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Fellowship in regard to the life of a disciple of the Lord Jesus .
The word fellowship in the (modern) English language has only a light connotation that, i think, for the most part, is poorly understood when it comes to the context of discipleship .
One of the largest misconceptions causes A struggle between the active christian Life
And the need of fellowship.. It has caused us for many years to always be seeking a balance between the two . I believe this is because the entire thinking is incorrect and is why the dilemma arises in the first place.
Modern understanding mixed with strong traditionalism has caused the topic to be dissected into two parts . consisting of
We must be active in our faith
We must have good fellowship
Creating the connotation that an active faith “only”, neglects good fellowship. Or that “only” having good fellowship neglects a life of active faith .
Both of course are erroneous for the simply reason they are not and never were two things .
We’ve been trying to balance the same end of one stick .
To give an example for this i find myself doing what i really do not like doing , but it paints the picture so clearly for us .
So i give for example the script from the book “the lord of the rings “..
-In this script we see the scenario of a group of people who step forward to a common goal and then commit themselves to that goal .
This group of people then set off on a journey in life to see this goal reached .And in the script this is referred to as “the FELLOWSHIP of the ring “
We see the older English meaning and weight behind this word in Tolkien's book .
In this “fellowship “ the group travel a journey and in the process get to know one another better, growing from acquaintance to deepening friendship .
This increases to the point that common battles are fought and they begin to lay down their lives one for another -when some are abducted from the fellowship, the fellowship set off in pursuit to take back their companions from the enemy of the goal . but we see whether together or parted from one another the commitment to the goal remains steadfast as each work their part to see the goal reached .
THIS … is fellowship .
Not one alone committed to the goal but all together committed to the goal .
[An added thought - (“One can run on very fast but ultimately not go far ..while Many will not go forward quite so fast but will go all the way .” -curry blake)]
We are in the FELLOWSHIP of the LORD JESUS, the goal to save as many as possible from eternal death via the gospel .. part of doing that requires making more disciples .
The goal can never be reached if we turn fellowship into a separate entity of meetings .(for we see this is What has already been happening for centuries from generation to generation) . when it becomes about meetings it becomes no longer part of the fellowship but rather an external dissociated study ABOUT the fellowship .
We learn very very little in a meeting in a lounge . we learn vast amounts out doing (practicing) the gospel in every nuance of it .
It’s said we need good fellowship .. so what is GOOD fellowship ? simply..
-it is when all parties are committed to the SAME goal .in fact so committed that they are willing to die so that their companions can go on and succeed in that goal . this is the commitment we saw from our lord and master JESUS -our supreme example in ALL THINGS .
So how does such fellowship work practically ? … we have the babes in Christ, the young men ,the fathers . Don't put differing focus on “ doing vs the meeting” .. stop making that distinction ,stop separating what was never meant to be separated .
Ok ,so here in Fiji we have all three .. babes in Christ, young men and fathers in faith ..
We seek to disciple all of us . One submitting to the holy Spirit in another (submitting one to another ).. We’ve tried meetings to encourage and teach with modern format ideas .. they play a very small part as far as effectiveness. I’m not saying they are ineffective ,as they Can edify .very much so . But as far as being translated into increasing maturity of faith ..it seems to play a very small part . one shy struggling person is often not going call out their need so easily at first in such a setting . The danger of “meetings “ is that the meetings risk becoming the goal which detracts from and distracts from the real goal .. the real fellowship of purpose and goal in JESUS .
(i refrain at present from going into the depths of spiritual fellowship in Christ and the true DEATH to self and resurrection of it all. as i want to keep this shorter )
In practice we are finding that the activity of the life of faith ,done(practiced ) in unison with believers of all ages ( not physical years) in the common pursuit of the will of GOD is the greatest form of fellowship there is .
So we go out to share the gospel (in all forms -streets ,work,social etc) because our lives are not our own -(or should not be ) and we live to see God’s will done .
On our way we gather as we go . whether two three more ..
