Too Busy to Fellowship?
Too Busy to Fellowship? Really?
I think 1 John 1:6-7 is one of the most powerful messages to pastors today. And in today's cyber-pastor world, it's more important than ever to understand the meaning of this passage. It's a part of God's plan that we have actual fellowship with one another. It's not good enough that 20,000 Twitter users per day read your quotes. Fellowship requires an investment of time and energies, and it must be personalized one-on-one.
1 John reads: "If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
Let’s look more closely to three phrases in that passage:
"If we claim to have fellowship with him…; if we walk in the light…; …we have fellowship with one another…
If we make the claim of walking in the light, and actually walk in it, one of the by-products will be fellowshipping with one another.
In the original text, this word “fellowship” is the translation of the Greek word, “koinonia.” It is derived from the root, “koinos,” which was a prefix in ancient Greek meaning “to hold something in common.” For instance, add that prefix to the word “mother” and it would mean we have the same mom.
Also, the usage of the word, “fellowship” deserves a better understanding. The Greek word, “koinonia,” was also used to describe the most intimate of marriage relationships. From the usage of the word, we can conclude that fellowship is a word denoting a relationship that is dependent on more than one individual. It is an interdependent relationship. Which means that if all we do is post quotes on Twitter, or spew wisdom from the pulpit on Sunday, we’re not practicing the true meaning of fellowship, thus, walking in darkness.
This is why, as pastors, we cannot seclude ourselves from the flock and still call for the flock to fellowship with one another. We too must participate in that fellowship. No, we can’t take 20,000 parishioners to lunch after service. But we CAN take 20. I recently saw a Twitter message from a pastor who I highly respect, that read, “Hey staff tweets. Leadership lunch today! First eight people who let us know can go!” How in the world is this pastor fellowshipping with a congregation if he so-limits the fellowship with his own staff? He’s not.
If we as pastors believe our only calling is to cast vision and show up to preach, then we need to go back and read 1 John 1:6-7 and realize that if we claim to have fellowship with HIM, and actually do, then we will also have fellowship with ONE ANOTHER.” Anything less, and we’re simply liars.
How I see it, fellowship is the result of common goals coming together regardless of our specific gifts or calling.
Regardless of how big or small your flock may be, we are all still sheep, and we must fellowship with other sheep.
