Discussing the Church…
This is an interesting time in the life of the church that my family is a part of. I am very excited about it, because it is obvious that God is moving among and communicating with His people. Every November we make decisions concerning the church. In the weeks before that November meeting, we discuss various issues to determine how God is leading the church. So far, we have discussed elders/pastors and deacons. Currently, we are in the middle of a very interesting discussion. I will explain it briefly here. I would love to hear different opinions as to how Scripture answers or does not answer these questions.
1) From talking with several people in the church, God is leading some to meet together in smaller groups in different locations, while He is leading others to continue meeting together in a larger group as we have been meeting.
Question: Is it possible for God to lead different people within the church to different types of and locations for ministry?
2) Some (myself including) are wondering how these various groups (really, they will be different churches) should relate and fellowship.
Question: If two groups of Christians meet in different locations, should they attempt to maintain the fellowship and relationships that God has already formed? If not (and this is what we usually see with church “plants”) why not? If so, why and how?
Deliver such a one to Satan…
In light of my previous post concerning unity in the church (that is, the whole church, not simply the local church), I have been searching for Scripture where the church is instructed to separate from an individual (Note: I use “separate” to mean “church discipline – breaking fellowship as described in Matt 18:15-20”). Here are some of the reasons for separation that I have found:
- Unrepentant Sin (Matt 18:15-20; 1 Cor 5:1-5)
- Divisiveness (Rom 16:17-18; Titus 3:10-11)
- Disorderliness (2 Thess 3:6)
- Refusal to Work (2 Thess 3:7-10)
- False Teaching (contrary to the Gospel) (2 Thess 3:14-15; 1 Tim 1:20; 2 John 10-11)
Please understand that I am talking about separating from a person who calls himself a brother (a believer). In these cases, I believe that Scripture teaches that the church is to treat the individual as if he were a “heathen” – that is, not a part of the church.
Two questions: 1) Can you find other scriptural reasons for believers to separate from their brothers or sisters? 2) Are there any scriptural reasons for believers to disassociate from other believers without considering them under church discipline?
Κοινωνία 4
In the first three parts of this series (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3), I have suggested that κοινωνία (koinÅnia – often translated “fellowship”) is not produced by various activities, but instead represents a common bond/sharing among believers that is created by God through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit binds believers together creating κοινωνία. Also, I suggested that there are two reasons that someone may not be demonstrating κοινωνία in their lives: 1) They are not regenerate, or 2) they are quenching the work of the Spirit in their lives.
A friend pointed out that there is another reason that a person may not demonstrate κοινωνία in his or her life. If a believer is isolated from other believers, κοινωνία may not be evident. However, even in this rare instance, the Spirit would be working through the believer to bring others to God and, thereby creating κοινωνία.
There is also a fourth reason that someone may not demonstrate κοινωνία in his or her life: a lack of discipleship. In other words, many people are taught that “fellowship” is when a church meets together in a certain building under the proper authority to share food. Other activities are simply social interaction, but they are not proper forms of “fellowship.”
However, κοινωνία expresses itself in many different activities, in many different locations – as long as believers are demonstrating their care for one another and common bond with one another prompted by the Spirit of God. This could be expressed in a common meal among a large number of believers, but it could also be expressed by two believers sharing common interest. In fact, it is possible that large, organized gatherings disrupt or hinder true expressions of κοινωνία. Believers should express their common bond with one another in intimate, spontaneous, Spirit-led encounters where the “one-anothers” of Scripture are practiced – not out of duty, but out of love and concern.
If this is correct, then neither the location nor the activity is most important. Instead, Spirit-induced conern for one another leads to these expressions of κοινωνία. Perhaps more importantly, while we can teach the importance of expressing our love and concern for one another, demonstrations of κοινωνία cannot be taught. Instead, they must be modelled.
As an example, a friend of mine is a great model of hospitality. She has demonstrated κοινωνία with brothers and sisters in Christ many times by opening her home spontaneously. I have learned much about hospitality from observing her actions. However, if I simply copy her actions out of duty, there is no expression of κοινωνία. If, instead, the Spirit prompts me to demonstrate κοινωνία through hospitality, her actions become examples for me and others. In other words, she has “stir[red] up love and good works” (Heb. 10:24) in myself and other believers by her encouraging expressions of κοινωνία.
If you have anything to add to this discussion of κοινωνία, please comment. I look forward to learning from others as we study this important concept together.
Κοινωνία 3
In two previous posts (Part 1 and Part 2) I have discussed the Greek term κοινωνία (koinÅnia – often translated “fellowship”) and its application for the church, especially in Acts 2:42. I suggested that the term κοινωνία represents a common bond/sharing among believers that is created by God through the Holy Spirit. As such, κοινωνία cannot be created through various activities, such as fellowship meals, prayer meetings, etc. Instead, such activities are the natural (read, supernatural) results of believers who already possess κοινωνία.
In his first epistle, John reminds us that our κοινωνία with one another is based on our κοινωνία with God: “… so that you too may have fellowship (κοινωνία) with us; and indeed our fellowship (κοινωνία) is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3 ESV). So, those who have κοινωνία with the Father and the Son through the Spirit should also have κοινωνία with one another.