We discuss,have discourse ,edify one another pray for one another .. we go heal the sick preach the gospel (in all forms but always the same Gospel) ...later we gather again, rejoice ,share testimony ,break bread, pray one for another. older teaching younger ..two walk together and the shy one gets to share their. struggle .. then gets prayed for and given godly counsel in love by the elder in the lord etc -you get the picture .-it is life ongoing - -”and many of you ought to be teachers” - in this respect .
The hindrance to this true sense of “ the fellowship of Christ “ is when people are not fully committed to it ,they are not yet stepping up out of the crossing of the red sea to go forward .they still desire the house the car the sociability the “whatever their own goal is “ . this is what causes the “meetings which study the fellowship from “outside” the fellowship .
The scary thing is, that such meetings are not IN the fellowship of CHRIST but become a fellowship of study “ABOUT” the “fellowship IN Christ” . AND ever learning they never come to the truth .
The Fellowship of Christ JESUS “ is not a get together for 30 /60/90 minutes .
The Fellowship of Christ JESUS is a union of people committed to the same goal ,to see that goal realized no matter what it costs ,willing to lay down life for one another (as our lord showed us ) willing to be a nobody so our companions can step on our back and be elevated over an obstacle and run on to reach the goal of the furtherance of the Gospel for the lord JESUS and the salvation of the many .
Thus the fellowship of the lord Jesus cannot be taught in a meeting of theologies but in a life lived out .that one may learn by the active GODLY EXAMPLE of another, how to “walk worthy” of the robes of righteousness they have been so graciously clothed in by the lord .
The living out action IS the Discpling process .
And sadly those who claim to be disciples but consistently don't take much (or any) part in living it out by action .. are not YET (sadly) “IN” the Fellowship of the lord JESUS .
We are in the fellowship of the Lord JESUS committed to our common goal of his will in obedience and the furtherance of the gospel . you are IN fellowship with me .I am in fellowship with you . whether we are together in body or on opposite ends of the earth .whether i see you weekly or never see you until our lord comes, i remain your faithful servant and you mine in Christ, IN fellowship …. And it is in THIS fellowship that we all GROW in faith and maturity in Christ
I pray this aids our mindset and EDIFIES our faith in JESUS and the fellowship and helps remove the (what i believe is an illusory traditionally created ) dividing line .
Michael S Fuller .
The word fellowship in the (modern) English language has only a light connotation that, i think, for the most part, is poorly understood when it comes to the context of discipleship .
One of the largest misconceptions causes A struggle between the active christian Life
And the need of fellowship.. It has caused us for many years to always be seeking a balance between the two . I believe this is because the entire thinking is incorrect and is why the dilemma arises in the first place.
Modern understanding mixed with strong traditionalism has caused the topic to be dissected into two parts . consisting of
We must be active in our faith
We must have good fellowship
Creating the connotation that an active faith “only”, neglects good fellowship. Or that “only” having good fellowship neglects a life of active faith .
Both of course are erroneous for the simply reason they are not and never were two things .
We’ve been trying to balance the same end of one stick .
To give an example for this i find myself doing what i really do not like doing , but it paints the picture so clearly for us .
So i give for example the script from the book “the lord of the rings “..
-In this script we see the scenario of a group of people who step forward to a common goal and then commit themselves to that goal .
This group of people then set off on a journey in life to see this goal reached .And in the script this is referred to as “the FELLOWSHIP of the ring “
We see the older English meaning and weight behind this word in Tolkien's book .
In this “fellowship “ the group travel a journey and in the process get to know one another better, growing from acquaintance to deepening friendship .
This increases to the point that common battles are fought and they begin to lay down their lives one for another -when some are abducted from the fellowship, the fellowship set off in pursuit to take back their companions from the enemy of the goal . but we see whether together or parted from one another the commitment to the goal remains steadfast as each work their part to see the goal reached .
THIS … is fellowship .
Not one alone committed to the goal but all together committed to the goal .
[An added thought - (“One can run on very fast but ultimately not go far ..while Many will not go forward quite so fast but will go all the way .” -curry blake)]
We are in the FELLOWSHIP of the LORD JESUS, the goal to save as many as possible from eternal death via the gospel .. part of doing that requires making more disciples .
The goal can never be reached if we turn fellowship into a separate entity of meetings .(for we see this is What has already been happening for centuries from generation to generation) . when it becomes about meetings it becomes no longer part of the fellowship but rather an external dissociated study ABOUT the fellowship .
