Something more than a donut …

Modern Christianity has done little to teach the rich biblical view and need of Christian fellowship. The result is a gross lack of understanding of what Christian fellowship really is.

Truth be told, it’s certainly something more than a donut, yet in 2021, when the idea of “fellowship” is mentioned, one of the first images that comes to mind is talking with someone over coffee and donuts!

Even though for many churches gone are the days of gathering after Sunday morning service in a “fellowship hall” — for coffee and donuts! — we have now “modernized” our churches so that we’ve dropped our Sunday school programs in favor of meeting each week in the homes of believers to “do life together” (a.k.a. “fellowship”) … and have coffee and donuts!

J.D. Morris quickly reminds us that Christian fellowship really is something more than a donut …

Nowhere in the New Testament do any of the Greek words translated “fellowship” imply fun times. Rather, they talk of, for example, “The fellowship of the ministering to the saints” (II Corinthians 8:4) as sacrificial service and financial aid. (See for example, I Timothy 6:18). Elsewhere, Paul was thankful for the Philippian believers’ “fellowship in the gospel” (Philippians 1:5), for he knew that “inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers (same word as fellowship) of my grace” (Philippians 1:7). This sort of fellowship may even bring persecution. We are to emulate Christ’s humility and self-sacrificial love (Philippians 2:5-8) through the “fellowship of the Spirit” (Phil 2:1). In some way known only partially to us, we have the privilege of knowing “the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death” (Philippians 3:10), and even the communion (i.e. fellowship) of the blood … and body of Christ” (I Corinthians 10:16).

Whether we still use the word “fellowship,” or refer to the same concept as “doing life together,” Christian fellowship is about loving each other to the point we bear one another’s burdens as we journey through this life together as ambassadors for Jesus Christ. This kind of love and connection means we need to hug each other! Well, at least the way Don Graham illustrates for us in this story …

In the fall of the year, Linda, a young woman, was traveling alone up the rutted and rugged highway from Alberta to the Yukon. Linda didn’t know you don’t travel to Whitehorse alone in a rundown Honda Civic, so she set off where only four-wheel drives normally venture. The first evening she found a room in the mountains near a summit and asked for a 5 A.M. wakeup call so she could get an early start. She couldn’t understand why the clerk looked surprised at that request, but as she awoke to early-morning fog shrouding the mountain tops, she understood. Not wanting to look foolish, she got up and went to breakfast. Two truckers invited Linda to join them, and since the place was so small, she felt obliged.

“Where are you headed?” one of the truckers asked.

“Whitehorse.”

“In that little Civic? No way! This pass is dangerous in weather like this.”

“Well, I’m determined to try,” was Linda’s gutsy, if not very informed, response.

“Then I guess we’re just going to have to hug you,” the trucker suggested.

Linda drew back. “There’s no way I’m going to let you touch me!”

“Not like THAT!” the truckers chuckled. “We’ll put one truck in front of you and one in the rear. In that way, we’ll get you through the mountains.”

All that foggy morning Linda followed the two red dots in front of her and had the reassurance of a big escort behind as they made their way safely through the mountains. Caught in the fog in our dangerous passage through life, we need to be “hugged.” With fellow Christians who know the way and can lead safely ahead of us, and with others behind, gently encouraging us along, we, too, can pass safely.

Let’s take a moment to refresh ourselves with just a few ways scripture encourages us to develop rich bonds of fellowship …

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken,” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend,” Proverbs 27:17.

“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer,” Acts 2:42.

“When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours,” Romans 1:12.

“The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ,” 1 Corinthians 12:12.

“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ,” Galatians 6:2.

“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ,” Ephesians 4:11-13.

“Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose,” Philippians 2:2.

“Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts,” Colossians 3:16.

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing,” 1 Thessalonians 5:11.

“Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone,” 1 Thessalonians 5:14.

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near,” Hebrews 10:24-25.

“Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude,” 1 Peter 3:8.

“We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ,” 1 John 1:3.

“But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin,” 1 John 1:7.

How is Christian fellowship more than a donut for you?

Scotty