The Christian Community and Me

The Christian Community and Me

Collin Leong. Jan 18 2017

 A. Introduction

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”   (Acts 2:42)

Though not directly obvious, the passage above contains a word similar to the idea of “community”  - the word “fellowship” is translated from the Greek “koinonia.”   In the NASB version,  “koinonia” was translated to “fellowship” twelve times, “sharing” three times, and “participation” and “contribution” twice each.”  In KJV, “communion” was also another word used for “koinonia”.

For the early Christians, koinonia was a radical change in lifestyle after their conversion. In the context of Acts chapter 2, you can feel the hunger of the converts from all over Asia for corporate worship, prayer and learning as they lingered on in Jerusalem after the Passover. They recognized the needs of the fellow believers and sold their belongings to support one another. Presumably, many did not bring enough money for the trip, and the locals would provide everything they need to stay as long as they want. These were just strangers days before!

Over time, such passion and enthusiasm for fellowship faded away, even as church buildings and memberships became bigger. In our modern society where work takes up most of our waking time and play takes up the rest, the time spent for “koinonia” with fellow believers are relegated only to Sunday morning and even then, fellowship was just a “hello” and “good bye.”  Those who do better spend another few hours on a weekday for “cell groups.”

And needless to say, hardly anyone would take the example of Acts 2:45 seriously where “they sold away property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” (I’m generalising, of course – there are a minority of Christians that go beyond  expectations to contribute to community ministries even if the lack of support made it hard to do so. If that’s you, then Thank you!)

This article has no intention of persuading believers to leave their lucrative white collar jobs, move out of their condos and create a farming community together to raise chickens and plant sweet potatoes. Koinonia is not about isolation from the secular world or even an organisational structure - it is about the sheep in God's heart and the shape of your heart. We hope this discussion will give the reader a refreshed perspective and motivation to obey the call of God in this area.

B. Basis for Christian Community

1. Created for Community

Some animals live isolated most of their life, surviving alone, until when it comes time to mate. Mountain lions are an example of this.  Some people wish to live that way too! Away from the messed-up world and irritating relatives!  But in general, humans are a social creature by our own admission - there is a need for us to connect with other fellow humans, a need to love and to be loved, and we find significance in contributing to society.

Our natural inclination and behavior for koinonia is consistent with the nature of our Creator and Designer. God had never existed alone, even before creation - the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are three entities existing in oneness. The Lord God exemplifies fellowship with mankind at the creation, walking with mankind in the Garden of Eden. Even after the fall, God reached out to man, wanting to be in their midst as much as He could – speaking through prophets, dwelling in the tabernacle, or even walking and talking to them through the bodily manifestation of the pre-incarnate Christ.

And of course Christ Himself was constantly operating within a community of disciples, friends and their family. His small group of disciples regularly minister to large crowds, teaching the Gospel and healing them of physical ailments.

Our Lord teaches two vital values critical for a believing community. The first is servant-hood; the second is agape love.

“So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14)

 “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another.  (Jn 13:34).

A Christian Community is simply a gathering of believers centered around the Lordship of Christ, and where life is modeled after the Servant-hood of Christ, and motivated by the Love of Christ. 

2. One Spirit

In a church, Christians come together from different background, race and culture.  In our natural selves, it is not surprising for us to be uncomfortable with each other or even dislike one another. Imagine what Jesus had to do to prevent Matthew the tax collector and Simon the zealot from going at each other's throat every other day!

So Jesus understands the challenge of uniting people together, which is why He prayed: “that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:21)

The Father answered Jesus’ prayer by giving us His Spirit – something we share together in common when we become a believer. Ephesians 4:4-6 says “There is one body and one Spirit… one Lord, one Faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.”  

