Is biblical fellowship optional? 2

I find comments on posts very instructive.  I lead a church where the value of fellowship has been instilled due to the wise leadership of our founding pastor, Craig Cabaniss. He created a culture in which all (pastors and members) are subject to accountability -- so come of the questions and comments that come are not deep challenges to us.  That being said, the pursuit of walking in the light with each other is always a war.  But is it what the Bible teaches?

I have been reflecting on Hebrews 10 -- a rather remarkable text.  here the author brings to summation a lengthy description of Jesus as the consummate word of God.  God has spoken to reveal Himself and God has acted to save.  He has done so perfectly so that nothing can be added to his work or his revelation.  Hebrews seems to be saying, "If this is not clear to you, it is not because God is unclear" (and thus the severe warnings follow).

After revisiting the benefits of the finished work of Christ in 10:19-21, the author gives three exhortations -- let us draw near to God, let us hold fast to our confession of faith, and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works.  I would note that he does not rank these applications -- it is not that one is more important than the next.  It is that all three follow the finished work of Christ. 

I get the first two -- worship and faith make sense to me as a fruit of seeing Christ clearly.  But how can this author dare to stick fellowship in as third?  After all, if I have Jesus and I am justified and I am walking in faith, isn't that all I am supposed to enjoy?  Isn't it "Jesus and me"?  I go to church, sing a few songs, hear a message, shake a few hands and greet a few friends, then I go off alone to walk by faith . . . . right?

Apparently not to God.  Worship and faith and fellowship are inseparable.  I am, through Christ, to draw near to God and to draw near to my fellow believers in the local church.  I am to think about them, to consider them, to meditate on their lives and to strengthen the work of grace in them.  And I am to do it diligently -- all the more -- as I see the DAY approaching.   That is intense.

This cannot take place by attending and leaving.  This passage is about more than public worship (but NOT LESS).  It is about pressing our lives together in growing mutual knowledge, awareness, and words and actions that help others in bearing the fruit of the grace of God in their lives. 

Jesus death brings us to God -- and restores a significant measure of relational enrichment (call that edification) through and with others.  Sin created the rupture in our relationships with God and each other.  Redemption brings "substantial healing" to both. 

And how hard this is. I find I do not want to be known and helped.  I like the safety of distance.  But I do not think it is an option if I believe and live in the power and good of the Gospel.

Comments

[Tony]

In our narcissistic age we have so individualized scripture that we become immune to the communal nature of belief. I am preaching through Hebrews and it is clear from Hebrews chapters 3 and 4 that the perseverance and striving that the author calls for is not to be done in isolation. In 3:1 he refers to them as a group and to their shared faith. In Hebrews 3:13 he goes even deeper to call us to exhort others so that they are not “hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” When you get to chapter 4 the tone is not simply for the individual to “strive” (4:11) and “hold fast” (4:12) but for the community to do so.

None of this denies the individual responsibility towards God for repentance but it simply accentuates the community aspect of living out that faith. So when asked the question: “Is biblical fellowship optional?” the answer has to be “no” but the crux of the matter is the term “biblical.” All too often fellowship is more related to some simple gathering but biblically it is so much more and includes discomfort as well as comfort, pain as well as peace. It would seem that until we come to understand biblical fellowship better we will always be judging the merits of fellowship by how it affects me when biblical fellowship should revolve around how I affect others. When we have the “how it affects me” mentality the answer to your question will probably “yes” or to be less committal it would probably be “maybe.”

I look forward to seeing further posts on this subject.

[Lodebar]

I've been visiting your blog for several months and have been very blessed. Thank you. This subject of deeper fellowship is very relevant to my life and I look forward to further articles. My wife and I moved last year and have been going to a small church. The worship, sermons, pastor and people have all been good, but it's been so hard to develop anything more than a superficial fellowship with anyone other than the Pastor.