Belonging is important.
I think it is fair to say that the need to belong is an inbuilt characteristic of us all. I believe that God designed us to be social beings, to be beings that value relationships, that value community.
Modern thinking recognises this:
We cannot separate the importance of a sense of belonging from our physical and mental health.
Caroline Clarke a Journalist in America said the following in a TED talk:
“The need for belonging is as foundational as the need for air”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNiGny7OlWg
Traditionally family has been a place of belonging but perhaps in recent times we have seen a breakdown of belonging in a family sense, I don’t just mean in marriage breakdowns but in who family groups interact etc.
Belonging has morphed to outside of the family, perhaps even there has become different levels of belonging, on a scary note belonging to a gang and all the entails in some cases has replaced family,
Belonging to a movement has developed. Think Stop Oil etc.
On lower levels organisations and businesses have tapped into these need to belong, supporters’ groups, exclusive members groups.
Sadly, a growing number of people don’t feel like they belong, they search for belonging but don’t find it. Loneliness, isolation are growing issues.
People don’t feel like they can belong, this can be because of perceived social differences, material differences, ethnicity etc. Basically, people can feel excluded.
But no one is excluded from joining the family of God, why, because it is not about what you have done, or what you can do, it it is about what Jesus did.
God designed us to be in relationship to be a family.
The Apostle Paul writing to the church is Ephesus says the following:
Ephesians 2:19-22
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Now consequently is one of those words that means we need to take note of what Paul had written in the verses before, Paul in the verses before had been writing about how both Jew and Gentile, essential everyone could be reconciled to God, have their relationship with God restored through Jesus (if we accept Him as our Lord and Saviour).
Verse 19 is key to us this morning:
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,
The Apostle Paul is painting a picture of followers of Jesus becoming family,
But Paul isn’t the only writer in the New Testament who speaks of family,
John 1:12
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
There are many other places in scripture that paint pictures of belonging, so if God through scripture places such an emphasis on belonging on family on community should we as a church, as followers of Jesus look to do community, to do family well?
Can the Bible offer guidance in this area, yes, for the remainder of our time together we are going to look at some of the responsibilities that we have as part of God’s family to each other:
Let’s start with some verses found in Romans 12
Romans 12:10-13
10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
There is a lot in these verses, but I want to focus on the be devoted.
When we read this, it may seem a little fluffy, perhaps a bit lovey-dovey but it is so much more than we think.
Being devoted encompasses us having concern for each other, spiritually, materially, people’s Spiritual conditional.
It models perhaps what we would consider the roles and responsibilities of a traditional family.
I want to go further and say it provides a sense of security.
So, let us dig into some of these responsibilities a little bit deeper:
1 John 3:17
17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
We are called to care for our brothers and sisters when they are in need.
We cannot, nor should we turn a blind eye.
As a church we have the welfare fund, but that doesn’t mean we just default to that. If you see a brother or sister in the church in need (not want) and you have the resources to help them, then do.
That resource may be financial, but it could also be in skills, or time etc.
Galatians 6:1-2
1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
We have a duty as followers of Jesus to look out for each other Spiritually.
Now I want to be clear, we do not need to become the “spiritual police” but if in our relationships in church we become aware that someone is drifting, sinning then we need to lovingly talk to them about it. This is hard but it is important.
Why do I think I was prompted to speak on this today?
Are we not doing this well in Living Springs?
I don’t think its about if we are doing it well, it’s about us growing.
I don’t want anyone to feel like they don’t belong. I know that this is a big ask, a big statement, but belonging is important.
