Fellowship.
What do we mean when we say fellowship? Fellowship has several meanings. In
education, it means a financed research post providing study facilities and privileges
in return for teaching services. In religion, it means mutual trust and charitableness
between Christians. Generally, fellowship means sharing mutual interests,
experiences or activities. It also means companionship or friendship.[1]
Its
origin is late Old English fēolaga' –
a partner or colleague (literally 'one who lays down money in a joint
enterprise').[2]
Fourteen
years ago, our Synod produced a study document entitled The Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship. It concentrated on
altar and pulpit fellowship that allows pastors of one church to preach and
celebrate Holy Communion in the church of another.[3] I
mention it only to call attention to three assumptions. First, the Holy Trinity
is our source and pattern for table fellowship.[4]
Second, the one church, the assembly of believers, is an article of faith.
Finally, the church’s internal unity, known only to God, is expressed by an
external confession of faith.[5]
The Holy
Trinity is our source and pattern for table fellowship. As an assembly of
believers, we are an article of faith. And we express our unity through a
confession of faith.
Now, when
you think of fellowship, who comes to mind? Spouse, family, friends, members of
the faith community? Probably. Does Jesus come to mind? Probably not.
Summoning
disciples, Jesus created The Twelve and called them into fellowship with him.
Let me read to you, Mark’s version of The Twelve Apostles (3:13-19):
13He went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired,
and they came to him. 14And he appointed twelve (whom he also named
apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15and
have authority to cast out demons. 16He appointed the twelve: Simon
(to whom he gave the name Peter); 17James the son of Zebedee and
John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of
Thunder); 18Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and
Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, 19and
Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
The
creation of The Twelve differs from his earlier call of disciples,[6] and
Mark tells us that Jesus appointed twelve so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach
and have authority to cast out demons. Notice that the text tells us that Jesus
appointed them to be with him.
This is part and parcel of the portrait of the fully human Jesus. He needed a
support group. He longed for fellowship. He lived as a person in community, not
as an isolated prophet. These were not merely Jesus’ pupils, but his friends
and coworkers. He appointed them for fellowship and to witness.[7]
When I
reflect on Jesus calling me, do I consider he desires fellowship with me? How
does his human need change my view of Jesus? How does it change my view of
fellowship? What does it mean for us as a fellowship club? How much time do I
spend creating fellowship with Jesus each day? … Allow time for sharing and
close with the Our Father.
[1] http://www.thefreedictionary.com/fellowship
[2]
Ibid.
[3]
The Lutheran Understanding of Church Fellowship, Commission on Theology and
Church Relations. St. Louis: Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (2000).
[4] Ibid,
4.
[5]
Ibid, 5. See Ephesians 1:4.
[6]
Mark 1:16-20.
[7]
Ben Witherington III, The Gospel of Mark: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand
Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmanns Publishing Co. (2001), 151.
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