Recognizing Your Tribe

The reality of tribalism is both important and essential. We were not created to live alone, fully unto ourselves. Community is more than a buzzword and in the end if one misses the layered blessings of true friends found in close fellowship one has a lonely and often despairing life -wanting to be seen and heard and routinely feeling truly left out.

Oh there are pains involved in every (yes!) relationship no matter how kind, gracious, collegial they may be -yet the great worth/value outweighs the struggles.

Who shares your faith in Jesus Christ? Who loves, forgives, is willing to link and stay linked with you? Which people have the knowledge and apply it (wisdom) beyond yours? They may well be right in your local church, neighborhood or close enough you can connect on a regular basis -especially if they're the sort who speak truth to you in love.

Without such people in my life right through the years and walk with the Lord I would have surely hit far more walls in my own sin, ignorant decisions, lack and slack, that's a fact Jack!!

Leaders (in any area of leadership) within churches (regardless of form or style of fellowship) need help like all others, sometimes more so due to their influence.

Let me be clear- I'm not talking about surrounding yourself with "cronies" for example, as in a political tribe. They're defined as a friend or person who works for someone in authority, especially one who is willing to give and receive dishonest help, a "kiss-up" who will basically agree with you all the time regardless of anything, one who will silently stand by as you self-destruct. That sort of "friend" isn't who you look for in a tribe if you have any integrity at all.

In the practical, as I type this- one of my dear friends who has long blessed my wife and I with refurbished computers at zero cost is working on yet another for her as one she's used (also gifted from him!) recently gave up the ghost. The new one sports the best screen she's ever had!

After finding and befriending local musicians I was invited to join their band and learned the rudiments of most instruments I learned to play and have used to write and perform songs on for most of my life. I was 13 years old when we met. Finding a tribe committed to what you need to learn and grow in is essential.

It turned out my ability to sing became the opportunity to share my gifts with and through that little band -and set me on a musician's path of artistry/ministry ever since. Your true tribe will recognize your gifts and help enable you to share and grow in them.

Being part of God's kingdom by faith in Jesus puts one in an eternal tribe with an eternal home -THE true community with every genuine saint of God. Beyond all others, that's my tribe! I pray it would be yours -it can be.

As always, thanks for stopping by. -Glenn