“Beyond Vicinity”

“…so that the body of Christ may be built up.” Ephesians 4:12

      Don’t get me wrong, I love to travel! It has been an incredible experience to have walked the earth in Africa, Scotland/England. Iceland to name a few. I have had the privilege of seeing things that my parents never did, nor did they even have the opportunity to do so. But when all is said and done, I’m a stay-at-home kind of guy. Roots are important to me. The settled routines and “dailies” of my home are far more comfortable and desirable than being a world traveler. It fits me just fine. And it enables me to “do” life the way I was plumbed to do—in close proximity to others.

Over the last several months I have endeavored to give you a taste of matters that are referred to as “spiritual disciplines.” These are practices, intentional and strategic, that aim to enhance and develop a more mature and robust relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ. In the broadest sense, spiritual disciplines can be divided into two broad categories: what I call “disengagement” and “engagement.” Disengagement describes those disciplines that are intended to be conducted largely alone, and absent of something we would call normal in our lives (food, sounds/words, companionship, etc.) We examined solitude, silence, and fasting as representative of this category.

Engagement on the other hand, finds meaning and expression precisely in the company of others on the same journey path. They are intended to be conducted in concert with those who have made a determination to reach the same goal of spiritual health and maturity. The first of these is called “fellowship.” Now fellowship is more than being in the same room with others (let’s call it “vicinity”) or even having similar interests as others might (let’s call this commonality). This type of social interaction can be adequately satisfied through a club or hobby group.

Genuine fellowship of necessity needs other followers of Christ. This central starting point is critical to establishing authentic fellowship. Biblical fellowship provides and seeks the following:

First, sustaining power. Paul uses an interesting word in 1 Thessalonians 5:11—and build up one another…. The term is technically used for constructing a building or for describing a structure that already exists. Obviously, he is speaking metaphorically here but does so in a way that carries some of the original intent. Like a building is put together board by board, brick by brick, so believers are to cause one another to advance or grow in the faith found in Jesus Christ bit by bit. With each fellowship encounter, believers provide the sustaining power to advance in their faith. By implication, therefore, not engaging in genuine fellowship hinders not only the progress of the individual, but also prohibits the church from realizing its full potential. As the world grows increasingly anti-Christian, such sustaining power is critical for its life in the larger community.

Second, essential reciprocity. Ephesians 4:7-16 is one of four passages in the New Testament that define the use of the Spirit’s gifting to believers in Christ’s church (others being Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and 1 Peter 4). Even a cursory reading of these texts reveals the reciprocal nature of God’s giftings, that is, they were intended to be used in the context of other gifted believers. The result is so that the church “grows up” or matures to its fullest potential. In this sense we can affirm that gifts are not about the individual, but what that individual brings to the whole. Dallas Willard declares, Because of this reciprocal nature within the corporate body of Christ, fellowship is required to allow the realization of a joyous and sustained level of life in Christ that is normally impossible to attain by all our individual effort, no matter how vigorous and sustained (The Spirit of the Disciplines, 187).

Finally, move beyond sin management. One of the more unfortunate realities of the church throughout the ages has been the presence of “sin management.” Let me define this: sin management is coming up with human ways to deal with the realities of sin in one’s life. Even the great Martin Luther struggled with this early on, climbing up a long flight of steps on his knees uttering repentant-sounding phrases, believing that such self-inflicted pain made the difference regarding his sin. Fortunately, he discovered the correct way. John tells us in his first little letter (1 John) that genuine fellowship with one another requires genuine fellowship with Christ. One does not exist without the other. John admits that the difficulty is singular—sin! Sin prevents us from enjoying real fellowship with Christ and therefore, real fellowship with one another. The key is confession—if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confession is not sin management. Confession is itself a discipline that freely admits and reveals our deepest weaknesses and failures. It is the balm by which we are nourished and healed by God in order to live by the righteousness He requires. One could make the case that confession enters the domain of human fellowship, James 5. But that is another day! Deitrich Bonhoeffer in his masterpiece Life Together has much to teach us on the value of authentic living in fellowship with other whole-hearted followers of Christ. I’d encourage you to secure a copy and feast at that table.

Authentic community is rooted in genuine fellowship. Such community speaks of what is life-giving, renewing, refreshing, and what I believe is essential to living the Christ-life in our day. We invite you to consider the health and vitality that fellowship alone can provide. It is more than simply being in the vicinity of others. It requires all of you.

 

Blessings on the Journey, 

Pastor Dewayne