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Tribalism affects many areas of life, but perhaps it affects politics the most. People are less interested in hearing the truth, and more interested in their side winning. This is readily apparent when a person uses the term “we” to describe a victory (as we do also with sports teams). This happens because our identity is in these “tribes”, whether we are aware of it or not. Having my identity in Christ and not in a sports team, religion, political party or other agenda has helped me to stay objective, and I no longer become offended by things…..Chris Collins.
Chris posted this on facebook recently. Thank you Chris. You are the inspiration for this study.
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There is simply no single group or organization that can contain Christ, or even contain the Christ in you! ___________________________________________________________
In the Old Testament, success with God meant being a part of the tribe of Israel, a partaker of the promise God made with Abraham and his descendants.
Genesis 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your seed after you in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto you, and to your seed after you.
The mentality that belonging to the tribe of Israel indicated spirituality was pervasive in Israel at the time Jesus walked the earth. Here’s what John the Baptist said to those that thought this way.
Matthew 3:9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father; for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Jesus brought a new spiritual reality. This new spiritual reality did not make him popular with the religious establishment.
John 8:39, 40 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said unto them. If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I have heard of God; this did not Abraham.
The truth is that the promise of God to Abraham and his seed was through Christ, and not the physical tribe of Israel.
Galatians 3:14, 16 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He said not, “And to seeds,” as of many; but as of one, “And to your seed,” which is Christ.
Today, and forever, the true tribe of God are those born of the spirit of Christ. In Christ, we also are of the seed of Abraham, and partakers of the promise of God.
Galatians 3:18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid; for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture has concluded all (of the law) under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
This is what Jesus meant when he said in:
Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter in the kingdom of heaven.
The scribes had the law committed to memory. The Pharisees were the interpreters of the law. These groups, or tribes, knew the law, knew the Word of God, knew the Bible. But that is not what God is after. Entering into heaven, the spiritual realm, has nothing to do with your obedience to a law that deals with the behavior of your sinful flesh. The way into heaven has been paved by Jesus Christ. It’s yours. Accept it. Believe it, and you will receive it.
For you cannot receive the promise of the Holy Spirit, become born of the spirit of Christ, become a citizen of heaven by any effort of your own. The effort required has been accomplished by the man, Jesus Christ. Accept his effort on your behalf, and the inheritance is yours!
Once born of the spirit, you are a member of the tribe of God. Forever. However, you cannot grow and develop as a member of this tribe unless you, in the innermost part of your being, identify with this new, spiritual tribe. You cannot have as your identity, membership in any other group (which supposes itself to be of God), and still expect to grow in Christ.
Matthew 9:16, 17 No man puts a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up takes from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Neither do men put new wine into old bottles (goatskins); else the bottles break, and the wine runs out, and the bottles are destroyed; but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
I’ve seen it happen again and again and again. Through the ministry of Christ, the manifestation of the power of God, a person is set free from bondage, from guilt, from hardness of heart and despair of the soul. Though they have been a Christian for a long time, these and other similar afflictions not only continued, but grew in them, until the time of their deliverance, understanding and power over them.
And then what do they do? Instead of identifying with Christ alone, they continue to identify as a member of this church, or that Christian organization. Because they are now free and powerful, they draw the attention of well-meaning pastors and other heads of religious systems of error, who are always looking for “fresh blood.” And they go right back into those systems, and back into the bondage which enslaved them before their deliverance. And all that good wine simply runs out into the ground. Such a waste!
No man can serve two masters!
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters (lords); for either he will hate (have no love for) the one (flesh) and love the other (spirit); or else he will hold to the one (flesh), and despise (think slightly of) the other (spirit). You cannot serve God and mammon (success in the flesh).
Freedom in Christ can be a scary thing. No physical organization! The only thing organized is the spirit of the living God. And that is something worth identifying with. For if you choose membership, belonging, to a physical thing which has been designed to merely represent that which is spiritual, you will not develop the spiritual ability which has been given you in Christ. If you represent the representation, you will not grow in the real thing.
Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight (loaded dice…a game you cannot win) of men, and cunning craftiness, with a view to the systematizing of error. (King James reads…”whereby they lie in wait to deceive” …. bad translation)
This “systematizing of error” has everything to do with establishing a tribal mentality which trumps identifying with Christ. In fact, it takes the place of Christ in your life. (See study What or Who is antichrist?) And in so doing, it draws you away from your true, vital, spiritual inheritance.
If you have believed unto Jesus Christ, then the following is speaking about you.
Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner; In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto a holy temple in the Lord; In whom you also are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.
This is your true tribe. The body of Christ, the temple and habitation of God Himself. This is your identity. Not a specific group that meets in a specific church building at a specific day and time each week. Not a group of people who rigidly hold to a specific dogma or doctrine. Not an organization with programs and systems and ways of doing things. You don’t, you can’t, belong to them.
Your identity and your allegiance must not be to any other tribe. Rather, identify yourself with Christ, and Christ alone, for…..you belong to God.
I Corinthians 6:20 For you are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
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The book, Give Me Christ … Revelations of the Glorified Christ is now available on Amazon.
Other related studies:
What Christian Group Should I Belong To?
What is Fellowship?
Your Spiritual Home
God is not a Christian
PS. Can you belong to a church organization and still walk by the spirit of Christ? Depends on your own identification in your own mind and heart. Identify with Christ and Christ alone, and eventually you are going to break the rigid bonds of any one single group. If you have already chosen Christ…..then there remains no other choice. There is simply no single group or organization that can contain Christ, or that can even contain the Christ in you! Any “belonging” with a physical group or tribe will be temporary at best.
