A Standard For Fellowship

Tonight I found a question waiting for me at a forum I frequent that sort of broke my heart a little bit, and sort of encouraged me a little bit. I won't link to the forum because drawing attention to the person asking and/or their reason for asking might well see the important point of what God allowed me to reply with actually is.

Here's the forum post. I've edited out the person's name.

Hi Kev,

I would be encouraged if you would list the commands I would need to obey that I may obtain fellowship, with you. These are things that come from the Word of God that the Spirit and your discernment bring to mind. I would like to allow you no more than four at this time (Acts 15:24-31). Would this be an appropriate method of arriving at reconciliation? If not I am somewhat open to adjustment.

Honest thanks, *NAME*

Now here is my reply

*NAME*, there are no "commands" you would need to obey. A proclamation of faith in The Christ Who died for your sins in accordance with the Scriptures, Who was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and agreement that the Gospel that God Himself declares in His infallible Word (1 Cor 15) is the same Gospel that He commands us to preach to the whole world in the knowledge that they who believe it will live and they who do not will perish. (Mark 16)

I have no need of performance out of a person, I simply seek "fellowship" in the Gospel of Christ for there is no other fellowship or agreement of value or honour to Christ.

Kev

I don't want to pretend like I've written any great thing but I do want to model something for anyone it may help. Notice the standard the person asked for, and the standard I replied with. The person asked for a standard from the Bible, which is admirable. This person was stretching their willingness. Notice though the perception of performance. This could be because that person perceives that is how I would base fellowship, or it could be that they think fellowship is maintained that way.

There are surely levels of fellowship, with the Lord's Table being the closest. There is surely a level of orderliness, if not actually performance, that must be maintained to have fellowship at that kind of level. However, this person is asking about fairly loose friendship sort of fellowship.

Please take note of the standard that I offered as what would be acceptable to me, and notice Who I am seeking to please.

Fellowship is not about liking someone. Fellowship is not about working together. Fellowship is not about "seeing eye to eye." Christian Fellowship is not primarily about human relationships.

Christian Fellowship is about honouring The Christ, and everything about Him. We gather in fellowship as Christians under His Name alone, for His Glory, and His pleasure and His work. When I extend the right hand of fellowship to someone, it must ONLY be because they are a friend of God Almighty Who has called me friend.

I can not choose my fellowship outside of, in spite of, or even in ignorance of my first fellowship with Christ no matter how much I like the person. Likewise, I can not de-fellowship a person just because I don't like them. A person is a fellow of mine, if they are a fellow of the Christ Who has bought me and called me His.

There is no other Biblical standard. Fellowship is not about us, it's about Him.