What is Christian Fellowship?
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Philippians 2:1
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Fellowship with the family of God and with God Himself is one of the greatest blessings of being a Christian. Fellowship is something that is shared by all faithful Christians the world over. It is comforting and encouraging to know that we have wonderful Christian brothers and sisters from all over the world – most of whom we will never meet until that great day we are united with them for eternity in Heaven!
All believers share a common life in Christ, whether or not we recognize it. We are in fellowship with literally thousands of believers from every nation of the world. Although we have never met most of them, yet we are in fellowship with them. We disagree with many of them over various issues of faith and practice, yet we are still members of the same Body. Even though we struggle to like some of them, that does not alter the fact that we share together a common life in Christ. Neither our attitudes nor our actions affect this objective sense of koinonia (fellowship). We are in fellowship with all other believers, whether we like it or not--or even recognize the fact. This objective truth of koinonia is meant to provide the foundation for the experiential aspects of fellowship. The realization that we do in fact share a common life with other believers should stimulate within us a desire to share experientially with one another. This is the whole thrust of New Testament teaching on koinonia. (Fellowship)
True Christian fellowship is not just socializing after worship service or gossiping in the hallways of the church, or pot-luck lunch during church activities, youth assemblies or social get-togethers. True fellowship goes beyond mere social activity. True fellowship is found in unity of the heart, spirit and understanding which can only come from a mutual acceptance of Biblical authority and a mutual love for the truth. Christian fellowship is not similar to the secular fellowship of members of social clubs or civic or professional organizations, or perhaps a political party organization to be wielded in order to influence public opinion and aspire for power.
The word “fellowship” comes from the Greek word koinonia. It is elsewere translated in the King James Version as communion (1Cor.10:16; 2Cor.13:14); communicate (Heb.13:16); or contribution (Rom.15:26). All three usages of the word koinonia suggest commonality of purpose, partnership and interest. This commonality is illustrated by the words of the prophet Amos, Amo.3:3 “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Certainly not. They must be agreed on the place of meeting- the cross of Christ; the direction to go – Heaven ; and the goal- holiness with Christ.
The neighborhood bar is probably the best counterfeit there is to the fellowship Christ wants to give his church. It’s an imitation dispensing liquor instead of grace, escape rather than reality, but it is a permissive, accepting and inclusive fellowship. It is also unshockable. It is Democratic. You can tell people’s secrets and they usually don’t tell others or even want to. The bar flourishes, not because most people are alcoholics but because God has put into the human heart the desire to know and be known, to love and be loved, and many seek a counterfeit at the price of a few beers.
True Christian fellowship is sadly lacking and desperately needed. It is hard. It is a response of faith in Christ and is costly. It demands self-sacrifice. One must die to self to “enjoy” Christian fellowship. It is far beyond a simple relationship between friends, though it is a relationship between friends. Remember Jesus said one “could not” be His disciple unless he died to self. Fellowship cannot seek to be ministered unto and to minister at the same time. Fellowship’s focus isn’t primarily ourselves, but God and others. Yet, strangely we need it from others to grow.
The Scriptures reveal to us that fellowship is sharing, communing, participating together in the Christian life; it is being involved with one another in living for Christ. It is also referred to as the work of ministry, service, and care for one another and it leads to growth, edification and a sense of family unity. It is loving one another and ministering our spiritual gifts in such a way that we practice self-sacrifice, humility, endurance, and faith with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is working together to grow in Christ. It is Christian community. Christians come together, worship together, pray together, share experiences and thoughts, sing together, weep and rejoice together. Christian fellowship is essential for mutual strengthening and encouragement. Ordinarily gathering together in church for worship is the best example of Christian Fellowship. But there is also a much closer fellowship in small groups like prayer meetings, bible study, discipleship group, or cell prayer group. Christians derive strength, encouragement, sympathy support, joy, and learning from their fellowship with other Christians. We learn to walk in obedience to Christ, we learn to suffer, serve together, pray for one another, comfort one another and bear each other’s burden.
