Fellowship -- Twentieth Century Style
Bob Hoover, preacher for the Vandelia Village church of Christ in Lubbock, Texas has recently published a series of articles in The Vandelia Star, a publication of the Vandelia Village church, on fellowship. In order not to make this review of his articles too lengthy, I will not restate them but will briefly give the substance of them along with my comments.
Brother Hoover said the word "fellowship" has been much abused, to which I will readily agree. He indicates that some want to make the word apply to financial participation only. Certainly this would be an abuse of the word, but not any more so than he abuses it in trying to justify the church building and operating kitchens or facilities for common meals when the purpose is not to satisfy the needs in benevolence. His proof texts for the entire series of articles are: Eph. 4:12; Acts 2:42; 2 Peter 2:13; 1 Cor. 11:20-22, 33-34; and Acts 6:12. I think he meant Acts 6:1,2 instead of Acts 6:12. Why not turn to these scriptures and read them before going any farther.
He says of the word "fellowship," "It is a general term that refers to simply participating jointly in whatever situation exists." From his definition of "fellowship" and the above scriptures, he thinks he has proved that the church can provide the place and facilities for social gatherings and feeds (fellowship dinners). He concludes, "Such fellowship is aided by eating together and thus the action is both scriptural and ought to be used as opportunity indicates." Although he does not say so, in these articles, evidently he also believes it is scriptural for the church to make a charge for such dinners. In the Vandelia Star of December 7, 1962, the following appeared: "APPRECIATION DINNER. Tickets are on sale for the Teachers' Appreciation Dinner to be held in the Fellowship Hall Monday, December 10th, at 7:30 P.M. The plates will be $1.25 each and tickets may be purchased from the coordinators or Brother Sneed...." No scripture given! It is true that fellowship is joint participation, but I believe he wrested the meaning of the word as it is used in the Scriptures when he tried to get church sponsored fellowship dinners out of Acts 2:42. He tried to make it cover this by saying, "in whatever situation exists."
When they "continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship," were they not simply doing what God commanded in the teaching giving by the apostles? They jointly participated in doing God's will. I see no room for the present day fellowship dinners, Truly the word "fellowship" has been abused in recent years.
Let us see how the word "fellowship" is used in a few other scriptures. 1 Cor. 1:9, God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." Does this mean we are called to participate in a fellowship dinner? Or does it not mean that we are called into the service of Christ? 2 Cor. 8:4 speaks of the "fellowship of the ministering to the saints." This is a case of benevolence, as is one of brother Hoover's proof texts. (Acts 6:1,2) Brethren were participating in relieving the needs of the saints in Jerusalem; not a social affair. In Gal. 2:9, Paul said, "they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision." As you can easily see, this was not a fellowship dinner. They were participating jointly in preaching the gospel. James, Cephas, and John preaching to the Jews; Paul and Barnabas to the Gentiles. Although they went separate ways, they were having fellowship because they were all participating in the preaching of God's power to save. In Phil. 1:5 Paul gives thanks for their "fellowship in the gospel." Did they have a fellowship dinner in Paul's honor? No; they had contributed to his needs while he preached in another location. (2:25, 30; 4:14-18) 1 John 1:3: "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ." Was John sharing a common meal (fellowship dinner) with God and with his Son Jesus Christ, and declaring it unto others that they might join the party? Hardly! 1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." True Bible fellowship is jointly participating in keeping God's commandments, If I follow the teaching of the Bible and you do likewise, we are having fellowship one with another even if I never see you, much less eat a common meal with you in the Fellowship Hall after it has been prepared in the church kitchen.
Brother Hoover says, "In 1 Corinthians the 11th chapter, verses 20 through 22, we see Paul giving direction as to the conduct of brethren during fellowship. This fellowship consisted of a common meal for which they assembled. Read those verses." Yes, let's do. "When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not." (1 Cor. 20-22) Paul then proceeds to give instructions on the Lord's supper and says in verse 30, "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." They were not only weak and sickly, but some were completely dead spiritually. Brethren, I believe these words of the Apostle Paul still aptly describe those who think the kingdom of God is dependent on meat and drink. Rom. 14:17)
Brother Hoover further says, "The basic misunderstanding one has, if this is a problem for him is the nature of the body." I wholeheartedly agree with that statement, and will hasten to say that brother Hoover is as far off base as a fellow can get when it comes to understanding the nature of the body (church). Not only does Paul say, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost," (Rom. 14:17) but Jesus made a distinction between food and drink and the kingdom of God. "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (Matt. 6:25) "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (verse 33) He also said to one group, "Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled." (John 6:26) After further instructions, we read in verse 66, "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." Some brethren today are trying to seek the loaves and still make pretense of walking with Him.
Brethren, when I read the statement of Jesus that "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36), I am forced to the conclusion that the kingdom is of a spiritual nature and not dependent upon fellowship dinners from the church kitchen. I do not believe the church building is sacred, as brother Hoover charged. Neither do I believe the scriptures will allow such tom-foolery as brother Hoover is advocating. He is placing equal emphasis upon doctrine, worship, and fellowship (which he has reduced to social life) and is saying these three provide the means of perfecting the saints. He is placing the physical on an equal basis with the spiritual.
Heed the warning of the Apostle Paul. "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Rom. 8:5-6) "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." (Rom. 8:12-13) "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." (Eph. 5:11) I am therefore forbidden to jointly participate (have fellowship) with those who serve the flesh in their fellowship dinners as an activity of the church.
— 305 W. Castle, Hobbs, New Mexico