Do you ever feel like you want some close spiritual friends you can tell your life to? Are you feeling a hole in your spiritual life where close friends should be? This is because we were designed to have close spiritual friends in mutually edifying relationships where we can reveal our true self and be channels of God’s grace. The New Testament refers to this as fellowship; the Greek word is koinonia, which literally means participation.
What does the New Testament teach about fellowship? One of the principles we observe in the Apostle Paul’s life is that we should support one another especially in troubled times. This is stated plainly in Galatians 5:2: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (ESV).
This implies that we actually let other people know what our burdens are! Think about how often we don’t do this. How often do you have a truly painful problem and not have anyone you can talk through it with?
“This implies that we actually let other people know what our burdens are! Think about how often we don’t do this.”
This also means that we need to have a receiving mode. In other words, we have to have the quality of being willing to admit we need others and to receive from them. This is humility. Sadly, ministers and longtime Christians are often just as guilty as others of not being receptive, sometimes more so. Older Christians often become too concerned about appearing all together and being satisfied with just being a little more mature than others. We avoid placing ourselves in situations where we are the vulnerable one who needs others. Leaders should be models in this area, not resistors.
In Scripture, the most common way we bear each other’s burdens is through each other exercising spiritual gifts. Rom. 12:5-6a states: “We, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another, having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us.” The passage then lists gifts of service, teaching, encouragement, and mercy.
The entire chapter of I Corinthians 12 explains the ways in which we should use spiritual gifts to edify one another. This is summed up in verse seven: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” The chapter mentions words of knowledge, words of wisdom, miracles, healing, and prophecy among others.
Imagine how powerful and fulfilling it would be to be part of a group where each one was supporting the other with spiritual gifts?
“for now consider whether you are willing to pursue these first two features”
Bearing burdens and exercising spiritual gifts are only two of the features of New Testament fellowship. Next week we will look at more. But for now consider whether you are willing to pursue these first two features. It takes work to make it happen but they are directives from Scripture. And as we pointed out at the beginning, part of us truly wants this kind of deeper friendship.
Next week’s post is here.
