You are called to belong.
“That’s plain enough, isn’t it? You’re no longer wandering exiles. This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building.”
Ephesians 2:19 MSG
Rick Warren writes, “We are created for community, fashioned for fellowship and formed for a family.” None of us can fulfil our purpose by ourselves. Our relationship with Jesus is personal but God never intends for it to be private.
Following Jesus and living out purpose is to find belonging in a faith community. It’s not just about believing. The church which is that family of faith is also described as a body. It speaks of each individual being a vital organ of that body. For the body to be healthy each individual part needs to be functioning and connected.
We are created with a plan in mind and we all have a role. We miss the depth of our purpose if we don’t belong in a community of faith, a church. Organs of a body function best when they are connected to the other parts.
We need church and church needs us. What is church? Church is people. We need people and people need us.
When looking at church from a biblical perspective it is most often referred to as a specific group of people that a believer belongs to. It’s about real connections with real people in real relationships. Church is not an abstract concept, it is a group of people to belong to.
Why we need a church to belong to:
- A church family moves us out of self centred isolation. There’s no better way to practice our faith. People will bring out the best in us and expose the worst. Our flaws being exposed give us the opportunity to see growth in those areas. A life of purpose is a life lived out in the very real details of human connection.
- A community of faith will help develop a spiritual muscle. Maturity won’t develop by us being passive. Participation leads to development.
- It’s through connection with people and by being in community that we discover, develop and use our gifts. There is an assignment for every one of us. This role fits within the context of a specific group of believers.
- The church is God’s chosen vehicle here on earth. Jesus was the embodiment of God, walking amongst humanity. The church is now that visible image.
The perfect church does not exist. Why? Because it is made up of people like you and I. There is a specific group of Jesus followers for us all to belong to. Committing yourself to a church will benefit you and others.
Summary
Remember – I am called to belong.
Key Bible verse – “In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body.” Romans 12:5 MSG.
Pray – Lord, I pray for my church, the specific group of people that I belong in. Bless your church.
If you’d like to chat more about church please let me know.
Bevan
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