The Good Fellowship

“Do Ye Love one other?”

On many occasions, I can challenge myself to know more by asking questions. However, this time I was thinking of changing the method and directing those questions to myself. Because I have noticed, it is much easier to be the judge than the judged. We know how to point fingers at others. And we might not yet have the courage to point it at ourselves. We have become experts in defending our cause from the beginning of time. That shows how hard it is for a human being to quit their ambitions and become humble and accept GOD’s will.

“Tag along!”

Dividing and conquering seems to be a technique that works just fine for those who are looking to win. We might live in a world where there is a description for everything, which is pursuing to categorize people and ideas. Moreover, it is trying to separate a truth from a truth, so to say, by giving it a category, such as Christian or any other type of community or group. By doing so, when those “truths” are confronting, both to remain true and in the middle, a battle is lost and a win for each side. However, that is not what the Bible teaches, nor what Jesus preached when He was walking in the dust of our Earth. It was quite the opposite. He had claimed, that He is the Truth. Through Him, people would get to know GOD.

If the Truth were at the foundation of our christian life and personal beliefs, we would stop categorizing our brothers and sisters. We would consider all being part of the same group, and their ideas on any matter of any subject would receive our love and the humble doubt that we hold a “better truth” than theirs.

It is sad and more tearful to see this among people for whom Christ has shed every drop of His blood. He has given us His life so that we can have peace not just with GOD. But with each other as well. We don’t seem to try and promote that, but rather we try to detour our journey towards people who confirm our preconception of what we hold as the only side of the story.

I must admit I was there, and probably at times there still is the temptation in which I fall, to do the same. What can I say? I am not more, not less than a handful of clay.

Good talks!

I was meditating lately that when there is a subject in discussion, we should listen well first. Think of the thoughts we would like to share and then speak with kindness. There might be people who have not yet trained themselves in doing so, but this would not be a too big challenge. Nevertheless, it seems it affects us. I was wondering why we do not have the maturity and openness to discuss any matter, even if we do not agree. The answer I come up with is, that we do not have the humbleness to understand that we do not hold the truth on any Biblical matter. We do not have the humbleness to listen and correct with love, a fellow brother who might have not yet grasped the whole understanding of the subject. We do not have the time nor the patience to teach or to share, with kindness, our perspective on the subject in discussion.

I believe that we should train in our minds the awareness that someone might know more on a Bible principle than us. As well, as that someone might know less. Therefore, what is the solution? Jesus had commanded a clear and rather easy thing to do. Show love and warmth. Love is acceptance, understanding, compassion, appreciation, encouragement, joy, gratitude, recognition and sacrifice.

The way to depict this would be in this manner. Each fellow brother or sister holds a piece of the same puzzle. We should build the puzzle by being firstly obedient to GOD and then serving one another. Let’s discuss and share what we have been thinking. Let us be led by GOD in the things we do not agree with. Not agree, I believe it is maturity. It means we are questioning and by this trying to understand certain things. However, if we reach that far, are we unable to distinguish between foundational principles and the finesse ones? Those Biblical truths which sanctify us and not justify? Probably we ought to study more on what is part of justification and what is part of sanctification. If we fail to understand these two, we will live a very confused and dreadful life in the presence of our brethren. Apostle Paul, not once but a few times was encouraging his fellow believers to be united in love, in thinking, in understanding and in sharing the same emotions. (Philippians 2:2; 3:16) Therefore, if there are things we agree on, we should try to agree on more. Having this as proof, of the things we do not agree on yet to be in the pursuit of having the great desire to agree on when the time comes.

In one of the last Sunday morning sermons, one brother shared his desire for the whole congregation to pray for unity. How can we be united, when we do not agree on certain things? And on those we are agreeing, we are not certain about the conclusion of the agreement. Or, if we do not agree, to accept the view my fellow brother has embraced, as long as it’s not compromising the salvation. Unity comes on all levels, emotional and rational.

To answer the raised question, would be easy. But my mind was stricken by a thought which can be found in John 13:34-35. The new commandment Jesus has given us, his fellow disciples. And we are all his disciples, but I wonder if that is what the world might say about us without any hesitation.

I have noticed lately that between Christians, the fellowship is warm, welcoming and rather pleasant, at the beginning. But once people get to know each other, they tend to distance one from another and start creating little assemblies in a single church. I have wondered why. But probably some of us know why. I was presuming why, yet I wanted to know more and I put my mind to understanding it. So far I discovered a few things which I believe are true. They are also characterizing the uprising of the modern society. People who think that are smart and intelligent, yet, are deeply failing in the order they think are making. But, is it really order?

The pleasant communion

It requires sacrifice, indeed, to be in the fellowship of my brothers and sisters. If I truly desire to be in their presence and enjoy the way GOD works in each of our lives, we will have to sacrifice. We will have to sacrifice so much, that it will cost us sometimes. But, truthfully, it will not outweigh the return value, we will receive.

Christ has given all for us before we knew Him. For this purpose, so one day we will all enjoy His fellowship. Isn’t it interesting, that He already sacrificed for a fellowship with me, and I am not even in His physical presence yet? We do have fellowship with Him physically, but how much more enjoyment will it be when we see Him face to face?

For our brothers and sisters, we should have the humbleness to respect them, love them, and accept them as they are. With all the abnormalities and deflections from the word of GOD. It is the normal way to grow in Christ and maybe at times, GOD needs you to share the right way of understanding a text from the Bible. At the same time, you may need to be instructed on how to think about a subject. Do you own the humbleness of knowing so much, that you need to be instructed on more?

My prayer is for all of us to find new sports to practice. Tagging and exercising at idea length seems tiring. I don’t seem to gain anything at all. Being close and feeling each other’s imperfections, is challenging.

But Jesus forgave it already, who are we to reject it?