A Sense of Belonging

A sense of BELONGING

1 John 2:18-19 NKJV - Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

I. Mankind needs “togetherness”.

A. We desire to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.

1. We were created to be social creatures, with a need to have association with others.

2. Genesis 2:18 NKJV - And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him."

3. God created the potential for opportunities of ALL mankind to find togetherness with others.

4. God wants his creation to take pleasure in being with others like himself - on an earthly AND spiritual level.

B. This need is often filled in unprofitable ways.

1. These connections are being made by imperfect beings, and thus many of them will fall far short of their intended purpose.

2. Even relationships such as family and church can begin well, but come short of the divine ideal in significant and harmful ways.

3. We can also seek out association with groups that might seem to have good causes, but present spiritual problems for the Kingdom Citizen because these groups represent a religion unto themselves (Salvation Army, Freemasonry, etc.).

II. Everyone BELONGS somewhere.

A. God intends for these social connections to culminate in our spiritual good.

1. Ties like marriage and family are best enjoyed in the environment of a mutual relationship with God.

2. God has given us a way to determine where we fall in life - a way to see where everyone belongs.

3. There is a certain “fit” for everyone, depending upon the stage of their spiritual growth.

4. Luke 9:62 NKJV - But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

B. Observations on 1 John 2:18-19

1. Those referred to in 1 John 2 didn’t belong where they were.

2. A paraphrase of the passage : “They went out from us, but they did not belong; if they had belonged, they would have continued with us; but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they did not all belong.”

3. There is an INCLUSION and an EXCLUSION to our communion as Christians.

4. The ACTUAL separation between Christians can come AFTER a separation in spirit has occured.

5. Thus, the physical withdrawal of someone is an inevitable outcome of a previous spiritual distancing.

6. This happens NOT necessarily because someone is “kicked out”, but because the person decides for themselves that they do not belong there.

7. We can have congregations that are split spiritually before they are EVER physically split.

C. Meaning of “belonging”

1. fit in a specified place or environment.

2. be a member or part of (a particular group, organization, or class).

3. Be the property or possession of…

III. “Belonging” in our earthly lives

A. Importance of “belonging”

1. Children - painful not to belong to the “in crowd” at school/play.

2. Might not have latest clothes, toys, etc.

3. Might have physical differences that wrongly elicit distancing from others

4. Many young people are ridiculed for seeking to be educated.

5. Some young people are singled out for undue criticism (preacher’s kids).

B. Not just belonging, but WHAT we belong to.

1. Groups we belong to might be GOOD, BAD, or NEUTRAL.

a) Gangs are a development of the “belonging” mindset at work with children.

b) Children from dysfunctional homes looking for a sense of “belonging”.

c) They undergo an INITIATION (tryouts/trial period) which forms a BOND that brings them together into a “FAMILY” where they find brothers and/or sisters with a common interest.

2. We all agree that gangs are BAD, but the same mechanics apply to many groups!

a) Many groups we might think of as NEUTRAL (civic groups, sports teams, community service organizations, Fraternities and Sororities) follow the same pattern.

b) They have an INITIATION, forming a BOND that brings them into a FAMILY.

c) NOTE: “neutral” doesn’t mean “not bad”! ANY of these groups could pose a serious spiritual threat to us if our involvement is not examined through God’s eyes.

3. The difference lies in WHAT one does to become a member, and WHAT one does and says as a member of that group!

a) For example:

i. If a prospective member is asked to swear an oath that requires them to sin (aid and abet murderers, etc.)…

ii. If a prospective member must lay in a grave all night in winter…

iii. If a prospective member is asked to spit on a cross…

iv. …that is not a group a Christian can or should belong to!

C. Not just WHAT we belong to, but what we SACRIFICE for the group.

1. Even if the group itself is not bad, if we neglect or refuse the work of God for the sake of that group, we are sinning.

2. If we are Christians, it means we must belong exclusively to God. Any other allegiance is secondary, even tertiary.

3. The problem is that so many societies/fraternities make it sound like there is nothing more important than what they have.

