Fellowship in the Church

Romans 12:3-18

GOLDEN TEXT: “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.”—Romans 12:10

THE only proper basis for true Christian fellowship is recognition of, and obedience to, the will of God. This is revealed in the first two verses of the chapter from which our lesson is taken. They read: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”—Rom. 12:1,2

In brief, this passage means that through full devotion to God, we are to be separated from the world, and learn to know and to do the will of God. In our first approach to God, through the truth, we learned that we were sinners and needed the atoning blood of Jesus to cover our imperfections in order that we might be approved by him. It is essential that we ever remember this condition upon which the offering we have made is acceptable to him. The acceptance of this fundamental truth of the Scriptures is essential for all those who would enjoy sweet fellowship in the church of God.

Beyond this, the will of God must continue to be the basis of our fellowship. The church is united, not by human philosophy, but by the truth of God’s Word—the truth which reveals his will. Christ is the living Word of God and the Head of the church. In fulfillment of his promise he sent the Holy Spirit to illuminate the church, through the apostles. Hence, when we think of the truth, we think of Christ and of the sweet influence of the Holy Spirit. These lift the minds of believers above the worldly plane of human leadership and into that realm of spiritual thought and action where there is true Christian fellowship.

The apostle urges that we endeavor not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. Nothing tends to disrupt true fellowship more than pride and ambition. The apostle is referring mainly to service in the church. Every consecrated Christian is a servant of God and of his brethren, but all do not have ability to serve in the same capacity. Some of the privileges of service are determined by a vote of the church. It is in this manner that God indicates his will with respect to servants of the church such as elders and deacons.

Unless one thinks more highly of himself than he ought to think he will accept the mandate of the church with respect to these special opportunities of service, whether they be great or small, and rejoice in the privilege of doing whatever he is asked to do. If one is not elected to any particular office in the church, there are still wonderful opportunities of service open to him. He is still privileged to “do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”—Gal. 6:10

This brings to the fore another very important point concerning Christian fellowship, namely, that it does not imply the granting of any special privileges of service to one or more brethren. Those who think more highly of themselves than they ought to think, sometimes feel that they have been “disfellowshiped” if they are not invited to serve a congregation as speakers. This is a wrong viewpoint. To be qualified to serve as elders and teachers in the church, brethren must be sound in the truth, as well as thoroughly devoted to the Lord. The immature in knowledge may properly be esteemed as brethren, but not as teachers. The apostle addressed the Hebrews as “holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling” (Heb. 3:1), but he told them also that they were not qualified to teach, and had need that someone teach them again “the first principles of the oracles of God.” (Heb. 5:12) One may have been in the truth for many years and still be a novice, immature in knowledge, not clear on some features of the truth.

“Let love be without dissimulation,” writes the apostle. True Christian love will be consistent and constant. It will be without partiality. But let no one suppose that it is a lack of love toward a brother not to ask him to serve as a minister in the church. This is a very important lesson to learn if sweet fellowship is to be maintained. Nothing will disrupt unity in fellowship more quickly than to exalt those unsound in the truth to positions of prominence. To do this is an injustice to the one thus exalted and a lack of true concern for the well-being of the church.

“Be of the same mind, one toward another,” the apostle continues. The “mind” of the Christian should be humble, ready to esteem others better than themselves; ready to serve in ways unnoticed except by the Lord; kind, generous, forgiving. All these qualities make for true fellowship.

QUESTIONS:

What is the basis for true Christian fellowship?

Does fellowship imply the use of a brother as a teacher?

Does love call for the use of brethren as teachers who are not doctrinally and otherwise qualified for such service?

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