For most religious folks, the word “fellowship” brings to mind thoughts of game nights, potlucks, donuts and coffee, etc.. For most religious folks, the word “fellowship” brings to mind thoughts of game nights, potlucks, donuts & coffee, etc..
Church socials are prominent in most denominational groups as a way to entertain the saved and attract the lost. Some churches of Christ have also made social activities a major part of their focus, calling it “fellowship.” Surfing the internet this past week, I was disappointed (though not surprised) to see many church of Christ web sites promoting potluck Sundays, emphasizing the donuts & coffee in their foyer, etc. One site advertised a free soccer clinic for the community which their “church soccer team” will host in mid-August.
Don’t get me wrong, I like soccer, coffee, donuts, potlucks, games, etc. as much as the next guy. In fact, there are a lot of things put on by a lot of churches that I would thoroughly enjoy. The problem is that though these are all forms of fellowship, none of them are biblical Christian fellowship. Merriam-Webster defines fellowship as
…companionship; …a community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience
Companionship may be shared in a variety of ways, but what activities are appropriate for fellowship depend on the group in question. A teacher shares many experiences with her students, but must abide by the guidelines set forth by the school board. Some things, though not wrong, have no part in the relationship between a teacher and student.
There is a set of guidelines which govern our fellowship in the gathering of God’s people as well – the Bible. In it, Christian fellowship is identified. Notice how the word is used:
- Fellowship is a spiritual activity, in a list with teaching, the Lord’s supper & prayer (Acts 2:42);
- Our fellowship is with Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9);
- Gentiles sacrificed to demons; a Christian is not to have fellowship with demons (1 Corinthians 10:20);
- Righteousness and lawlessness are not to have fellowship (2 Corinthians 6:14);
- Financial help given to needy Christians is called fellowship (2 Corinthians 8:4);
- Agreement in the work of preaching is called fellowship (Galatians 2:9);
- Unity in Christ regardless of ethnicity is the fellowship of the mystery (Ephesians 3:9);
- We are to expose, not fellowship the works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11);
- Christian fellowship is based in the gospel (Philippians 1:5);
- Our fellowship is with and in the Spirit (Philippians 2:1);
- We have fellowship in the suffering of Christ (Philippians 3:10);
- Our fellowship is with other Christians, the Father and the Son (1 John 1:3);
- Fellowship with each other and the Lord is based upon us being cleansed by His blood and walking in the light, not darkness (1 John 1:6-7).
What does the Bible mean when it speaks of fellowship? It’s not donuts & coffee, games or potlucks, soccer clinics or any such thing. None of these fit the nature of fellowship described in the Scriptures. The fellowship of believers is spiritual, not physical. The exercise of that fellowship is spiritual, not physical. Donuts, coffee, potluck meals, games, etc. are good fun in the right setting, but are not part of Christian fellowship.
That is not to say that we cannot share coffee and donuts together, or that we shouldn’t have potluck dinners, or that we shouldn’t enjoy each other’s company over a board or card game. All these are good, wholesome activities, but are not activities associated with the church. They are “fellowship,” but not “Christian fellowship.”
It’s fine, even advisable for Christians to share in these activities, but the organization, funding and implementation of such is not the work of the church. Let us follow God’s word, not denominational think so in this regard.
Links: YouVersion | GROW magazine
Return to the article archive
