Are denominations *always" wrong?

[Guest]

Some of you have used a reference to fellowshipping with other believers. What does it mean to you to be fellowshipping with others?

livingink

[Guest]

What does it mean to you to be fellowshipping with others?

Visiting with other believers, caring for other believers, encouraging other believers, sharing their burdons, and so forth. Eating with them is optional, but is an excellent excuse to "fellowship".
D.

[Guest]

What does it mean to you to be fellowshipping with others?

Visiting with other believers, caring for other believers, encouraging other believers, sharing their burdons, and so forth. Eating with them is optional, but is an excellent excuse to "fellowship".
D.

Oh yes!!!
Some good Christian brothers and sisters + chili, pizza, chicken, what have you....that's a nice time!!

[Guest]

What does it mean to you to be fellowshipping with others?

Visiting with other believers, caring for other believers, encouraging other believers, sharing their burdons, and so forth. Eating with them is optional, but is an excellent excuse to "fellowship".
D.

Oh yes!!!
Some good Christian brothers and sisters + chili, pizza, chicken, what have you....that's a nice time!!

I love food. It makes me happy.

[Guest]

Christopher,

Is what these gentlemen described in line with what you had in mind when you used the term "true Christian fellowship" in your 5/17 post?

livingink

[Guest]

Hi Livingink,

While I do enjoy the social aspect of "fellowship", it goes much deeper than that in my mind. I like to use the classic Acts 2 passage:

Acts 2:44-47
44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
NKJV

To me, it's having all things in common and loving God together, ministering to each other, praying together, rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep. The main point is the togetherness of the body.

I've heard sermons on the word "fellowship" (koinonia) and I know it means something much more than the way we tend to use it today. But when I think of fellowship, I'm thinking meaningful and profitable (spiritually speaking) relationships.

How do you see it?

[Guest]

Hi Everyone,

Seems I have fallen into the role of the Forum contrarian. Oh well.

Christopher is correct. He said:

I've heard sermons on the word "fellowship" (koinonia) and I know it means something much more than the way we tend to use it today.

I John 1:7 "If we walk in the light as He is in the light we have fellowship with one another...". All who are walking in the light are in fellowship. All who participate in the redemption of Jesus' blood are in fellowship. If you support a missionary you never or rarely see, you are in fellowship with him or her.

The word fellowship is usually used to mean socializing.

A quote from the TDNT: "Close analysis of the word koinonia shows that Paul never used it in a secular sense but always in a religious one. It is not to be equated with societas, companionship, or community. It is not a parallel to ekklesia and has nothing to do with the local congregation.
For Paul koinonia refers strictly to the relationship of faith to Christ: 'fellowship with His Son' (1 Cor. 1:9), 'the fellowship of the Holy Spirit' (2 Cor. 13:14), 'partnership in the gospel' (Phil 1:5), 'sharing your faith' (Phlm. 6).
Similarly, koinonia in 1 Cor. 10:16 means 'participation' in the body and blood of Christ and thus union with the exalted Christ."

We can thus see that the common application of "fellowship" to the potluck or some Christians playing golf together is far off the mark of the biblical meaning.

Blessings, Homer

[Guest]

Hi all,

I believe my contrary ole friend had the same viewpoint that I did. But before I go farther, (I don't have but a minute now before work), could you look back at Brody's 5/17 2:08pm post and see if something jumps out at you the way it did to me?

livingink

[Guest]

Hi Homer,

I don't see you as a contrarian, but like your signature states "A Berean". I do greatly appreciate your challenges to conventional Christian paradigms. I regularly glean much from your wisdom.

I believe you and livingink are correct about the biblical usage of "fellowship". However, it's typical in the English language for the meaning of words to morph into something completely different than they were originally. I don't say that's a good thing, but just a reality. Christianese is no different.

I think most of us sometimes use certain words the way we know they will be generally understood, even if we know the true meaning to be different. That is, admittedly, the path of least resistance. But I certainly wouldn't want to take on the task of correcting every Christian I encounter that uses the word "fellowship". I just don't see that much is lost by using the word the way we do in Christian circles. I could be wrong about that, and if I am, please enlighten me.

I do think, however, that the true definition is very useful in sermons that include that word.

Look forward to hearing both of your thoughts.

[Guest]

Hi all,

I believe my contrary ole friend had the same viewpoint that I did. But before I go farther, (I don't have but a minute now before work), could you look back at Brody's 5/17 2:08pm post and see if something jumps out at you the way it did to me?

livingink

What "Jumped" out at you in that post? I read it again and just dont see anything that should sound an alarm.....Please hurry though...the suspence is killing me!!