I think it's great that we have all been moving forward to establish better relationships within the class. We all seem to understand the importance of fellowship in the body of Christ, but have you ever looked at exactly what fellowship is from a biblical viewpoint? Does Christian fellowship have any parameters, any goals or any uniqueness that separates it from the social interaction that takes place between those outside the Church?
Here are a few points from an article that I thought answered some of the questions:
What fellowship is not. In its neglect, Christians have
redefined fellowship to mean any warm human interchange—
especially when we make connection with someone
and discover that we have common interests, experiences,
or viewpoints.
If I spend time with a brother in Christ playing volleyball,
talking about shared political views, or following the ups
and downs of an NFL franchise, we may have a wonderful
time and deepen a friendship. But in none of those things
will we have had fellowship.
Let me press the point further. Fellowship is not (at
least not necessarily) going to a Bible study with someone,
or sharing doctrinal commitments, or attending a Christian
men’s rally where emotions run deep and passions are high.
Fellowship is not found in a “group therapy” session where
participants reveal their darkest thoughts—even if everyone
in the group is a Christian and brings a Bible. In fact, two
Christians can be married to one another and still not
experience fellowship.
What fellowship is. Fellowship is a uniquely Christian
relational experience. No one but those born of the Spirit
of God can have fellowship—which makes its neglect all the
more tragic.
The word “fellowship,” as it is found in the English
Bible, is a translation of the Greek word koinonia. Saying
the word aloud brings to mind our word “community,”
and so it should, for koinonia is its root. But sadly,
politicians and sociologists have effectively redefined
“community” to mean “special-interest group,” so we
need additional words to get at its meaning. Here the
Revised Standard Version of the Scriptures can help. It
translates koinonia as “fellowship,” but also as “participation,”
and “sharing” (in the following verses, these words
are italicized for emphasis).
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching
and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the
prayers” (Ac 2:42).
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any
incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any
affection and sympathy...”
(Php 2:1).
“...and I pray that the
sharing of your faith
may promote the
knowledge of all the
good that is ours in
Christ” (Phm 1:6).
What is fellowship as
defined in the New
Testament? Just this: participating
together in the life
and truth made possible by
the Holy Spirit through our
union with Christ. Fellowship
is sharing something in
common on the deepest possible
level of human relationship—
our experience of God
himself.
Participating together...
life and truth...sharing in
common...human relationship...experience of God—these
phrases capture the essence of the unique Christian experience
of fellowship.
Fellowship with God is the prerequisite to fellowship
with others. This is the explicit message of John in his
first biblical letter:
“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so
that you also may have fellowship with us. And our
fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus
Christ....If we claim to have fellowship with him yet
walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the
truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the
light, we have fellowship with one another, and the
blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin”
(1Jn 1:3, 6-7).
What can we do to posture
ourselves to experience fellowship?
The list is long:
- Worship God together.
- Pray for one another
- Utilize our spiritual gifts
- Carry one another’s burdens.
- Share about our spiritual experiences
- Confess our sins to one another
- Correct one another
- Serve one another in practical ways.
Each of us has family responsibilities in the church.
Fellowship encompasses a major responsibility to care for
another’s soul and to get help for our own so that together
we can be all that God intends us to be.
So what about you, are you willing and available to build a fellowship that gets under the surface--a fellowship that sees God honored, prayers answered, brothers and sisters growing, needs met and believers encouraged?
