FELLOWSHIP!

Hey, did you hear the joke about the Irishman, the Englishman, and the American?

We won’t go there!

I confess it might be hard on the surface of things (i.e., based on cutaneous melanin distribution) to figure out who’s who in the picture—who is the Irish, the English, and the American. There’s David (the Irishman) and his wife Angela (and another incubating), Ro and Rita (all English), and yours faithfully sworn to fidelity to the good ole’ US of A.

All three of the guys are working on their PhDs in New Testament here at the University of Aberdeen. And we attend the same church. Fellows in the same ship. It does something to the shipmates and to their relationships with one another, especially when tempests rage and tumults roar (read “advisors disparage and workloads soar”).

But it is even better to know that in the same ship is the One who created it all and us all.

Whether the wrath of the storm-toss’d sea
Or demons, or men, or whatever it be
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of ocean, and earth, and skies!
Mary A. Baker, 1874

The fact remains, however, that unlike Christ’s physical presence with the disciples in the sinking boat, God’s tangible and visible presence is not with us. I can’t help but think that that is what makes koinonia (fellowship) even more powerful—the presence of Christ with us … in our brothers and sisters.

Right after Paul affirms to the Philippians …

I can do all things
through Him [Christ]
who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

… he asserts …

Nevertheless, you have
done well to share [koinoneo]
with me in my affliction.
Philippians 4:14

The one who asserted he could do all things through Christ declares his need of support from his fellow-Christians! Hmmm…. Perhaps the strengthening by Christ occurs both through His indwelling Spirit within us and through Christ within our fellows-in-the-same-ship. No wonder believers need each other. No wonder believers cannot do without one another. No wonder Paul exhorts …

Therefore since there is …
that fellowship
[created by] the Spirit,
… make my joy complete
by being of the same mind,
maintaining the same love,
united in spirit,
intent on one purpose.
Philippians 2:1–2

It too easy to surmise that we can do it all on our own—we don’t need any help, we don’t need a hand. We’re heroes, not helpless humans.

Or so we suppose!

Listen to what Paul tells Philemon:

Yes, brother, let me
benefit from you
in the Lord;
refresh my heart
in Christ.
Philemon 20

We need one another. We need others’ help. We need their refreshment, encouragement, and investment in our lives. That is certainly one of the ways God works in and for us. Let us always recognize the presence of Christ with us in our fellow-Christians—for they are His arms, His hands are theirs, and His heart, and His mind, and His love, …

… so that there may be
no division in the body,
but that the members
may have the same care
for one another.
1 Corinthians 12:25

No, parts of the same body cannot survive independently. So let’s commit ourselves to fellowship, to thrive in it, to relish it, to be ministered unto by Christ … in our fellow-believers.

… let us consider how to
stimulate one another
to love and good deeds,
not forsaking our own
assembling together, …
but encouraging one another;
and all the more as you see
the day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:24–25