INTENTIONAL FELLOWSHIP

INTENTIONAL FELLOWSHIP

 Sometimes, when I hear ‘church people’ referring to the biblical concept of fellowship, they automatically refer to hospitality gatherings such as shared meals or group events.  Life has taught me over the years that sitting next to someone while sharing a chicken dinner does not necessarily mean that true fellowship is occurring.  For on occasion, even enemies find it expedient to sit together, or dine together, to fulfill undisclosed ulterior motives or simply for the sake of appearances.

 True New Testament Fellowship, as reflected in “The Acts of the Apostles,” means something entirely different.  The early church gathered constantly in private homes to hear the apostles teaching, to share common faith experiences, to pray, to worship, to break bread.  It was a joyful celebration of their Lord and Savior, not simply to affirm or amplify any feelings of personal affection. 

 James Packer writes, in his book “Your Father Loves You,” that “Chrisian fellowship is always two-dimensional.  It has to be vertical before it can be horizontal.  We must know the reality of fellowship with the Father…before we can know the reality of fellowship with each other. The person who is not in fellowship with God is no Christian at all, and cannot share with Christians real fellowship.”

 Fellowship is based primarily on agape, which is characterized by selfless and sacrificial giving.  Prayerfully consider the following story which epitomizes genuine fellowship.

 During the late fall, a young woman named Linda was traveling alone on the rugged highway between Alberta, Canada and the Yukon.  Linda seemed unaware that it was foolhardy to travel this road all alone in a rundown Honda Civic, so she set off where only four-wheel drives normally venture.  That first evening, she found a room near a mountain pass and asked for a 5:00 A.M. wakeup call to get an early start.  She couldn’t comprehend why the clerk looked so surprised at her request, but waking to thick morning fog shrouding the mountain, she fully understood.

 Not wanting to look foolish, Linda got up anyway and went to breakfast.  Two truckers invited her to join them, and since the place was so small, she felt obliged. “Where are you headed?” one of the truckers asked.  “To Whitehorse,” she replied.  “In that little Civic?  No way!  This pass is way too dangerous in weather like this.”  Linda seemed undeterred.  “Well, I'm determined to try,” was her gutsy, if not well informed, response.  The truck drivers just stared at her in disbelief.  “Then I guess we’re just going to have to hug you,” they suggested.  Linda drew back.  “There's no way I’m going to let you touch me!” she responded firmly.

 “Not like THAT!” the truckers chuckled.  “We'll put one truck in front of you and one truck in the rear. That way, we’ll get you through the mountains safely.”  So all that foggy morning Linda followed the two red dot lights in front of her with the assurance of another escort behind as they made their way safely through the mountains.  

 It occurs to me that we are sometimes caught in the blinding fog of unfamiliar and dangerous passages in this life, and we simply need to be “hugged.”  Fellow Christians who know the way can accompany us safely (ahead and behind), offering mission-critical encouragement and guidance so we can achieve our common purpose and destiny.  That, my friends, is what true fellowship is all about –one caring and compassionate Christian community, under one Sovereign Savior, full of faith, always indivisible, no matter what challenging conditions life may bring.  Live intentionally, in full fellowship.

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!