There’s Fellowship And Then There’s Fellowship

Paul says:

12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

John says:

the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Paul says again:

4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Each one of these sections of scripture have different agendas but they all tell the same story. Because of Christ all who are in Him, are one. The word John chooses to use has unmeasurable implications. We have been brought into fellowship with one another because we share in the fellowship that the Father shares with the Son. We have been invited into an eternal fellowship, I don’t think we really understand that, but is about a 1 hour sermon with another hour of sharing and that wouldn’t even begin to scratch the surface I am sure.

However, through Christ’s sacrifice, which redeemed a people (Ephesians 1:7) all hostility has been torn down (Ephesians 2:11-22 and Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11) these brings us peace, a peace that is real though eschatological and a peace that we are to pursue today (Ephesians 4:3). Through the Spirit we have all been baptized into Christ’s body (1 Corinthians 12:13) which gives us a very real fellowship. This is where we get the concept of the universal church we are all in God’s family and are all brothers and sisters, though sometimes we may not behave like it.

That takes care of one fellowship, but what about the other fellowship. The first fellowship puts me into unity with every believer ever, past, present and future. Those I can see and can’t see, it is real and it has been accomplished; however, there is another type of fellowship, this is the fellowship that you and I are to move towards today. And the fellowship that I have been discussing over the last few posts.

We have been taught that we are to have a “committed” group to fellowship with. This fellowship encourages accountability and discipleship, mutual edification and submission, the giving of our time, talents and treasure and if necessary a time of separation for unrepentant gross misconduct (1 Corinthians 5:9-13). This is typically defined as the “local church”. There is only one problem, we look nothing like the church of NT times, culturally, politically, environmentally or so forth. So many of us find ourselves surrounded in different fellowships. Even more lately there have been many questioning this dynamic and it has caused quite the stir.

So how are we to respond? Should we abandon ship? Should we stay and be church mouse quiet? Should we start are own movement? Should we inflitrate and attempt to change the structure from within? Should we just rally around our new found interests and forsake the others until they “catch on”? These are questions that I have asked myself and others, questions that I struggle with quite a bit, but over the last few days, because I have been listening, I think there may be one (among many) possible solution.

I think approaching the body from a three-tier circle may be beneficial for us to maintain unity and promote the oneness that we are to promote to be a witness of Christ’s work in the world. So we have the outer circle. These are loose but still connected relationships we have with Christians, we deal with them on a less intimate level; however, this interaction is not superficial. We serve them help them, encourage them and even correct them, but because we understand that they are in the outer tier we understand that their are limits we will not cross. This may be Jesus with many of His disciples.

Then we move to the second tier this may, but not limited, those we actually go to church with on a weekly basis, we sing with them, we go to Sunday School with them, we may be involved with outreach with them, from time to time we may hook up outside of the weekly fellowship, but there is no expectation to this day to day gathering. These people we see more and are involved a little more, sort of like Jesus with the 70. He sent them out, often times they would travel with Him, but they were not like the 12.

That leads to the inner circle or the third tier. Here we find our closest confidants. These people stay over night with us, watch our children, no are spending habits, they know all of our flaws and cover them with grace. These people can do great danger to us so this relationship takes much grace and love. These are the relationships that hurt like when Judas kisses Jesus on the cheek. This is Paul and Timothy here. These relationships just aren’t based on our like faith but an undeniable connection and love. These are those we see ourselves growing old with.

So I think we can serve the body of Christ and promote unity by using this model of interaction. I can go to a huge traditional church, while still have a “house church” (a group of believers meeting in our home). We can do all the church calls us to do, from baptize, share in the Love Feast, disciple others, study the scriptures, encourage, rebuke edify, mutually submit and encourage and we don’t need to leave our “traditional” churches to do it. With the inner group we fight for doctrinal unity (but still don’t divide) we study until the midnight oil burns out, we are in each others business and we correct one another and because we have a deep and committed love for one another we understand that we can speak the truth in love and not have to divide over it. In other words relationship is the only true foundation for doctrinal debates and discussions, other than that, they never make any lasting impact. So we can go to First Baptist, serve, help, reach out, give, and not be threatened that we are not having “true fellowship”.

Whats your thoughts?