4. One question for the Christian who claims to be a freemason: What would you do for your Masonic brother that you would not do for your Christian brother?

IV. Spiritual “belonging”

A. The only truly GOOD “belonging” is in the Kingdom.

1. Mark 10:18 NKJV - So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.

2. This is the ONLY truly good group we can be a part of! This does not mean we cannot be in civic organizations, etc. - it only means that these organizations must be measured in light of their spiritual usefulness!

a) 1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV - For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

b) A worldly person might view some societies as a good thing, as they claim to “make good men great”. However, a Christian who studies the Bible and measures the actions required in the rituals of some groups might conclude that a Christian can have no part in such proceedings.

c) Likewise, I may be able to belong to a civic group that has a positive effect upon the community, but if time goes on and there are no evangelistic opportunities within it, and no real way to use it to encourage the members or the world to a closer identification of the Most High, I have to realize that it is not bearing any fruit for the Kingdom!

d) Same applies to PTO, sports, etc.

3. Our children need to know that the Kingdom is the most important thing in our lives.

a) Thus, when we neglect worship assemblies or bible studies to make sure we are properly involved with whatever “group” we participate in, our children learn that God’s work is not as important as the work of an earthly group.

4. May we always seek to exalt God and His kingdom above the ambition and conceit of mankind.

B. Social differences should NEVER rise above spiritual unity.

1. Even in congregations, there will arise social differences which will result in a form of separation (cliques).

2. Differences result in some people being more attentive to others because they “belong” to a certain group.

3. Those outside this association often mistakenly equate this exclusion as an intent of the church, and might even leave the Lord because of it.

a) James 2:1-4 NKJV - My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, "You sit here in a good place," and say to the poor man, "You stand there," or, "Sit here at my footstool," have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

4. In context, the poorly clad are made to feel as though they did not “belong”!

5. The consequences of “belonging” or not is the response brought upon those affected by it.

a) Here, the example is an exclusion that SHOULD NEVER happen, whereas the “exclusion” made in 1 John 2 is one where those who left recognized that they didn’t fit into the good environment the Gospel develops among brethren.

V. Belonging to GOD

A. The clearest form of “belonging” is belonging to God.

1. In 1 John, John is explicitly and repeatedly dealing with the theme of FELLOWSHIP with God and mankind.

a) 1 John 1:1-7 NKJV - That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-- the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

2. Christians are God’s “elect”, to be developed for His own possession.

a) 1 Peter 2:5-9 NKJV - you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense." They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

b) (“a people for God’s own possession” – NASV; “a people especially for God” –Weymouth)

B. God’s people belong to God - and no one else.

1. They “belong” to Him:

a) by right of purchase – Acts 20:28 “purchased” with Christ’s blood; 1 Pet. 2:9

b) by reason of “likeness”– Colossians 3:10 NKJV - and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

c) Because of the things they share as His people:

i. shared interests

ii. shared needs

iii. shared obligations

iv. shared experiences

v. shared knowledge

2. A sense of “belonging” develops among Christians because of the things we have in common.

a) In many ways, we are stewards of this “sense of belonging”!

b) How completely we feel and express this common interest with our brothers and sisters will greatly contribute to the climate of our congregation.

c) If we are detached and more invested in our “groups” than our fellowship as Christians, we will have a sterile, cold congregation that might keep up appearances of love, but will not have the closeness needed for that group to thrive.

d) However, if we put our work for God FIRST, being willing to sacrifice anything and everything for it, and making provisions to comfort and encourage our brothers and sisters in real and loving ways, nothing will be able to stop God’s work in us!

e) Is our climate one where EVERYONE feels included, and safely rely on each other to bring us closer? Or is it one where special groups drawn together by worldly interests make others feel excluded?

3. God’s people have FELLOWSHIP with Him and all who share that fellowship.

a) based on “walking in the light”... 1 Jn 1:7

b) maintained so long as we together “walk in the light”...

c) demands “abiding in the doctrine of Christ”

4. 2 John 1:9 NKJV - Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.