Two Kinds of People

I think my pastor has always said it best: “There are two kinds of people in this world: those in Christ and those who are not. That’s it. That’s all there is.”

It’s funny how often we forget this simple truth as Christians. How often we project our insecurities, our prejudices and our judgments on others when it was never God’s plan.

His plan was not to create a people who tear each other apart and bad mouth one another; I truly believe—knowing His character as I do—that He always meant for us to love each other through life’s storms, to work through troubles as friends, and, as Paul writes in Romans 12:18, to “live at peace with everyone.”

Everyone literally means every one we come into contact with.

That’s a lot of people.

A lot of good people and a lot of not-so-good people. I know. I know the thought is overwhelming. Because I have spent years trying to live at peace with everyone. And, sometimes, I sure do fail miserably.

I really, truly have failed. And will fail.

I have failed in ways that are embarrassing and hurtful to me and to others.

I have failed people many times over.

And I haven’t always set the best example for others to follow.

I have let my pride get in the way because I don’t want to appear weak.
 And when others act foolishly, I let misunderstandings form judgments in my mind of who I think they are.

But I think the part I fail in most, is assuming that when people are harsh or rude to me, it’s a personal attack on me. Most of the time, it has far less to do with me and a whole lot more to do with them.

So, when my pastor said those wise and heart-piercing words, it put things into perspective for me.
It made me realize that there really are two different kinds of people in this world.
And on our hardest days, we have to forgive each other for our shortcomings.
And we must remember that peace is the ultimate goal when dealing with others.