Pandemic Fellowship
Reading through a book on the experiences of ordinary folks in the Second World War confirms something we are experiencing today. There was a new "We're all in this together" attitude against "that man."
As I speak to folks I am finding that in least some places, neighbours are closer than they have ever been before, establishing local Facebook groups and generally looking out for one another.
In the church too, people are calling one another, popping in to see one another and above all praying for one another in a new way. We can only hope, work for and pray that it will continue to be the new normal after the storm has passed.
Vertical and Horizontal Fellowship
The apostle John, the apostle of love, binds fellowship with God and fellowship with fellow Christians together in an undissolvable bond:
"We proclaim 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. We write this to make our joy complete." (1 John 1:3-4)
The reason John has preached the Gospel to these people is so that a three-sided bond might be formed. John, the people he is writing to and with God, God the Father and God the Son.
The purpose of the Gospel is to create, not only vertical fellowship, fellowship with God, but horizontal fellowship, fellowship with fellow believers.
Fellowship with God comes first
It is remarkable that John uses exactly the same word "koinoinia" to describe his fellowship with God and his fellowship with his Christian brothers and sisters. Koinonia word means "sharing with," "in common with," or fellowship. The word is all about oneness, unity with, sharing together.
Christian fellowship starts with fellowship with God:
"If we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)
If we are not walking in the light we will never want, have or enjoy fellowship with other Christians.
It is one of the surest signs that someone has come from darkness into the light that all of a sudden they find in their hearts a new love for people and especially the household of God.
And it is a pretty sure
sign that they have not been born again if they just don't want to meet
with other Christians, feel uncomfortable with them, say they don't fit
in or make unending excuses for absence.
What a privilege Christian fellowship is! To have around us a band of like-minded brothers and sisters who will encourage us, support us, serve us, admonish us where necessary, overlook our foibles and love us unconditionally.
Fellowship with believers follows
In Acts 2:42 we read:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship (koinonia), to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
They devoted themselves, "they gave themselves wholeheartedly" to fellowship.
Fellowship, you see, is intentional, deliberate, purposeful and disciplined. "They devoted themselves to fellowship." Fellowship does not 'just happen.'
Christians who in today's lockdown say they are lonely, need to hear this. What can we all do to enjoy fellowship?
We can pick up the phone and call someone.
We can be faithful at our home groups - zoom-phobia is a lame excuse for jumping out of weekly fellowship, I am afraid. I am personally zoom-phobic but I am at home group every week. Why? Not because I am a church pastor but because fellowship takes "wholehearted devotion." Because it is for my good. And because my presence will bless others. Every time I miss home group I discourage those who have persevered to be there - and especially the lambs for whom I, and older sheep, ought to set an example.
How else can we enjoy fellowship?
We can write an email or a text or a letter or a card.
We can Zoom or Facetime someone.
We can go for a walk with one other person.
And we can attend our masked church gatherings.
And we can pray for one another.
Rich fellowship can continue in pandemic!
Summing it all Up
Precious fellowship begins with fellowship with God: that initial fellowship forged by God's grace through repentance and faith in Christ, and the ongoing fellowship of daily repentance and daily faith and daily walking in the light.
And fellowship with God leads to fellowship with his precious people.
Let us do all in our power to foster fellowship with one another, and it has to be said, be on our guard against anyone who may seek to damage the unity of the fellowship through gossip or lies.
A SONG FOR THE DAY
Today a wonderful "new" song from the now 70 year old Graham Kendrick.
| IF YOU ARE ENCOURAGED |
| In our union with Christ |
| Finding consolation in his love |
| Compassion, warmth and friendship |
| In the Spirit's flow of life |
| This is how you make my joy complete |
| By being of the same mind |
| And loving with the same love |
| United in the Spirit |
| With the same goal in sight |
| By being of the same mind |
| And loving with the same love |
| United in the Spirit |
| To the glory of Christ |
| Be sure you do nothing |
| Out of selfishness or pride |
| Never seeing past your own concerns |
| But humbly keep the interests |
| Of each other in your hearts |
| Seeing them as better than yourselves |
Graham Kendrick
You can sing along HERE.
A PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Our loving Father in heaven,
We thank you for every new day, and for the countless blessings that you pour into our lives.
We thank you that through the Word of life whom the apostles saw with their eyes and heard with their ears, we can have fellowship with you.
We thank you that you have not left us alone in this world, individual believers dotted all over the world, but you have gathered us into communities united in truth and love.
Help us in these strange days, by the grace you give us, to maintain the unity of the body in the bond of peace.
Help us even today to look out for and pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ, and especially the young, the isolated and the weak.
We bring you our worship in Jesus' Name,
Amen.
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