We are “Gangsters”?

When you read the title of this post you might be wondering, what’s he talking about, I’m not in a gang.

Well, since my job gives me the opportunity to take classes on different areas of law enforcement, I have been able take some classes on gangs. There are several shows on TV that talk about what gangs are but nothing is as good as the real thing. I have noticed in the classes I have taken the teachers always mention that once people join a gang they are told that they have a new family now. They think that the “gang” will be there for them through thick and thin. For the most part, what they are saying is true. They are there for each other, until they tell on each other because they don’t want to go to jail.

Georgia law says that a street gang means: any organization, association or group of three or more persons associated in fact, whether formal or informal which engages in criminal gang activity. With the defintition of a gang fresh in your mind let’s look at Mathew 18:20. It says: For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them. It sounds a little like the gang law doesn’t it? Minus the criminal aspect, we as Christ followers are in a gang according to the Georgia law. But here is the big question, do we act like we are in a gang with other Christ followers? No. What do we do when someone is in trouble or falls spiritually? We kick them to the curb, talk about them, make fun of the troubles they are in and we don’t treat them like one of our “gang” members.

We could learn alot from the gang culture. People join gangs because they are looking for acceptance from someone and the gangs will accept them. We as Christ followers need to help each other when we are going through tough times. We need to love on our brothers and sisters in Christ not talk about them. We need to help them when they are down and accept them into the family regardless of their problems. Let’s be more like “gang” members, and accept more people so they can feel like they are a part of the Lord’s gang!!