Bella Vista Church of Christ
LIFELINES
July 17, 2002 Randall Caselman
We Are Family
We look at the Jerusalem church and exclaim, "Whew, how did they do it?" Having all things in common, giving, working, soul winning, teaching, worshiping together in a pure unbroken fellowship. The Greek for "fellowship" is koinonia. It means a partnership, or better, a participation in a partnership. Robertson says it takes cooperation to fellowship. The New English translates, "Gave themselves to sharing with each other."
Sometimes we look at Acts 2.42 through "rose-colored glasses" desiring that our churches have what they had. It didn't last. We only have to move to Acts 6 to know that Satan hates fellowship. He is constantly working to disrupt our togetherness. Apostolic wisdom overcame him in Acts 6. We see Satan at work again in the prejudice of Acts 10. Peter had to learn what "fellowship" really was. Then in the case of Paul and John Mark we see that fellowship does not demand total agreement on all issues.
Fellowship is fragile. We are family, but maintaining this family demands our full attention. Are we willing? For instance…
Fellowship demands that we be patient. Most of us in the church know our own weaknesses, do we not? What we want is for others to be patient, tolerant, with us till we work through our problems. It never ceases to amaze me how those of us who demand patience and tolerance for ourselves, usually are the most impatient and intolerant of others. Come now, let's give one another a little room for growth, maturity, time to overcome our failures, weaknesses, shortcomings, ignorance, and inconsistencies. Paul said it best: "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Colossians 3.13) "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." (Philippians 2.3)
Fellowship demands understanding. In the sixties Joe South released a hit song, "Walk A Mile In My Shoes." Before we become critical of the elders, deacons, preachers or one another, perhaps we would do well to walk one day -- even a week -- where our brother or sister walks. Understanding is a learned skill; we are not born with it. It takes little to criticize, but real spiritual maturity and godly patience to be understanding. Criticism demands nothing; no discipline, no caring, no concern, no agape love, nothing! Just relax, sit back, and allow Satan to poison the mind and wag the tongue. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control..." Let us not become conceited provoking and envying each other." (Galatians 5.22,23,26)
Fellowship demands we be realistic in our expectations. Ever notice that the better we get to know others, the more "human" they become? I used to think preachers were some kind of spiritual giants, isolated from sin and Satan, moving about on "angels' wings," walking on holy ground. Then I became one!! In a family, we see one another as we truly are, warts and all, sinners, saved by God's grace. Heaven is not promised to the sinless but to the forgiven. The church is not a trophy case, but a hospital. We all make mistakes, serious ones. We must become realistic in our expectations of one another.
Fellowship demands proper priorities. So many things demand our attention today. Family, career, peer pressure. The pressure is on to keep up socially and economically with our neighbors. But when we really get down to it, what is important? Really important? We are not asked to be competitive in the church. We are not asked to keep up with the Joneses; it is not required of a steward that he be economically wealthy. In fact, if anything is taught, those who have are to give to those who have not. Sometimes our worship services look like a fashion parade. Some are awed, others hurt, some crushed because they can never hope to rise to that economic or social level. Jesus gives us true priorities: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and Love your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:27) We are family, which means we are not competing with one another but bearing one another's load. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother! The next time we are tempted to flaunt our material wealth, our designer clothing, our new car or house, let us be mindful of how this will affect our brother. There are no ivory towers in the church. "The greatest in the kingdom must be servant of all."
Fellowship demands selfless service. The church of Jesus Christ is not on this earth to serve self. We enjoy a place in this family as a result of our salvation… "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." We have a call, a responsibility, a commission to carry out. Those of the first century church understood this. They continued "daily with one accord in the temple…from house to house…with gladness and singleness of heart…They that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word." (Acts 2.46, 8.4, KJV) The big picture is this: The world is lost! We must forget our petty issues and move forward in taking Jesus to the world, and work diligently at keeping the saved in the family.
"Have you ever stood in the family with the Lord there in your midst? Seen the face of Christ on your brother? Then I say you've seen Jesus my Lord." That's fellowship.
RANDALL CASELMAN
