Fellowship is a loosely used term in the Christian
vocabulary and is sadly, quite often used in an unbiblical manner.
The greek
word for fellowship is: koinōnia
koy-nohn-ee'-ah
“fellowship, association,
community, communion, joint participation, intercourse” It describes the state
of “association” or “joint participation.” Koinonia belongs to a family
of words used in the New Testament which describe such “joint participation.”
Other in this family are koinoneo , the verb meaning - “to fellowship”; koinonos,
a noun describing - “One who fellowships”; koinonikos, an adjective
describing - “the willingness to fellowship,” and koinos, an adjective
meaning - “common.”
Koinonia is basically a bond or union for a united
purpose. The nature of the bond or union
varies upon the nature of the purpose.
For example in Luke 5:10 we are shown where James and John were partners
(koinōnos) with Simon in the
fishing business. Therefore their common
bond/union was for the purpose of fishing.
In Matthew 23:30-31 Jesus rebukes the Pharisees claiming they
would not have been partakers (koinōnos) in the blood of their ancestors
but instead are considered children of those who killed them.
Both are examples of fellowship
(bond/union/joint participation/communion for a united purpose) yet the first is fellowship in fishing and the
second in fellowship of persecution.
So we see that the word
fellowship (koinonia) is not just a biblical term but a term that can be used
for any bond or union for a united purpose.
A Christian man helping his
unbelieving neighbor fix his car is having fellowship in auto mechanics. The two are united in the purpose of
repairing a vehicle. Two unbelieving
women cooking dinner together are having fellowship in cooking; both being
united for the purpose of cooking a meal.
Let’s look at what is biblical
fellowship according to God’s Word.
Philippians 1:5 For
your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now
(Believers
are clearly shown that our fellowship is to be: in the gospel.)
1
John 1:3 shows us how this came to be:
That
which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have
fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his
Son Jesus Christ.
Fellowship between believers is to be in the gospel with the Father and His Son
Jesus Christ. Acts 2 shows us an example of this:
And
they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking
of bread, and in prayers.
In doctrine, in
breaking of bread (Lord’s Supper) and prayers.
All their activities were obedient to God’s Word and their actions were
all about spiritual participation unto the Father.
(Today,
the word fellowship is often refers to the eating of a common meal. While we see
that early Christians ate with one another as a result of the love they shared
(Acts 2:46), nowhere in the New Testament is the word fellowship used to refer
to a social, common meal.)
More
examples of biblical fellowship:
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 The cup of
blessing which we bless, is it not the communion
(koinōnia)
of the
blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion
(koinōnia)
of the
body of Christ? For we being many
are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
(We see how believers share in fellowship
of the body of Christ through the breaking of bread-Lord’s Supper.)
Romans 15:26 For it hath pleased them
of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution (koinōnia) for the poor saints
which are at Jerusalem.
2 Corinthians 9:13 Whiles by the
experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto
the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution ((koinōnia)
unto
them, and unto all men
(Christians in fellowship in the
spiritual work of benevolence.)
2 Corinthians 8:4 Praying us with much
intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship (koinōnia)
of the
ministering (attending to, serving, aiding, teaching) to the saints.
(Christians praying for those who have
given their lives in serving the saints such as the apostles and those
appointed by them and those who do so today.)
Galatians 2:9 And when James, Cephas,
and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me,
they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship (koinōnia); that we should go
unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
(Joint agreement in the participation in the preaching of
the gospel.)
Philippians
2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any
comfort of love, if any fellowship(koinōnia)
of the
Spirit
(Fellowship in the Spirit.)
Hebrews 13:16 But to do good and to
communicate (koinōnia) forget not: for with
such sacrifices God is well pleased.
(This shows a bond/union of sacrifice
of which a benevolent attitude is one of God’s desires.)
1 John 1:6-7 If we say that we have
fellowship (koinōnia) with him, and walk in
darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk
in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship (koinōnia) one with another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
(Here we see that we cannot walk in
darkness and also be in fellowship (bond/union) with Christ. But if we walk in the light we will have that
bond/union with Him and other believers who are in fellowship with Him.)
Koinoneo (fellowship) involves a person’s
faith and relationship with God and the person who is in fellowship with God,
is in fellowship with all others who are truly in fellowship with Him (I John
1:3). 1
Corinthians 1:9 refers to this as “the fellowship (koinonia) of His Son” and 2 Corinthians
13:14 shows it as “the communion
(koinonia) of the Holy Spirit.” Those in
Christ are said to be “partakers
(koinonos) of the divine nature” (2 Peter
1:4).
The picture of true fellowship (koinōnia)
we see in God’s Word is when
we participate together with other born again believers in what we are taught in God’s Word.
We are then “partakers” of the gospel of Christ and therefore engaged
in “fellowship in the gospel”.
Unfortunately
we see the abuse of the term ‘biblical fellowship’ to generally mean; any
activity of which people who call themselves believers, participate or partake
of together.