Fellowship with the body of Christ is not just an option, but is critical to our continued survival as Christians. We need the preaching and teaching from God’s Word, the atmosphere of worship and praise, the encouragement which we draw from our brethren, the opportunities of Christian service, and we need the opportunity to practice love toward other Christians. We need to get involved and stay in faithful fellowship with the body of Christ!
Fellowship exists when believers participate in each other’s life in Christ. When believers confess theirs sins one to another, help bear burdens, restore and rescue fallen Christians, accept one another and give comfort. There is fellowship when Christians show hospitality, exhort, and admonish one another, forgive, forbear with one another and hold each other spiritually accountable. Fellowship is the outworking of Agape love for fellow believers in a way that shares and participates in living in, and for Christ
Since fellowship is to help people grow, it must be a means for ministering the Word of God, for by it we grow. Fellowship is skillful, loving, personal, and truthful interaction with fellow Christians for the mutual goal of personal growth in Christ likeness. Fellowship is vital for growth in Christ, effective for growth in Christ and clearly taught in the Scriptures as a significant means of edification, ministry and service. It is not an option! Yet it takes disciplined work to endure in skillful, loving, personal, truthful interaction with fellow Christians for the mutual goal of personal growth in Christ likeness.
People often do not take part in a church because they see no clear purpose. Others are simply disinterested or too timid to get involved. Some feel inadequate to be involved in the ministry. We can practice fellowship by taking an active part where we can best serve God using our different gifts and talents, thereby complementing the gifts and talents of others. We can discover where we can best help by recognizing our spiritual gifts and natural abilities and by knowing the needs of our church. Then help where we can make not just ourselves, but the church as a whole, to be the most fruitful. If you do not know your spiritual gift, pitch in where you have a natural ability. As you work with others, your gifts will surface and you’ll find places you might function in our church according to your gifts and abilities.
St. Paul in his Epistle to the Philippians describes how he viewed true and genuine fellowship among believers. He said: 2:1 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
The Bible gives us guidelines for fellowship which are divided into four groups.
1. The Fellowship Of Mutual Relationships
Love One Another (John 13:34-35; 15:12-17; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11) Receive One Another (Romans 15:17)Greet One Another (Romans 16:16; 1 Peter 5:14) Have the Same Care For One Another (1 Corinthians 12:25) Forgive One Another (Ephesians 4:31-32; 1 Corinthians 3:13) Put Up With One Another (Ephesians 4:1-3; Colossians 3:13-14) Submit To One Another (Ephesians 5:21) Confess Your Sins To One Another (James 5:16)
2. The Fellowship Of Mutual Edification
Build Up One Another (Romans 14:19) Admonish One Another (Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16) Speak To One Another In Psalms & Spiritual Songs (Ephesians 5:18-20; Colossians 3:16) Teach One Another (Colossians 3:16) Exhort One Another (1 Thessalonians 5:1; Hebrews 3:12-13, 10:25) Consider One Another (Hebrews 10:24)
3. The Fellowship Of Mutual Service
Be Servants Of One Another (Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 4:10) Bear One Another’s Burdens (Galatians 6:2) Be Kind To One Another (Ephesians 4:32; 1 Peter 3:8-9) Pray For One Another (James 5:16) Show Hospitality To One Another (1 Peter 4:9)
4. Prohibited Acts That Destroy Fellowship
Do Not Judge One Another (Romans 14:13) Do Not Bite And Devour One Another (Galatians 5:14-15)Do Not Provoke One Another To Envy (Galatians 5:26)Do Not Lie To One Another (Colossians 3:9) Do Not Speak Evil Of One Another (James 4:11) Do Not Murmur Against One Another (James 5:9) Do Not Forsake The Assembling Together (Hebrews 10:25)
So, out of true Christian fellowship in the family of God comes:
Less fear - but more security
Less immaturity - but more growth
Less criticism - but more acceptances
Less apathy - but more joy
Less division - but more unity
True Christian fellowship is a wonderful blessing, but as with all of God’s blessings, it is important to remain faithful.
No comments:
Post a Comment