I still remember the days when I almost knew the day to day experiences of my bs members, the days we would keep each other in prayer, reach out to one another, encourage one another, serve one another and the like; all of us with a desire to be perfected in Christ.
I still remember the day we sat with some friends to discuss certain schools of thoughts on salvation with hearts ready to be guided by the authority of scripture; it was a day for the breaking of my self righteousness till I could start seeing God’s grace as the reason for my salvation.
I remember the days we shared with a friend, reminding each other of our struggles and testimonies, encouraging one another, challenging one another, discussing passages of scriptures together, reflecting on our attitudes and such.
These have been among my most meaningful moments in my communion with brethren; whenever we fellowship with one another with a shared goal that is Christ.
Yet there’s a trend that I see nowadays that seems to bother me; the disentanglement in fellowship when we meet together. How ironical!
Sometimes we sit together as believers, share a meal, share an afternoon or so, make stories, speak about the weather and school and politics, share about our relationships or make fun of them, prepare meals together, discuss the ingredients and our cooking skills or no skills, discuss this trend and that, and that. And when it just ends at this, then how unfruitful our communions are! For how much different are they from those that we have with our non-believing friends.
How I long for the fellowship where political talks lead us to remember God’s sovereignty; to remember our invitation to pray for all rulers and authorities and move us to pray for the same.
How I long for the fellowship where our conversations on our struggling or thriving relationships remind us of the brokenness of the world, and the redemption in Christ, and the redemption in the new heavens and earth that we await.
How I long for the fellowship where we lift up our voices and from our hearts make music to the Lord. Where by the spirit we speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
How I long for the fellowship where we genuinely share our testimonies and struggles in our Christian walk. Where it is not just programmed to respond to a ‘SPEARS’ question, but where we are truly vulnerable with each other. Where we listen to one another in love, being concerned beyond the sitting, praying for one another, encouraging one another, reminding one another of the reality of all things in light of the gospel.
How I long for fellowship where we stir one another unto love and godliness. Where we point out ungodliness out of love and a desire for purity. Where we correct each other sincerely and lovingly guided by God’s word.
How I long for fellowship where we extensively discuss the scriptures, where we rejoice in God’s word and diligently search through it. Where God’s word remains the ultimate authority. Where we challenge one another to scripture memory as we seek to imprint it in our hearts.
How I long for fellowship where we stir one another to respond to God’s invitation to make him known among the nations. Where we sit down to pray and then plan on how to be involved. Where we ask the Lord to open our eyes to the opportunities he’s called us to and respond when He does.
How I long for fellowship where the older believers seek for opportunities to commune with the younger in love and sincerity. Where they share their brokenness and beauty, out of reverence for Christ.
How I long for fellowship, where the abundance of love pours out all around us. Where we no longer are satisfied with our own circles but actively seek to invite many others to the fellowship of one another and with our Lord Jesus. Where we are willing to leave the comfort of these beautiful spaces of communion, so that such communions might exist among other communities.
How I long for fellowship!
In my recent reading of 2nd Kings, I couldn’t help but admire the fellowship between Elisha and the company of prophets. And in the new testament, how lovely to see the fellowship between Jesus and his disciples, and the fellowship among the disciples in the early church.
“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:46-47
Yet in my longing, I am not oblivious that not until we attain the full measure of Christ shall the church be perfect, for even the church at Jerusalem had its challenges (just to mention the distribution among the Hellenistic and Hebranistic widows).
Yet I long to see a church that seeks to be perfected. Believers who are consumed with a desire to be transformed by Christ rather than one to gratify the flesh. For how unprofitable to be in such a good community yet miss the very communion with Christ that we seek.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
1 John 1:7
Let us therefore walk in the light
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