September 2026 Connection

In August’s Connection newsletter, I shared with you the “Three B’s” of church engagement and discipleship. The three B’s – Believe, Behave, and Belong – are the operational order in which the church has historically sought to “make disciples of Jesus Christ.” That said, the traditional ordering of the B’s has come under the microscope and the church is starting to explore if there is a better way forward. If you haven’t had the chance to read the August Connection article, I would encourage you to do so.

                                           August Connection Newsletter Article

As I take time over the next three months to articulate the Three B’s, I want to start the reordering of the B’s with “Belong” coming first.

To articulate why I believe the first of the 3 B’s ought to be “Belong,” perhaps the best place to begin is with what Jesus names as the greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37, 39, NIV). Immediately, what I notice is that Jesus is pointing to God’s relational nature. God desires for us to be in relationship with God and in relationship with one another. One of the most meaningful ways we can do this in our communities is by creating spaces of belonging. When we feel as though we belong, we feel loved, we feel seen, and we feel valued.

When the church places belonging after “believe” and/or “behave,” we inadvertently place conditions on belonging. In other words, we tell others (those we seek to disciple) that they can belong in the Christian community if – and only if – they meet conditions of belief (often what we’d call “orthodoxy”) and expectations of behavior (I’m really looking forward to sharing more about behavior in a couple of months!). While this leads to a much more homogenous community, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the kind of community and relationships Jesus encourages (see Luke 19:1-10; Matthew 9:10-13; etc.).

So, what happens when we reorient our B’s? What happens when we prioritize “belonging” ahead of belief and behavior? Practically, it means that we intentionally create a community founded on the Christian faith that will include (and I use that word intentionally) those who may not yet claim for themselves the Christian faith. It means that worship may not initially be valued by everyone in the church. It also means that there will be those who feel as though they belong, and yet their behavior may not yet match that of a Christian disciple.

Pardon the interruption:
I want to say a quick word about “behavior.” When I talk about “behavior” of a Christian disciple, I’m not talking about whether or not someone should get a tattoo or enjoy a glass of cabernet. Certainly, there are some church communities that hold certain cultural expectations based on cultural mores, and I’ll address that further in a couple of months. But for now, it’s best to understand “behavior” in terms of Christian discipleship as actions and lifestyle that reflect love of God and love of neighbor (or lack thereof).

Okay, we’re back to “belonging.” Jesus invites us to be relational, the love our neighbor and to make space for one another.I have always been so grateful for the way this congregation here in Grand Blanc continues to do this, and yet it can be something that we need regular reminders of. Why? Because at every turn, the world tells us not to.

So, what then with “behaving” and “believing”? What place do they have? Do they still matter? ABSOLUTELY THEY DO! They come next. God begins with relationship. Then, and only then, does God begin to help us to grow and become who we are created to be!

We are met together…
And in meeting we are blessed.

-Pastor Brian