We learn very very little in a meeting in a lounge . we learn vast amounts out doing (practicing) the gospel in every nuance of it .
It’s said we need good fellowship .. so what is GOOD fellowship ? simply..
-it is when all parties are committed to the SAME goal .in fact so committed that they are willing to die so that their companions can go on and succeed in that goal . this is the commitment we saw from our lord and master JESUS -our supreme example in ALL THINGS .
So how does such fellowship work practically ? … we have the babes in Christ, the young men ,the fathers . Don't put differing focus on “ doing vs the meeting” .. stop making that distinction ,stop separating what was never meant to be separated .
Ok ,so here in Fiji we have all three .. babes in Christ, young men and fathers in faith ..
We seek to disciple all of us . One submitting to the holy Spirit in another (submitting one to another ).. We’ve tried meetings to encourage and teach with modern format ideas .. they play a very small part as far as effectiveness. I’m not saying they are ineffective ,as they Can edify .very much so . But as far as being translated into increasing maturity of faith ..it seems to play a very small part . one shy struggling person is often not going call out their need so easily at first in such a setting . The danger of “meetings “ is that the meetings risk becoming the goal which detracts from and distracts from the real goal .. the real fellowship of purpose and goal in JESUS .
(i refrain at present from going into the depths of spiritual fellowship in Christ and the true DEATH to self and resurrection of it all. as i want to keep this shorter )
In practice we are finding that the activity of the life of faith ,done(practiced ) in unison with believers of all ages ( not physical years) in the common pursuit of the will of GOD is the greatest form of fellowship there is .
So we go out to share the gospel (in all forms -streets ,work,social etc) because our lives are not our own -(or should not be ) and we live to see God’s will done .
On our way we gather as we go . whether two three more ..
We discuss,have discourse ,edify one another pray for one another .. we go heal the sick preach the gospel (in all forms but always the same Gospel) ...later we gather again, rejoice ,share testimony ,break bread, pray one for another. older teaching younger ..two walk together and the shy one gets to share their. struggle .. then gets prayed for and given godly counsel in love by the elder in the lord etc -you get the picture .-it is life ongoing - -”and many of you ought to be teachers” - in this respect .
The hindrance to this true sense of “ the fellowship of Christ “ is when people are not fully committed to it ,they are not yet stepping up out of the crossing of the red sea to go forward .they still desire the house the car the sociability the “whatever their own goal is “ . this is what causes the “meetings which study the fellowship from “outside” the fellowship .
The scary thing is, that such meetings are not IN the fellowship of CHRIST but become a fellowship of study “ABOUT” the “fellowship IN Christ” . AND ever learning they never come to the truth .
The Fellowship of Christ JESUS “ is not a get together for 30 /60/90 minutes .
The Fellowship of Christ JESUS is a union of people committed to the same goal ,to see that goal realized no matter what it costs ,willing to lay down life for one another (as our lord showed us ) willing to be a nobody so our companions can step on our back and be elevated over an obstacle and run on to reach the goal of the furtherance of the Gospel for the lord JESUS and the salvation of the many .
Thus the fellowship of the lord Jesus cannot be taught in a meeting of theologies but in a life lived out .that one may learn by the active GODLY EXAMPLE of another, how to “walk worthy” of the robes of righteousness they have been so graciously clothed in by the lord .
The living out action IS the Discpling process .
And sadly those who claim to be disciples but consistently don't take much (or any) part in living it out by action .. are not YET (sadly) “IN” the Fellowship of the lord JESUS .
We are in the fellowship of the Lord JESUS committed to our common goal of his will in obedience and the furtherance of the gospel . you are IN fellowship with me .I am in fellowship with you . whether we are together in body or on opposite ends of the earth .whether i see you weekly or never see you until our lord comes, i remain your faithful servant and you mine in Christ, IN fellowship …. And it is in THIS fellowship that we all GROW in faith and maturity in Christ
I pray this aids our mindset and EDIFIES our faith in JESUS and the fellowship and helps remove the (what i believe is an illusory traditionally created ) dividing line .
Michael S Fuller .