Does this sound like the book of Acts to you?

I just wanted to drop a couple lines and express my heart on something. Tonight, my Sunday school class has a fellowship at the church house. We are going to be playing games, playin basketball, other games in the gym, and also eating our favorite dessert that we are to each bring as a couple. Now one thing that southern Baptists like to do is eat. No problem there. I will never have an argument when it comes to fulfilling my belly. The only thing that upsets me is that we're calling this a fellowship. We need to look at what God's word says on fellowship. Then we also need to lie ourselves up with this definition. I will be up front, all I can say is what has happened in the past. In the past, our fellowships consist of getting together and just goofing off, being lazy, eating, talking, staring at each others kids, and talking about who has the greatest kids in the world that very day, the cutest outfit, or the cutest baby face caked with food.

Although I am quite certain that is what holds for tonight, I cannot predict the future. I do want to drive this one point home though in this particular blog. I want people to know that fellowship is not just sitting around gossiping, playing games, eating, and comparing children. True fellowship is when Christians get together and discuss the things of God and glorify his name. Jesus is surely present when two or more are gathered in his name, but the thing I'm leary of is that we're most likely tonight not going to be gathering in His name. Tonight is going to be a bunch of people gathered in groups separated by monthly income, credit score, status, reputation, cute children, fashion statements, and maybe way on down the list, you will find born again Christian. Sadly that's not even close to the top of the list. Are we going to be having a true "Fellowship" tonight? I can only pray for that. Nevertheless, let's talk about what true fellowship should be as a Christian.

    In Acts 2:42 we read that one of the four things the early church devoted itself to was "fellowship." Fellowship was a very important part of their reason for meeting together. It was one of their objectives. But what is fellowship? We often hear people talking about fellowship. We hear it said that what we need is more fellowship. But our modern ideas of fellowship have become so watered down that the word no longer carries the same meaning it did in New Testament times. We're not surprised that the early church devoted itself to "the apostles' teaching" and also "to prayer." Apart from the ministry of the Holy Spirit, these are the two most important means of growth, power, and effectiveness in the Christian life and this is everywhere evident in the rest of Scripture. But Luke tells us these early Christians also devoted themselves to fellowship. They just didn't have fellowship; they devoted themselves to it. This means that fellowship was a priority and one of the objectives for gathering together. They made fellowship a priority!

Christianity today, however, we often view fellowship as what we do in "fellowship hall." (It's coincidence to know that we will be in the fellowship hall tonight) It's the place where we have casual conversations and savor coffee, donuts, and the good eating that I spoke of before. This is not bad and can contribute to fellowship, but it falls far short of fellowship according to biblical standards and according to the meaning and use of the Greek words for fellowship.

    In conclusion, I want to share with you my view of fellowship. My view is much richer and deeper than mere social activity. True fellowship involves getting together for spiritual purposes: for sharing needs, for prayer, for discussing and sharing the Word to encourage, comfort, and edify one another. Sadly, my Sunday school class has not done that in quite some time. As a matter of fact, I can't recall when that last time was outside of Sunday school. Where has the passion gone from our preaching? I've sad that so many times in recent weeks and I say it again. We've lost it. We don't gather to glorify, edify, or build up. We gather to compare, play, and indulge in calories and carbohydrates. Is that our true purpose? We could have planned this time to go to Bricktown tonight and sought after people walking around and shared the good news of Jesus Christ with them. We could have gone outside of the church walls and really rally'd together or a good cause and that is one of soul winning. Is this just lost time? Should I go on my own? We lack so much in the department of evangelism. We've been eating, playing, and gossiping for years. How much more practice do we need at this task. Let's change it up. Let's start at S.W. 104^th and Western in Oklahoma City and turned ourselves around and focus on the true task at hand. As I write this blog, the one quote that I've heard so many times comes to mind.

Oswald J. Smith said, "Oh, my friends, we are loaded down with countless church activities, while the real work of the Church, that of evangelizing and winning the lost, is almost entirely neglected."

That is such a bold, yet true statement. Why have we come to this? We must reevaluate our priorities, unlock the doors, get on our knees, open our hearts, open our Bibles, become equipped, and demonstrate the depth of our love for God by rescuing those who are about to perish.

Watch me. I will be the outcast tonight with my Bible in hand at our monthly class fellowship. My prayer for the future is that we don't even think about walking into our church for any reason, without having Bible in hand being ready to truly fellowship. Fellowship in the body of Christ is certainly no side issue. It was one of many things the early church devoted itself to, and from this brief blog, we can see why. It is a means of support and encouragement to others and of ministry in the Savior's enterprise on earth.

I'm open to your thoughts and comments,

Chris

 
 

UntilTheNetsAreFull@gmail.com