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In This Issue

True Unity-in-Diversity

Ira Mikell

Through the years, false brethren have been teaching error on the unity of the church. They have perverted the meaning of unity-in-diversity to mean that churches of Christ can fellowship and participate in the worship and work of the church with denominations, regardless of the differences in doctrine which they deem as mere opinions. The Scriptures do emphatically teach there is unity-in-diversity in the church, but not as what our liberal brethren purport it to be. Let us examine carefully what true unity-in-diversity means.

When we speak of true unity-in-diversity, we are discussing the fact that we have many members who come from different cultural backgrounds. There are even those with whom we worship that grew up in a different time than those of new generations. In addition, every member has an opinion on many things. It should be understood that although there is diversity within the church, these differences must neither come in conflict with the word, nor divide the church.

Throughout the New Testament, we find instances where the church had diversity. For example, on the day of Pentecost approximately three thousand of those who became Christians came from different countries, each having its own way of life (Acts 2:8-11). The Scripture says,

"And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God."

Despite these differences, they all worshipped and fellowshipped together and did the work of the church in the unity of the faith (Ephesians 4:1-6).

The church today, just as in the first century onward, has had diversity. Such a fact cannot be denied. It is not doctrinal diversity, but one of culture and upbringing. May the reader be advised and encouraged to reject any doctrine of false brethren which teaches that we are authorized to extend the right hand of fellowship, worship, and perform the work of the church with those whose doctrines and practices are foreign to the church of Christ, under the pretense of Romans 14 and other related passages of scripture. John says that we are to

believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world, (1 John 4:1).

Ira Mikell
ira@thechristianexaminer.com

Biblical Fellowship

Ethan R. Longhenry

The idea of fellowship is a significant concept in the Scriptures yet many today have misunderstood and misapplied "fellowship" so that the term has been completely altered in meaning. Let us now look into the New Testament to attempt to restore the Biblical definition of "fellowship."

The word translated as "fellowship" in the New Testament is the Greek word koinonia, defined by Thayer's as:

1) fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse
1a) the share which one has in anything, participation
1b) intercourse, fellowship, intimacy
1b1) the right hand as a sign and pledge of fellowship (in fulfilling the apostolic office)
1c) a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship

We will get a good idea of how this word is used in relation to modern concepts of "fellowship" by looking at 1 Corinthians 1:9, Philippians 1:5, 1 John 1:3, and 1 John 1:6-7:

God is faithful, through whom ye were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
... for your fellowship in furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now...
that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you also, that ye also may have fellowship with us: yea, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the 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 his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

How, then, shall we characterize "fellowship" in the New Testament?

  1. It is a state, not an event. Probably one of the most significant alterations in the meaning of the term "fellowship" since its use in the New Testament is the idea that "fellowship" can be something that a group can come together and have as an event, like a period of "fellowship" during or after a meal or such thing, also exemplified in the existence of "fellowship halls," ostensibly, a place where people can "have fellowship." From the Scriptures that we read above we can see clearly that our fellowship is not an event, but a state of being. We are in a state of fellowship with the Father and the Son and with one another as Christians if we walk according to God's truth. This "fellowship" is not a thing that we do somehow, but describes the current relationship we have.

  2. Fellowship is partnership. We can see from Thayer's definition above that another definition of the Greek koinonia is "joint participation" or "participation," and some versions will translate "fellowship" as "partnership" in some places. The idea of partnership is perhaps clearer to us than fellowship is, and so we can see that our fellowship is a partnership to glorify God and the works He has wrought for us. We are in a partnership with God the Father and God the Son and with one another to accomplish these ends. We all have responsibilities and roles to play in our common partnership for the Gospel.

  3. Fellowship, therefore, is a bond. The bonds of fellowship are to be strong for those who believe and obey the truth of God, and I am confident that few if any who would wear the name of Christ would not desire to have a bond with Christ that will endure. Our fellowship-- with God the Father and God the Son and with one another-- is to be a lasting bond that helps carry us through temptation, hardship, success, and glory. The bond of fellowship, however, can and must be broken in the case of those who have fallen away from the truth either by conduct or by teaching (1 Corinthians 5:10-13, Romans 16:17-18).

We can see, therefore, that Biblical fellowship is a bond-- a partnership-- and not an event. We perhaps demonstrate our fellowship by coming together for encouragement and edification in periods of worship, meals with one another, and with other such periods of togetherness, but we must not confuse the bond and partnership we have with these activities that prove and strengthen it.

Let us strive to maintain the bond and partnership of fellowship in the Gospel.

Ethan R. Longhenry
ethan@thechristianexaminer.com
www.deusvitae.com

For Further Discussion

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