How to Push Back Against the "Us Vs. Them" Mentality

We are living in a divided world. Join us today for an important conversation about how to push back against the “Us Vs. Them Mentality.”

How to Push Back Against the “Us Vs. Them” Mentality

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 22:39

Mom’s Thoughts on How to Push Back Against the “Us Vs. Them” Mentality

I played volleyball in high school, and there was an ongoing rivalry between the volleyball players and the cheerleaders. The volleyball players often made snide remarks about the cheerleaders’ outfits and peppy cheers, and the cheerleaders rolled their eyes and cracked jokes about the sweaty, muscular volleyball players.

Looking back, it seems ridiculous that we couldn’t embrace our differences and get along. Sadly, the same “us and them” mentality that led to the division between the cheerleaders and the volleyball players plays itself out in destructive ways in many realms of life.

Our world would be drastically different if we all learned to set aside the “us and them” mindset. The next time you feel yourself judging someone who is different from you, remind yourself that we are all much more alike than we are different.

Some Christians subconsciously adopt an “us and them” mindset toward those who have not received Jesus as Savior. It’s important to remember that even people who have not received Jesus as Savior are on a journey with God. They are either moving closer toward a life-changing encounter with Jesus or moving away from him. Rejecting people who don’t know God won’t lead them to an encounter with him. Instead of rejecting these people, God wants us to share his love and compassion with them.

Jesus is calling us to make disciples, and disciple-making begins when we realize we are all in the same boat. We’re all in need of a Savior, and Jesus is the answer for every person. Instead of focusing on our differences, imagine the work God might do if we learned to set aside the “us and them” mentality and, instead, set out to help others move closer toward Jesus.

Instead of focusing on our differences, imagine the work God might do if we learned to set aside the “us and them” mentality and, instead, set out to help others move closer toward Jesus. #unity #girltogirlbook Click To Tweet

Girl to Girl:

God loves everyone. He also wants us to be loving toward each other. He’s not talking about a mushy, romantic kind of love; instead, he wants us to love one another by showing kindness.

What does this kind of love look like? Well, maybe there’s someone in your school who no one really likes or talks to. You could share God’s love and kindness by befriending that person.

Some kids don’t want to reach out to others who are different because they’re afraid people will think they’re weird. I understand, but it’s important to remember that leaders aren’t afraid of being different from the crowd.

Be a leader and be kind to the kids who are often rejected by others. Try to spend your time with different people and include those who often seem left out. Aim to be kind to everyone. Your true friends will understand, and you’ll make an impact on everyone who notices your kindness—even those who don’t know how to respond.

Talk About It:

Are there any kids at school or in your community who feel like “them” to you? What is God showing you about these kids?
We are all on a journey with God, and your role is to help others move toward God. How does this mindset help you move away from an “us and them” mentality?

Pray Together:

Father, help us love all of your children as you love them. We pray for tender hearts and ask you to fill us with your love in such a way that others are drawn closer to you through us. Amen.

Journal Later:

Right now, ask God to show you the face of someone in your life who is different from you—someone who feels like “them” and not “us.” Ask God to shift the way you see this person and help you to see this person as “us.” Write about one way you could reach out to this person in a gesture of kindness this week.

Check out our mother-daughter devotional book!

This post was modified from the mother-daughter devotional book we wrote together! It’s called Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, commentaries from both of us, conversation starters, and even a journaling section. We had a blast writing it, and we are so excited to share it with you. You can buy it right here.