There’s a common colloquial phrase that gets kicked around in ministry circles a lot – “belonging precedes believing.” I’ve been noodling and praying about this concept a lot this week.
I definitely agree with the original principle, but how do we help people move from one place to another?
I think there’s a step in the middle between those two that acts as a catalyst for conversion. For the sake of continuing alliteration, I’m calling it “beholding.”
First, some terms:
Belonging – experiencing a sense of connectedness with a particular group of people, from a moment of authentic relational hospitality to the security of being “at home” with the group. With belonging, you are authentically yourself with the group, to the inclusion of being vulnerable with them.
Beholding – having a front row seat to a moment of encounter between the human and the divine. (Usually, this is between you and God, but it could also be through the witness of a loved one’s beholding moment.)
Beholding is the catalyst that moves a person from belonging to believing, if they assent to it. It is a moment of great clarity, conviction, and invitation: God is real, so what are you going to do about it?
There are generally 2 types of beholding moments:
Facilitated Beholding – an encounter that occurs in a particular planned ministry setting (retreat, pilgrimage, mission trip, Eucharistic adoration, reconciliation, etc.)
Organic Beholding – an encounter that occurs individually, in an unexpected and uncurated environment (anywhere God determines, but especially through miracles, healings, moments of intercessory prayer, and crisis moments such as hitting rock bottom or experiencing great suffering)
Believing – in this context, is an assent of faith on an actualized and personal level. Because I experienced a moment of beholding, I choose to believe, and I begin to change my life in external ways that match my interior conviction and conversion.
Many paths to beholding
So, how do we help people to grow in belief?
No matter their past, I think all people need both an environment of belonging and an experience of beholding.
For those who grew up in a faith environment as children, and are at least nominally believers:
For some, seeds of beholding may have already taken root in their hearts as children. A community of belonging will help these seeds mature and grow.
For others, a fresh, personal experience of beholding may be the catalyst for personal, adult belief. A community of belonging will provide opportunities for facilitated beholding, and provide connections to caring adults who are willing to be present in organic beholding moments.
For those who didn’t have a faith environment as children, and do not yet believe:
Some begin with belonging – they are welcomed into a community and are open to an experience of facilitated or organic beholding.
For others, God may work directly through organic beholding, and they will seek a community to support them and to help them understand and process their experience after the fact.
For reflection
What was your “beholding moment” (likely plural, you’ve probably experienced many moments) in your personal journey of faith?
How have you experienced the Holy Spirit working through facilitated beholding moments in your ministry?
How are you present to others during unexpected, organic moments of beholding?
Paschal Disciples 