WEDNESDAY
1 John 1:1–4 1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have observed and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life— 2 that life was revealed, and we have seen it and we testify and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us — 3 what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may have fellowship along with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
Today, we are focusing on one key word from verse 3—fellowship. This is such a good word, but it has become such a common church-y word (and only a church-y word as far as I know) that it has lost some of its meaning. When I think of fellowship, my mind first goes to the conversations in the lobby after church, the small group gathering, the mid-week potluck meal, or the fellowship hall (i.e. gym) where these events happen. These are scenes of fellowship but not fellowship in and of themselves.
Fellowship (koinonia) means “close association involving mutual interests and sharing.” (1) It was often used around the first century in the context of a marriage relationship. It implies unity. It implies mutual interest and purpose. It implies intimately bonded relationship and belonging to one another in community.
If that definition is what is being lived out at the church potluck, then we’re doing the thing. However, we often confuse our “fellowship” for friendship. Fellowship is a deeper form of friendship that is uniquely centered around the gospel. This is a nice part of using a word that the rest of the culture doesn’t really use anymore. In friendship our interests revolve around hobbies and activities that we both enjoy. In fellowship our interests revolve around the worship of God and the truth of the gospel. In friendship our purpose is often to avoid loneliness. In fellowship our purpose is to unify, belong to one another, give to one another, and therefore love one another the way Christ has loved us.
These are big words—unify, belong, give, love, purpose. In the church we have this fellowship with the apostles, the community that believes that gospel taught by the apostles and therefore, God himself. This type of relationship is what the world longs for. Our human nature cries out for it. Thank you Lord for the gift of fellowship.
- William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 552.
Reflection
Is your perception of your church community fellowship or friendship?
Spend some time thanking God for the fellowship of the community of faith, the apostles and God himself.