In The Church Unfinished (New York: Paulist Press, 2004, p.83), Bernard P. Prusak discusses the κοινωνία (which he calls communion) in the church in Jerusalem in Acts 2:42-47:
That communion was understood primarily to be a participatory unity in which all the disciples of the risen Jesus mutually shared a relationship with God, given gratis in and through Jesus. The mutual reception of God’s gift of self in turn generated a spirit of community and generous sharing among the recipients themselves. Christians had a communion among themselves that flowed from their mutual communion with God.
What does it mean, then, that the believers in the church in Jerusalem “devoted themselves… to κοινωνία” (Acts 2:42 ESV)? If κοινωνία is created by God in the believers who make up the church, why did they have to devote themselves to it?
As we answer this question, consider the remainder of Acts 2:42. Luke also states that the believers also devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the breaking of bread, and prayers. (Note: I understand that there is much discussion concerning this list. Specifically, are there two, three, or four items listed. I personally believe there are four separate items. However, the four are interrelated; they are not completely separate items.)
What does “devoted” mean in this verses? In Acts 2:42, “devoted” translates the Greek verb Ï€ÏοσκαÏτεÏÎω (proskartereÅ). According to BDAG, in this context this verb means “hold fast to, continue in, persevere in.” In other words, the believers “held fast to, continued in, or persevered in” the κοινωνία that God had already created in them.
The natural inclination of mankind is toward selfishness or self-centeredness. The supernatural inclination of a regenerated person is toward God and others (κοινωνία). The believers in the church in Jerusalem were persevering in this supernatural inclination while denying the natural inclination. They were not creating κοινωνία through various activities; instead they were deliberately living out the supernatural κοινωνία that God had created within and among them.
What are the implications of those for a person who does not live according to this God-given κοινωνία? As I see it, there are two possibilities: 1) The person is not regenerate; God has ever created κοινωνία within him or her. 2) The person is quenching the work of the Spirit in his or her life.
Next, I want to discuss several ways that κοινωνία can be demonstrated today.
Κοινωνία 2
In review, I suggested in a previous article that κοινωνία (koinÅnia – often translated “fellowship”) is not produced by various activities, i.e. “fellowship” meals. Instead, κοινωνία is a common sharing among believers that results in various activities such as shared meals. While the distinction may seem merely semantic, it is important for the life of the church. Does the church rely on activities to produce κοινωνία, or does it recognize that κοινωνία should be a part of the life of all believers, because of the source of κοινωνία.
What is the source of κοινωνία?
That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship (κοινωνία) with us; and indeed our fellowship (κοινωνία) is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3 ESV)
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation (κοινωνία) in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, . . . (Philippian 2:1 ESV)
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship (κοινωνία) of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9 ESV)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship (κοινωνία) of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV)
Κοινωνία is the common union between believers that is produced by God through the Holy Spirit. Our κοινωνία with other believers is a direct result of our κοινωνία with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As such, κοινωνία cannot be produced by believers through activities. Instead, all who are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, share a common connection with other believers: “There is one body and one Spirit…” (Ephesians 4:4 ESV) “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body…” (1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV)
As God produces κοινωνία in the believer, the believer will naturally demonstrate that κοινωνία through various activities – specifically through sharing their life with others. This type of sharing may include meals, conversations, contributions, etc.
Therefore, the church should not attempt to create κοινωνία. Instead, it must teach believers how to “devote themselves to … κοινωνία” as described in Acts 2:42. This will be the topic of the next article in this series.
Κοινωνία 1
I’m hoping that this blog becomes a series on the topic of κοινωνία (koinÅnia). I’ve never written a series of blogs before, so this will be an experiment.
Acts 2:42 states that the early believers in Jerusalem “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship” (ESV). In this verse, “fellowship” translates the Greek noun κοινωνία. In various passages of Scripture, this word is also translated as “association, communion, close relationship, generosity, contribution, partnership, sharing” (BDAG). My questions in this series of articles include:
- What is κοινωνία?
- What is the source of κοινωνία?
- How does the church ‘devote themselves’ to it?
The noun κοινωνία is never used in the Gospels, and Acts 2:42 contains the only use of the word in Acts. However, the author balances κοινωνία in Acts 2:42 by using the noun κοινός in 2:44. Luke uses κοινός four other times, but only one (4:32) carries the same meaning as in 2:44. In these two instances, κοινός means “being of mutual interest or shared collectively.”
Witherington comments on Luke’s use of κοινωνία in 2:42 in The Acts of the Apostles – A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998, p.160):
The term itself means a participation or sharing in common of something with someone else, in this case eating and praying. Thus, fellowship is not a very helpful translation, for fellowship is the result of κοινωνία, of sharing in common; it is not the κοινωνία itself. Κοινωνία is an activity which can result in fellowship of some sort, and it can entail things like sharing not just spiritual activities such as prayer but also physical food or other goods in common (v. 45, cf. 4:32-37).
