Everyone likes to feel part of some kind of community. The old saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ would have worked out easily: in past centuries people would have asked which village you’re from. For some people ‘belonging’ may not extend beyond just their immediate family. These days we’re more likely to ‘belong’ to a neighbourhood or support a sports team… and parents can feel very much left to themselves in raising children, relying on the school to provide the community. Sadly, a growing number of people don’t feel like they belong anywhere or to anyone.
The Bible describes local church, not just as a community but in terms of a family.
Last Sunday morning we had the joy of welcoming two young men who want to make clear they ‘belong’ as they obeyed the Lord Jesus command to be baptised. It was a joy to hear some of the visitors describe our church as a being like ‘Family’. As we looked together at the Lord Jesus’ command to baptise from the end of Matthew’s Gospel account, we saw together the great promise of the Lord Jesus:
“and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt 28:20)
What binds us together as a church family, however messy, is Jesus! There couldn’t be anything or anyone better because He does not change. Everyone is very welcome! Everyone who wants to can ‘belong’ and get stuck in. That doesn’t mean turning up to everything, but like every family those who stay on the edge will feel that’s where they are. Can you get more involved? Maybe by praying or asking for prayer? Joining a House Group? Encouraging others? Ask one of the Elders what you could do.
Spencer Shaw