Fellowship
Someone has said that, "every time brethren hear the word 'fellowship' they think of do-nuts and coffee." There may be more truth in this than some of us think. Many congregations have gone to such limits with their "church socials" and "fellowship hours" until they have reduced the church to a glorified social club in the minds of many members. These members do not know what fellowship is, and they do think of do-nuts and coffee.
Others think of fellowship as something that makes men walk together in disagreement. Some brethren seem to think that we can meet together and legislate fellowship. None of this is Bible Fellowship.
What then, is Bible Fellowship and how can we know that we have it? John gives the best explanation that I have seen in chapter one of his first letter. Here is what he says about it, "If we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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." From these verses we learn:
1. No man has fellowship with God and Christ while walking in darkness. God's Word is the light, therefore those who walk in darkness are not walking in harmony with God's Word. No man therefore can have fellowship with God and Christ while walking contrary to the Word. "God is light and in him is no darkness at all." Jno. 1:5.
2. We have fellowship with each other if we all walk in the light. If I walk in darkness and you walk in the light we do not have fellowship, for you cannot fellowship those in darkness while you remain in the light.
3. We cannot meet together and legislate fellowship. It is something we either have or do not have depending upon where we are walking. "Can two walk together except they be agreed?" Amos 3:3.
4. For Christians to meet together and decide to have fellowship while some practice error is equal to the Sects meeting together and deciding to fellowship each other while holding to their denominational doctrines. "What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness" 2 Cor. 6:14.
5. If we claim fellowship with God while walking in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. We may deceive ourselves, but we cannot fool God. In order to have fellowship with God we must be walking in the light of God's Word, the man therefore who walks contrary to the Word of God is walking in darkness and is without God or Christ. The Christian who teaches and practices that which is not authorized by the Word of God has gone beyond the doctrine of Christ. If a man thus departs, he hath not God. "He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." 2 Jno. 9. He is in fellowship with God, Christ, and all others who abide in the doctrine. If any man brings not this doctrine and I bid him God speed we are both walking in darkness, and neither have that fellowship that is in Christ.
6. Webster says that fellowship is "mutual association on equal and friendly terms." To be on equal terms would require unity upon equal ground. The only ground upon which men can be equally united is the doctrine of Christ. If you believe and practice the doctrine of Christ and I believe and practice the same doctrine we are "associated on equal terms," otherwise there can be no true fellowship. We cannot fellowship the unfruitful works of darkness and have the fellowship of God and Christ.