Day 18: Experiencing Life Together

Are you familiar with the Lord of the Ring series of books? A group of different races come together with one common goal. They become known as The Fellowship of the Ring. That's kind of what we are called to do as Christians. Get into small groups and fellowship. The Fellowship of the Choir, the Fellowship of Moving, The Fellowship of the Child Care. Things like that take place at my church. Of course we don't call them those things, but you get the idea, different people with a shared goal.

But what does 'fellowship' really mean. A fellow is a comrade or associate, a peer or an equal, another person like me. A ship well, that's a big boat. So fellowship must have to do with a bunch of people, maybe Russians, on a ship right? I thought that was the Navy. Been there, done that. I had fellowship with shipmates, all 5000 of them.

But when I was in the Navy, I didn't call it fellowship, I think I knew the difference between 'fellowship' and 'friendship'. Friendship can be had without fellowship, but you can't fellowship without friendship. According to my facebook, I have 243 friends, but I don't have fellowship with all of them. Fellowship is about closeness, and 243 people can't all be close. In fellowship, size matters, and smaller is better.

Jesus spent three years in fellowship with twelve other people. Sure, He preached to hundreds,and fed 5000, but He invested the most of His time into His Disciples. They were the original Fellowship of the King.

Fellowship is about sharing more than food, or idle conversations about the weather, or even a Sunday service. I don't fellowship on Sunday with the 300 other people who attend my church, I go there to be fed His Word. Fellowship with me happens during the week when I get to meet with other believers in small groups. Sadly, my shift schedule makes it hard for me to fellowship, but I think I'm finding ways to make it happen anyway.

I need fellowship; it helps me be a better Christian. That real connection that comes from being open and honest with another person the author calls 'Authenticity'. Being real. It's hard to "keep it real" in large groups. In a large group, we can blend in and hide our flaws, but there's no hiding in fellowship. I need to be accepted for who I am, a broken, sinning, Child of Christ. It needs to be genuine and if I haven't been honest with who I am to others, their acceptance of me becomes worthless. I said it the other day, all of my 243 facebook friends don't 'know' me.

I need fellowship for the give and take. Not about stuff, I need the give and take of accountability, responsibility, and encouragement. This again comes from openness and honesty. I can't say that I smoke (which I don't) and then tell the people I'm in fellowship with that I'm quitting and need their support. I need to tell them what I really struggle with and have them hold me accountable, everyday if necessary. I need to be responsible to them if I say I'm going to meet them, or do something, and I need to encourage them as they encourage me. Paul's said "your faith will help me, and mine with help you."

I love the image the author paints. In times of deep crisis, grief and doubt, when our faith falters we need believing friends the most. Within fellowship, our friends have faith 'for' us. When we are broken to the point that we can't feel God, that our world is crashing down, it's nice to have friends who we know and that we can see and feel. When God seems distant to me, I can always look to my friend and mentor Tom, and see Him there. That fellowship keeps God real in my life. In fellowship with others, I can share in their pain, which divides it, and their happiness, which multiplies it.

In fellowship I find mercy, not judgment. I've spoken on stage at Church before. I've opened up about personal things in front of 150 or more people. When I was up there, I couldn't help but think about who was judging me. Were people who never struggled with what I was struggling with now thinking less of me? Had I ruined my 'image' as a Christian who has it all together?(not that for one second I ever felt that I projected that image.) It's hard to know what 150 people are thinking. But in small groups, in fellowship you know.

I've opened up about some really personal stuff in fellowship and never once felt judged. When you tell someone what your biggest sin is, and they wrap you in a huge bear hug, that is love, that is mercy, that is God. It is not judgment.

The main thing I took away from this chapter was the line "You will never be asked to forgive someone else more than God has already forgiven you. I know, that the whole chapter was about fellowship and the grace and forgiveness just a small portion at the end, but without forgiveness and grace for one another, there can be no fellowship.

I've been there, maybe you're there now. I've backslid, fallen off the wagon, whatever you want to call it. I'm getting back up. I'm getting back into fellowship. I'm admitting what I've done and asking for that forgiveness and grace. How about you?

From the Book of Galatians the Bible tells us

Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
Gal 6:2 (NLT)

What better advice could there be? In the real world, you know it's easier to carry a heavy object with a few other people. Obviously 243 people can't all help move a grand piano, but 12 could. So why do so many of us insist on carrying our spiritual baggage alone? Stop it! We are commanded by God to share these burdens with others and help others with their burdens.

The question for today is: What one step can I take today to connect with another believer at a more genuine, heart-to-heart level? I think that true connection comes from intimate contact. Today, I will call another believer and talk to them about their day. Not text them, facebook them, or shoot them an e-mail, today I will make REAL CONTACT. Although, I will take Pastor Mike's example and text a few others some encouragement. But there's someone I need to call right now.

Remember:I need others in my life.