Is deeper fellowship possible on CF?

[Norman70]

@brinny. Thank you for your prompt reply, remembering my wife, and your prayers. This must be what deeper fellowship is about. I will look into the Prayer Forum.

 

[whereloveandmercymeet]

There’s also the depression subforum which people may have advice that may be of help to you. Or just support with people who’ve been there.

 

[Norman70]

Christian fellowship in RL for my wife and myself continues to flounder. We can share together past experiences and thank God for nearly 80 years of good health and a moderately comfortable existence, free of physical violence.
My wife also shares with some family and friends but becomes more and more wary of their lack of concern for our old age and need for voluntary help, and their apparent covetousness. I have little interest in this except to patiently and lovingly listen to my wife.
I am writing this post to introduce a question. How far should true Christians go in shunning their past experiences and their past friends, and most of their family? I am familiar with this sort of shunning in many well-known Christian sects, is this a wise Christian thing to do?

 

[Norman70]

As an example, we had two very good friends several years ago, we attended their Moravian Church with them occasionally, we entertained each other in our respective homes, we partied and celebrated together special occasions. We then found out they were members of a local Masonic Lodge and we cut our friendship completely. They were very deep into it and would not hold any conversation with us about Freemasonry.
They too are now old and have both suffered life-threatening illnesses. My wife wonders whether we should renew our friendship?

 

[aiki]

I am writing this post to introduce a question. How far should true Christians go in shunning their past experiences and their past friends, and most of their family? I am familiar with this sort of shunning in many well-known Christian sects, is this a wise Christian thing to do?

Only under the strictures and circumstances outlined in Scripture. Shunning has happened in hyper-legalistic groups for reasons that are, well, ridiculous. So-and-so isn't wearing a three-piece suit to church. His soul is in danger of hell! If he won't wear a suit to church, he must be ostracized! Or, Mrs. Smith is wearing make-up! What a shameless hussy! Kick her out of the church! You know, stupid, petty stuff like this. These aren't proper reasons for shunning.

Shunning also first requires solid, intimate relationships between people. If I don't really know you and you shun me, it doesn't make much of a difference to me. But if we are close, if we love one another and you shun me, that shunning has a power it doesn't otherwise have. These days, such relationships aren't the norm among believers generally and so shunning many times falls flat. And shunning is used far too often as a means of control and punishment, not with the purpose of restoring relationships, first with God, and then with one another.

 

[Norman70]

@aiki. Thank you for your ìnteresting post. It focuses more on the formalities of shunning in established Christian sects, and perhaps ex-communication by mainstream denominations than my more personal concern. Shunning may not be the word to describe what my wife and myself appear to be involved in.
My next post gives an example of what we have experienced and reacted to regarding Freemasonry, and more recently because we are getting old and in need of voluntary help, and the apparent covetousness of the few possessions we have, we are inclined to have less or nothing to do with anyone. Is this the Christian thing to do?

 

[Norman70]

Deleted.