Belong or Believe?

fear we have a number among us, maybe many, who are not truly saved.  Why do I suggest such? Because people can learn the lingo, walk the walk, graciously give, joyfully serve, a zealous student of the Bible, submissive to leadership and “love” Jesus.  People can look very much like Christians – even like very strong Christians!

Elaine M. was a model Christian in one of my churches.  She seemed or appeared to be everything that Scripture called for and all that Christians and even non-Christians thought should mark a Christian. She appeared to be compliant to Scriptural charges such as those found in Colossians 3:12-15, Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Merciful, kind, humble, meek, patient, forgiving, loving, peaceful, a team player, and thankful!

She appeared to be all these and doing so with joy.

Then one day she rose during an open testimony time to announce to the entire church family that she had just accepted Jesus as her Savior.  She had learned from years in SS, from a Godly home, from a lifetime in a good church what God expected.  All but one thing!  A saving faith.

She did not have a transformational confession of sorrow for her sin and rebellion and a statement of belief that Jesus died in payment for her sin with a public statement of faith in Jesus.

At that time she “accepted Jesus” she moved from a belonger to a believer.  Before that she was but a belonger – greatly loved and, by most, wrongly considered a believer.

Judas was one of the twelve specially set apart by Jesus for training to be the foundation for His church (Ephesians 2:20) and was empowered to cast out demons, heal, and preach just like the others and he was even the “church treasurer,” (John 12:6)!   BUT, he was NOT saved (John 17:12)!

When he was pointed out by Jesus as the betrayer, the others were so convinced he was a believer that they didn’t grasp that Jesus had just called him only a belonger – not a believer.

Luke 13:26-27, You will begin to say, “We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.” But He will say, “I tell you I do not know you.”

I John 4:19, 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.

Luke 18:8, “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

The danger for all of us is that we consider someone a believer when they are only a belonger.  So a person joins us and over some months and years become very much a team player in that they are faithful in attendance, give money, come to conferences and non-routine events, maybe even teach SS and serve on a music team.  They are belongers and all are very glad they are.  But, are they believers?

So what should mark a believer?  Words and attitudes such as: Jesus, sin – my sin, sorrow that Jesus had to suffer and die because of me, humility, amazement, love for His church, forgiveness, giving, seeking forgiveness, confession, love for His commandments (I John 5:13), deep genuine joy, acceptance of pain, loss, and injustice with a confidence that God is still good and ruling.