The True Essence of Fellowship

Home fellowships usually have 3 components i.e. Hymnal, Bible Study and Fellowship. In the last home fellowship after the bible study we were having casual chats with those presents and the host family and we inquiring about some members whom some of us had not seen for awhile. At the same time, we were also joking and poking fun at some others all in the spirit of communion.

After the home fellowship is over, I received an SMS from one brethren who was present in the fellowship indicating his concern that we are gossiping and talking behind others back. I was distress on reading it. Thoughts came thru my head... did we over do what we did?

"and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks" - Eph 5:4

Are we guilty of the above instruction?

Further thoughts on the issue brings up to me yet another aspect of this event. If you are in the company, would you have raise this concern?

Probably not - why would you risk offending others and risking others to think that you are being self righteous?! - Right?

But apostle Paul was different, he had wrote many letters to encourage the brethren to admonish each others, so that they can grow in faith and in strength. (1 The 5:14; 2 The 3:15; Rom 15:14)

Having thought over this, I concluded that the true ESSENCE of fellowship is not just gathering together to study the words of God BUT also provide an opportunity to admonish and edify each others with brotherly love so as to help each one to grow spiritually into maturity.

BUT there is a TWIST in this - how many of us are ready to be reproved and admonished?!

If you are the one who had received the SMS, how would you have reacted? Would you have a calm and humble spirit to ponder over it and make adjustment to yourself? Or would you have reacted negatively to a such a comment?

It is not easy for some of us but if we can build a fellowship based on openess with mutual trust and love then we shall stand as one before God. Remembering always that; No one is perfect - except God.

We must always be humble before God and have the mentality to learn. It should not matter who taught the lesson - it might be the blind begger that Jesus healed or a child or someone others despire or even your enemy!

Remembering always that God talks to us through all his creations - even the child, the begger, the thuds and the ungodly, what more if it is from a brethren in Christ?!

So therefore, let us not despise one another but with love, admonish and edify each other. There shall be no shame before the Lord for we are all the same and equal. May God bears with our weakness and continue to bless us.

Amen.

"... now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you.". On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it." - 1 Cor 12:20-27