Is biblical fellowship optional? 4

I have carried on for a while about the value of biblical fellowship.  What strikes me right now is that if we cut out all the verses in the Bible about how fellowship affected people for good -- how much of the NT would we have to remove?  It is remarkable how much relationship is in the apostolic witness.  I do not mean just exhoration, I mean example.

Paul would not have wanted to go to Rome to be mutually encouraged by their faith (Romans 1:12)

The church in Antioch would not have known the encouragement of Barnabas (Acts 11.23)

Paul would not have been refreshed by the coming of Stephanas (1 Cor 16:18)

The repentant brother in Corinth would have become overwhelmed by sorrow (2 Cor 2:7)

Paul would not have been encouraged by the coming of Titus (2 Cor 7:6)

Titus would not have been refreshed by the Corinthians (2 Cor 7:13)

Paul would not have longed for the Philippians (Phil 1:5-8)

Paul would not have "lived" without the good news from Thessalonica (1 Thess 3:8)

The church in Philemon's house would not have been refreshed by him (Philemon 4-7)

I could go on -- so let me ask this -- if God takes such pleasure in using the words and examples of fellow Christians to renew and encourage -- am I positioning myself to receive that blessing?

If not, why not?

Comments

[Ken Koch]

Up to just a couple of years ago I would have had to agree with Travis concerning what can happen in a worship service. I approached church as a consumer not an active particpant. You can not escape that Pauls warns these believers to "not neglect meeting together." The corporate meeting of all God's people was where this provoking was to be taking place.

So what should it look like in our church's today? When we join our voices together singing hymns and Gospel centered songs we are provoking one another to love and good works. When we join our voices together to rehearse ancient creeds or confessions of faith we are provoking one another by reminding each other of the connection we have to our brothers and sisters from long ago. The preaching should remind us of our personal need for the Gospel in our lives and give us talking points for provoking one another throughout the week. I believe this is what Paul (and the Holy Spirit) had in mind in Heb. 10:24,25.

The comment also serves as a warning to us. In many of our churches today we have elevated a tool above the corporate unity. That tool is small groups. We come to believe we can't obey the one anothers of scripture without them. All the one anothers are written to churches and not a bunch of small groups. Our unity in the Gospel is of greater importance than any tool we utilize in ministry.

[Gord]

I believe it all comes down to the continued apathy of our time. Within our "entertainment-driven" culture, we have become passive. The fellowship model that we take from scripture is exactly the opposite. It is interactive and relational. We must put aside our apathy and our tendencies to be a spectator and become part of the action. When we do, fellowship will happen and relationships will grow. Church is not entertainment, it takes a hands-on approach.
The modern day apathy of which I speak generates fear of getting involved, because when we compare ourselves to the "stars on stage", we fall short. So, to answer your question, in order to position ourselves to receive the blessing of fellowship and encouragement, I believe we need to first give it.

GDL: I am not sure our times are any different than any other -- pride and sin hinder us, as they always have.

[Matt McCarnan]

Mark, thanks for your work here on your blog. His grace is clearly evident in your words and in your tone, and the topic (and prodding questions) are especially apropos.
Thanks for maintaining such an excellent ministry.
So when are you writing a book?

[Travis Seitler]

Well now, that's a different question, isn't it? ;) (That is, there's a difference between something being beneficial and something being required--Paul said so himself in 1 Cor. 10:23.)

To answer your question, I have to admit (and I know that this may sound like trolling, but it really isn't) that I've never experienced Biblical fellowship (as defined by Hebrews 10:24-25) in a group of more than 12 people (here I'm specifically thinking of me, my wife and four other couples). The mutual encouragement and "stir[ring] up... to love & good works" the author speaks of just doesn't happen in a Sunday morning service. I've never seen it happen in a Sunday morning service.

So I guess I have to answer the "why not" in part by saying that there's an assumption that Sunday morning is what this passage is talking about, so then everyone tries to duplicate Sunday morning and call it "fellowship." And then I look like I'm being argumentative when I disagree. ;)

GDL: that is the point indeed and you are not being argumentative. Heb 10:24-25 is about more than worship gatherings -- it cannot be done with people looking at a screen or hearing someone preaching.