At any given time you will find
professed Christian bodies claiming fellowship to mean potluck suppers, coffee
and pie socials, clean up day in the park,
volleyball games, fishing/hunting trips, shopping or cooking groups,
sewing clubs or quilting parties, hiking trips or picnics etc. From what is advertised all over online, on
bulletin boards, sign boards outside religious denominational buildings, fliers
etc…any social gathering of any sort is considered biblical fellowship. Oftentimes they are advertising such
activities/recreation in order to invite the world to participate with
them.
Koinonia must not unite with those
who (I John 1:6) “walk in darkness”, or who practice
(2
Corinthians 10:20) “lawlessness”. The Christian must not have (I
Corinthians 10:20) “fellowship (koinonia) with demons” nor (I Timothy 5:22) “share (koinoneo) in other people’s sins”.
We also see that someone who greets the one who transgresses the doctrine of
Christ “shares (koinoneo) in
his evil deeds” (2 John 11).
Many religious organizations go
so far as to deem fellowship as a group
of professed believers participating in carnal, sinful worldly activities such
as football/ super bowl parties, beach and waterpark gatherings, fashion shows,
watching Hollywood movies together, engaging in absurd and silly antics of
tug-o-war games or face painting etc.
These such activities are
certainly fellowship because those participating in them are all joining (bonding
and uniting) in the activities but it is NOT
BIBLICAL fellowship.
Professed believers coming
together for a volleyball game are fellowshipping in entertainment of volleyball. Those coming together for fishing or hunting
are fellowshipping in recreation of fishing or hunting. The ladies in the sewing club are
fellowshipping in sewing and the coffee and pie group are fellowshipping in consuming
coffee and pie.
Many well-meaning born again believers
will claim that as long as the conversation is centered around Jesus Christ,
the activity doesn’t matter as long as it isn’t sinful. Quite often this is just an excuse for women
to run off to some activity with other sisters or men to partake in the
activities they enjoy, therefore labelling it biblical fellowship because they
will make sure that while they are entertaining their flesh, they speak well of
the Lord.
Realistically we see that the
activity is the center and focus of attention. How effective is it to be hitting a
volleyball and running after it while proclaiming God’s Word in a soberminded
way? Or reeling in a big fish while
discussing the crucifixion? Pulling the
trigger at the trap shoot while discussing gentleness? Or discussing the traits of a godly woman
while out shopping for cutlery? Let’s be
honest, these are simply activities that people want to do and although people
can participate in some of these, it is not called biblical fellowship.
(God’s Word informs us to
redeem the time because the days are evil- Ephesians 5:16-so let us not get
swept away in extra curricular activites when evangelizing, preaching, learning
and teaching the Word of God is of utmost importance!)
Biblical fellowship is for true
born again believers who have been regenerated in Jesus Christ, who are
obediently following after Him in Word and deed, denying the desires of the
flesh and are walking in truth and spirit after their Savior. These believers are then living their lives
as a sacrifice (Romans 12:2) and coming together (fellowshipping) with
like-minded believers in participation of such things as the Lord’s
Supper, prayer, edification in God’s Word, exhorting one another to stand strong in
Truth; evangelizing, discipling, serving,
aiding, teaching with benevolent actions etc. These actions are those of biblical fellowship as defined in God's Word.
Defining biblical fellowship is
very important as we see from scripture the actions that accompany fellowship
are ALL defined in God’s Word. Any
activity not from the Word of God is simply fellowship of that activity.
Why
is this so important? Everything from
the Word of God is important of course, but that one inconsistent
teaching can result in a lot of misled people.
Quite often we see the damaging results of this in the religious
denominational organizations as people will gather for biblical fellowship on
Sunday and Wednesday (praying, teaching, hymns etc.) with all actions, thoughts
and words centered around God for a total of a couple hours a week but those
same people will walk away from or shun a brother/sister seeking to come
together with them for biblical fellowship outside those Sunday and Wednesday
meetings. Yet when it comes to an extracurricular
activity that someone calls fellowship (examples as listed above), they are the
first to invite everyone they know.
Why? Because those fellowship
gatherings tantalize the flesh and fulfill the lusts of their desires, whereas
continuous TRUE biblical fellowship with other believers as seen in the New
Testament writings where they met house to house, daily, breaking bread and
scouring over the scriptures….is not as enticing to the carnal flesh.
That
shows a gross spiritual problem in such a person professing Christ.
True biblical fellowship is not centered on
fleshly carnal activities but instead on spiritual communion with our Father
and His Son, uniting with like minded brothers and sisters and encouraging
spiritual growth in order to stand strong (1
Corinthians 16:13), fight the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12) and endure until the
end (Matthew 24:13)
We
encourage you to seek biblical truth, understand what God’s Word says and be
obedient to it. James
1 says if we ask God for wisdom, He will give it.