towards non- Christians is not a part of our common faith. A Christian is such only by the grace of God. The attitude of one of The Elect is that of gratitude toward God and mercy toward those who are outside the household of faith and says, "There, but for the grace of God, go I."

This is the attitude of our common faith.