Reflections on Fellowship

Reflections On Fellowship

Brotherhood

Last month I spoke about the together aspect of our life in Christ. Mentioning that in order to have fellowship with each other, as God intends, we must first have fellowship with our Father in heaven. Our horizontal fellowship will flow out of our vertical fellowship.

Another example of the life we share as Christians is Brotherhood. The Apostle Peter speaks about submission for the new church, which was in heavy persecution at the time of his writing. He reminds them, as well us today, that we should show proper respect to all and “Love the brotherhood of believers”. This is the fellowship that we share to honor our king and Lord, Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

In Christ, we do share a family relationship. Mark reminds us of how Jesus views this relationship.

MK 3:31 Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you."33 "Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

Paul reminds us in his letter to the Ephesians, that as a consequence of being one in Christ and belonging to this fellowship or brotherhood, we are a member of God’s household.

EPH 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household…

Paul is referring here to the unity based on what Christ accomplished through his death, described in the previous verses 14-18. Paul continues as he writes to the young Pastor, Timothy,

1TI 3:14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

In other words the church is the family of God and we should think of each other in this way. Paul also writes later in his letter to Timothy, reminding him how he should treat those who share in the fellowship of Christ.

1TI 5:1 Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, [2] older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

As Christians we too should have a “family” consciousness about other Christians. Our life of “Fellowship and Brotherhood” in Christ, where we are to have concern for one another, care for each other and love one another, just as any strong family would. The church at Thessalonica is a good example and Paul reminds us again that it is through God that this is all possible.

1TH 4:9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.

Next month I will continue these reflections with another “Together” word, “Membership”.

Peace be with you,

Jim Duhon