5-07-2006

Celebrating the freeing, supportive presence of God. So your experience of God may become your experience of life. It is wonderful what God can do!

“A Real Sense of Belonging”

May 7, 2006

Everyone has a natural need to belong to something and to stand for something. There are many organizational opportunities with which to take a stand, and to gain a real sense of belonging.

I was originally going to start off by naming as many organizations, clubs, societies, legions, auxiliaries, unions, churches, military and Para-military groups as I could. In less than five minutes my list was up to 30 and there was no end in sight—and this was just from memory!

     Even this morning there are those of our number who are in attendance at the annual meeting of the Rotary Club in Pennsylvania. The Rotary Club, like many others, exists for the good of the community and generates a sense of belonging to something very worthwhile.

     Other groups exist for the benefit of a defined group such as children, families, handicapped adults, disabled veterans, the blind, the hearing impaired, and various other common interests.

     Dare we say that because the church is 2,000 years old, that the very principle of belonging to a group for the good of others or a committed task, originated with the beneficial principles of the church of Jesus Christ. If you combine that with the history of the Temple, we have a continuing line of existence extending beyond 2000 B.C. (or B.C.E). That’s four thousand years of history for the benefit of others.

     Our Scripture this morning is quoting Jesus as saying, ¹⁶I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. This curious statement has long been debated, but there is one thing that seems rather evident, whatever group or individual willingly follows the commands of Jesus for the benefit of others, is a part of his fold.

     You have heard the old saying, “Birds of a feather flock together.” Whether it is birds, sheep, or human beings, we have this inclination to “flock together” with those of common interests and motivations. That’s what belonging is all about.

     Jesus addresses this concept of belonging. The author of John quotes Jesus as saying, ¹¹“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹³The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. ¹⁴I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.

     Jesus is speaking here of a unique society. He refers to it as a fold and the volunteers who have committed themselves to him as the “sheep.” In essence he is saying this “fold” is more than a fold or a group — it is also a relationship. This relationship is only partially between the sheep. It is primarily between the “Good Shepherd” and his “sheep.”

     There is a real sense of belonging brought about because of the willingness of the “Good Shepherd” to give his life in order to save his “sheep”—to give his all for their lives. There is also a real sense of belonging brought about by the depth of this relationship. Jesus describes this relationship as one of knowing. He says, “I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.”

     Very few of us would lay claim to knowing someone else as much as we know ourselves. By Jesus having the essence of God through his being, he has an amazing depth of knowledge about us—our fears, our pains, our loneliness, our gifts, our hopes, and our dreams.

     As the Psalmist says, “this knowledge is too wonderful for me, it is high, and I can not attain it.” It may be difficult to understand, but it is certainly motivating to know that our Good Shepherd, not only knows us intimately, and that we belong to him, but also that he is willing to lay down his life in order to save ours.

     Yes, everyone has a need to belong to something. The church is unique in that its founder is the Savior of the world, the son of God. Not only is the church responsible for doing and teaching the commands of Christ, but it is also responsible for the Good News—God’s grace offered freely for all who would accept it. The Church of Christ is also unique inasmuch as it not only works for the kingdom of God in helping others, but is responsible for preparing us and pointing us heavenward.

     The church must see every individual who enters as a precious child of God looking for a real sense of belonging. We must allow the Holy Spirit to work through us. We are often the very means that God has to bring about a real sense of belonging to those who are led to us.

     How well are we doing? How many of us make a dramatic effort to greet and welcome each new face that appears in our midst? This is our task as fellow sheep herders.

     Nurturing and speaking with one another is certainly an important function within the fold, but offering a visitor a sense of caring and belonging is a high priority in the mind of God. After all, we are to assume that it was God who led them to us in the first place.

     Lord, help us to see the people whom you send to us as precious nuggets of gold—valuable in your sight. Help us to love them even half as much as you do because then, we know, that they will feel cared for and gain a true sense of belonging. Amen.