Belong for His Glory

Social Belonging

As the father of a 14-year-old daughter, I’m often drawn into the delicate balancing act of guiding her through the complexities of social belonging. Her stories frequently touch on the subtle pressures from her peers—friends encouraging her to conform to the unspoken rules of their social groups. These moments remind me of the importance of instilling a strong foundation of faith and identity in her.

Our church upholds traditional values, including the belief that men and women should embrace clothing that reflects their unique God-given identities. In today’s culture, such convictions can sometimes feel countercultural, even isolating. Yet, I see these principles not as burdens but as anchors, providing her with clarity and purpose in a world with shifting morality.

As her father, my role is to fortify her spiritually—to help her navigate these challenges with grace and conviction while ensuring she doesn’t feel completely disconnected from the society in which she lives. It’s the same timeless tension we all face as believers: learning to be “in the world, but not of the world.” (John 17:14)

Social belonging can be a double-edged sword. It offers connection, support, and shared experiences but can also come with the pressure to compromise. True belonging, however, transcends these earthly groups. Belonging “for His Glory” means understanding that our ultimate identity and purpose are found in Him; from that truth, we find the strength to walk confidently in faith and community.

The Bible addresses belonging to different social groups in several ways, emphasizing unity, love, and the value of all people regardless of their background, social status, or affiliation.

Principles of Belonging

1. Unity in Christ – The Bible teaches that in Christ, all believers are united as one body, transcending social, ethnic, and cultural divisions:

• Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
• Ephesians 4:4-6: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

2. Loving All People – We are called to love everyone, regardless of their group or affiliation, reflecting God’s impartial love:

• James 2:1-4: “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”
• Matthew 22:39: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

3. Diversity in the Body of Christ – The Bible recognizes the importance of diversity within the church and values different roles and gifts:

• 1 Corinthians 12:12-14: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.”

4. Welcoming Outsiders – Believers are encouraged to welcome and include those from outside their social or cultural groups:

• Romans 15:7: “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
• Hebrews 13:2: “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

5. Avoiding Division – The Bible warns against creating factions or divisions within groups, emphasizing peace and reconciliation:

• 1 Corinthians 1:10: “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
• Romans 12:16: “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”

6. The Great Commission – Jesus commanded His followers to reach all nations and social groups with the gospel, showing that the good news is for everyone:

• Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Dangers of unhealthy forms of belonging

The Bible highlights potential negative consequences of belonging to certain groups or social circles if those affiliations lead a person away from God’s truth or righteous living. Below are a few key principles where the Bible warns against the dangers of unhealthy or ungodly forms of belonging:

1. Compromising Beliefs or Values – Belonging to groups that encourage actions or beliefs contrary to God’s commands can lead to spiritual compromise:

• 2 Corinthians 6:14-15: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?”
• James 4:4: “Don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”

The desire to “fit in” with a group can sometimes lead to forsaking God’s ways, values, or moral standards. To be “yoked” to an unbeliever means forming a close, binding partnership or relationship, such as marriage or business, with someone who does not share your faith in Christ. The term, drawn from farming, implies being bound together in a way that affects your direction and efforts. This can lead to spiritual tension or compromise because of differing values and priorities.

2. Peer Pressure and Sinful Influences – The Bible warns that associating with the wrong kinds of groups or people can lead to adopting sinful behaviors or attitudes:

• 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’”
• Proverbs 13:20: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”

Belonging to groups that normalize sin or rebellion against God can have negative spiritual and moral consequences. Some small compromises of our faith seem harmless but are subversive and can be weaponized further to support the pressure put on us to conform to sin by our peers.

3. False Sense of Security – Belonging to a group may give a false sense of security, especially when people place their trust in their group identity rather than their relationship with God:

• Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

Even religious or spiritual groups can mislead people if the focus shifts away from genuine faith and obedience to God.

4. Divisiveness and Exclusivity – While belonging can create unity, it can also lead to division and exclusivity when groups emphasize their differences or superiority over others:

• 1 Corinthians 3:3-4: “For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not mere human beings?”

Factions within the church or society can create divisions that hinder the unity and love God desires.

5. Persecution for Belonging to Christ – Ironically, belonging to Christ and His Church can lead to negative consequences in the form of persecution or alienation from the world:

• John 15:18-19: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
• 2 Timothy 3:12: “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Belonging to Christ may lead to opposition or rejection from worldly systems or groups. Though this is personally challenging, this consequence often indicates that we are one of His. Many of the disciples were imprisoned and even martyred for believing and spreading the gospel of Christ. Our commitment to Jesus will make the world hate us; once we accept this fact, we can become more effective.

6. Idolatry of Group Identity – Belonging to a group can lead to idolatry if one’s identity in that group becomes more important than their identity in Christ:

• Philippians 3:7-8: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.”

It can become a stumbling block if a group demands loyalty or allegiance that conflicts with loyalty to God. Our loyal to God must be more important than loyalty to friends, family, and even our own self will.

While belonging to a group can foster connection and purpose, the Bible warns against the dangers of groups that lead to compromise, sin, or division. Believers are called to discern their affiliations carefully, ensuring their ultimate belonging is rooted in Christ, not worldly groups that can lead them astray. By focusing on love, unity and inclusion rather than social, cultural, or economic differences, we can bridge divides, promote reconciliation and prioritize our share identity in Christ –

All for His Glory