If Witherington is correct, then κοινωνία is not fellowship. Instead, fellowship is the product of having κοινωνία. According to Acts 2:42-47, the believers had all things in common and shared with others. They prayed and shared meals together. However, this did not produce κοινωνία. Instead, κοινωνία resulted in these activities. These activities flowed naturally from their devotion to (persistence in) κοινωνία.
This is important for the church today. Our fellowship with one another cannot be manufactured artificially through planned meals or activities. Instead, our fellowship/sharing/communion with one another will flow naturally as we devote ourselves to κοινωνία.
Church meetings…
Several days ago, I posted about how the church helped my family move. We enjoy helping one another with things like packing up and moving, but that’s not the only reasons we gather. Actually, we have one day of “official” meetings, Sunday. We meet together Sunday morning and Sunday evening. But, what about other days of the week?
Saturday: Our family went to a movie and dinner with out-of-town visitors (my wife’s sister and her husband) and some of our church family.
Sunday: We gathered together with the church Sunday morning and Sunday evening.
Monday: Some of the church family came to our house for pizza and fellowship.
Tuesday and Wednesday: My wife and children went to the local pool with some of our church family.
Thursday: Our family went to a young friend’s baseball game, then to a Bible study.
Friday: My wife and daughter helped some of our church family do some work on their house.
Some people would not call this “church” – except for Sunday and perhaps the Bible study on Thursday. However, God has called us to walk this life together. That must encompass more than planned meetings.
How do you gather with the church?
Love one another…
There have been a couple of blog entries concerning the life of our church over the last week and love for another (for example, see Theron Stancil’s entry and Alice C.’s entry, and a related article by Isabel here). Last Saturday, we were the recipients of Christian love. We moved from seminary housing to a real house in a nearby city. Our brothers and sisters began arriving at our duplex by 9:00 a.m. to help us move. Many worked tirelessly moving boxes and furniture. Others provided meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) for our family and those helping (with enough leftovers to feed our family for a couple of days). Since we could only rent a small moving truck (apparently last weekend was the busiest moving weekend of the year), we had to make two trips. Our friends not only helped us load and unload the truck twice, but they also stayed to help us set up the new house. (Yes, we still have boxes to unpack, but we can live in the house as it is.) Some stayed until after 9:00 p.m. helping us. But that’s not all… we also had help cleaning our duplex on Monday!
So, why did I go into all of that? Well, let me start with a few passages of Scripture…
Jesus said to him, ” ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35)
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12, 17)
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13)
For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another… (1 John 3:11)
Sure… we’ve heard these commands to “love one another” since we were children. But how often have you (or I) been the recipients of true love… love that is patient, kind… love that demonstrates itself in unselfish ways… love that gives and gives and gives… love that lifts and carries and sweats and aches… love that sacrifices time and effort… Over the last few days, as I’ve contemplated this demonstration of love, several other Scripture passages have come to mind:
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:16-18)
If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:15-17)
Certainly, we were not naked nor destitute of daily food, but we were in real, physical need, and the love of Christ was demonstrated to us in real, physical ways. Isn’t it amazing that James uses this (a physical demonstration of love) as one of the visible manifestations of true faith? So, our family has been the recipients of real, biblical, Christ-honoring love.
So what? Do we thank God for His goodness and go on with our lives? Well, that brings me to the last passage of Scripture:
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
You see, as our church gathered on Saturday (yes, I did mean Saturday) in order to move us, we were encouraged (exhorted). We were stirred up and provoked to provide the same type of love to others. It is our prayer that God provides opportunities for us to love our neighbors in similar ways. Through our loving deeds and words (not just loving deeds and not just words!), perhaps some of them will come to recognize that it is not the Knox family alone that loves them, but it is God who loves them through us.
Maintaining relationships among groups of believers…
Over the last few weeks, I have been discussing with some friends about churches maintaining relationships between and among other groups of believers. This applies to those who move to different places, as well as to groups of believers in the same geographical area. The NT indicates that the early churches maintained relationships between themselves. Even though each church considered itself the body of Christ, they also realized that they were part of a larger group. Somehow they maintained fellowship with different groups.
How did they do this? What keeps us from building and maintaining relationships between different groups of believers – even groups with very similar doctrine?
The bodily resurrection and the fellowship of believers
During our Sunday morning gatherings, we are studying 1 Corinthians. For the last few weeks, we have been in chapter 15, one of the major biblical passages concerning the resurrection. Paul argues forcefully for the bodily resurrection of the dead. Last week, as one of the brothers was teaching 1 Corinthians 15:35-49, he stated that the new body that we will be given in the resurrection will be a body that is perfectly capable of bringing glory to God.
I started thinking about this new body and the resurrection. It reminded me of 1 John 1, where the apostle reminds his readers that he had seen, heard, and handled “that which was from the beginning”. Then, in verse 3 John writes, “That you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”
Those who are indwelled by the Spirit currently have fellowship with God. It is a spiritual fellowship through the Spirit of God. However, after the resurrection, we will have bodily fellowship with God, in His presence! Like John, we will see, hear, and handle our Lord!
In the meantime, we have spiritual fellowship with God, and physical fellowship with one another. Could it be that this physical fellowship that we have with one another is a manifestation (a representation) of the eternal fellowship we will have with God and with one another after the resurrection?