Fellowship is a widely used term in religious circles. Unfortunately, it is often misused and misunderstood. Many, when they speak of fellowship refer to potluck meals, game nights, birthday parties, baking contests, sports events and the like. But are these things fellowship? Yes, in the secular sense of the word, but our concern should be ‘what is biblical fellowship’?
Biblical Fellowship With God
The Bible speaks about our fellowship with God. Notice:
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9)
And again,
…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death… (Philippians 3:10)
And once more,
If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (1 John 1:6)
Fellowship with the Lord is not about baseball games and cherry pie. Rather, it is the establishment of a relationship with Him through faith in His Son and obedience to His word. It doesn’t involve playing Dominos or Euchre, but will result in us suffering persecution as we walk in the light of His way. Maintained and sustained, fellowship with God results in the hope of eternity with the Lord.
Biblical Fellowship With Brethren
Those who obeyed Peter’s message at Pentecost,
…continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)
This describes the activities of fellowship which belong to the church; activities that are spiritual in nature, not carnal.
Don’t misunderstand, there’s nothing wrong with Christians enjoying time together with meals, games and such. However, secular fellowship is NOT the ‘Christian fellowship’. Fun and games are great, but they belong in the realm of family and community, not the activity of the church. Such things are not a function of the church.
Once again, we read of the fellowship of the saints:
…they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. (Galatians 2:9)
In Ephesians 3:9, Paul speaks about “the fellowship of the mystery,” which means that Jews and Gentiles are brought together in the same body of believers in Christ – the church.
John declared what he had seen and heard from the Christ to his hearers and readers, “…that you also may have fellowship with us…” (1 John 1:3) The basis of this fellowship between Christians is our fellowship with the Father and His Son (v 3), which itself is contingent upon us walking “…in the light as He is in the light…” (v 7). Thus, it is a spiritual fellowship based upon a spiritual relationship.
No Fellowship With Darkness
The New Testament cautions us not to have fellowship with things or persons contrary to the Lord. Paul said concerning meats sacrificed to idols, “…I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.” (1 Corinthians 10:20). Again, the apostle warned, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers…” (2 Corinthians 6:14). Ephesians 5:11 tells us to “…have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”
In fact, John admonishes,
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine (the doctrine of Christ, wjs), do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. (2 John 10-11)
Friend, we need to be aware of what biblical fellowship is. It is not games and parties and picnics and such. The Bible consistently uses the concept of fellowship to speak of a spiritual relationship and spiritual activities. As we have seen, we must have fellowship with God, which requires us to submit ourselves in obedience to His will, and receive of His grace and mercy. Thus, we must continue to walk in His ways if we are to remain in fellowship with Him.
If we have fellowship with God, that is the basis for our fellowship with other Christians. Some will speak of various activities which they enjoy in their “fellowship hall,” but true Christian fellowship is not playing card and eating crumpets. We engage in the fellowship of the saints when we sing praise to God together, when we share in Bible study, when we gather around the Lord’s table, when we come before the Lord in prayer.
Indeed, the biblical “fellowship hall” is any location where the saints are gathered to engage in true Christian fellowship. Leave secular activities and facilities to secular organizations and let the church be the place of true biblical fellowship.
Links: YouVersion | GROW magazine
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