Our differences fall away once we place the Lord above all else when we meet.  Nevertheless, it bids us well to remember that Satan, as well as our own sinful nature, is at work against our oneness. Paul warned that divisive spirit such as judgmental attitudes, gossips and futile arguments can threaten to destroy the community.  We need to make every effort to “maintain the unity of the Spirit” (Eph 4:3) by “bearing with each other and forgiving one another” (Col 3:13)

3. Various Gifts

Even if we can get along, there’s no practical use if all we could do is come together as a weekly social club with pot-lucks, sing songs and talk politics or football (sounds familiar?). That’s why the ONE spirit also gives various gifts to various believers, so that we can serve one another in practical ways.

"But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift….and he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” (Eph 4:7,11,12)

Romans 12:4-8 gave another list of gifts: “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”

Our gifts, skills and even our assets, were given with a purpose. God is telling us that each of us doesn’t have everything necessary to grow into a mature Christian, but that each of us has something that someone else needs. When we neglect in contributing to our fellowship, we would be quenching the Spirit. When the Spirit is quenched within us, we would be unfruitful.  If you want to be fruitful, start by being involved in the community of believers and exercise your gifts even in small ways.

C. Purpose of a Christian Community

Now we understand that God not only gave us the basis for Community but also the enablement through our gifts. What then is the purpose of coming together as a fellowship of believers? Let's look at it from an Upward, Inward, and Outward perspective.

1. Upward:  Worship & Prayer

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”  (Acts 2:42)

In the New Testament, before buildings were built specifically for corporate worship, believers gather in homes – probably in no larger numbers than our “cell groups” today. In each worship meeting, there was learning, fellowship, and praying. Believers also partake of the Lord's Supper each time they meet, for the focus on Christ was pre-eminent in all worship gatherings.

The command to be faithful in corporate worship is clear in the scripture: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Heb 10:24-25)

In the old days, there were no “full time pastors” or “reverends” with theological degrees from seminaries. Each believer is responsible to be led by the Spirit to elaborate on the teachings of the apostles, to pray or to suggest a hymn.  (See 1 Cor 14:26,29).  One reason so many Christians have lost the solid grounding in the scriptures nowadays is that we have relegated the expounding of the Word in our community to full time pastors.

2. Inward: Ministry to fellow believers

“If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”  (1 Cor 12:19,24-26)

Paul uses the analogy of a human body, where members are different parts of the bodies with specific functions such as the eye, the ear, the nose and so on. No one can say he is sufficient on his own – that is contrary to God’s design, as we’ve mentioned.  God granted each of us specific spiritual gifts, life experiences (including failures), skills and resources so that each one of us is a unique contributor to the body of Christ.

God wants us to “be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” and to “encourage one another and build each other up” (Rom 12:10; 1 Thes 5:11).  We also grow in our knowledge and maturity by learning from each other, even from failures.

That is why, apart from the weekly church worship meetings and prayer meetings, each of us ought to be in a fellowship and support group. Most churches have a structured support group, or “cell group.” Even if you don’t go to these, you ought to “belong” to an informal group with people you care about and who care about you.

Paul said “if one member suffers, all suffer together.” What does “suffering” consist of? We can divide it this way:

(a) Physical Burdens – this consist of financial or health related difficulties.  Cell groups can pray for members who are ill (Jam 5:16), and provide financial support in a voluntarily basis (Jam 2:15). For members with extreme and long term financial crisis, the local church will typically have a process and means to support them.  This includes caring for elderly widows.

(b) Relationship Burdens – this not only refers to conflicts with another person (such as family members or church members) but also cases of abuse and abandonment. Some converts may be persecuted or even disowned by their parents or spouse. The church and the fellowship group can provide the vital role of moral support, counselling and peace making. This is a tremendous encouragement to new converts to go on under-going persecution.

(c) Moral Burdens – this is to help anyone struggling with sinful habits or has fallen in sin. Many converts may have come from a sinful past – drug addictions, alcoholism, abusive or having been abused. Christians from “clean” background can also make mistakes and fall into Satan’s temptations such as greed, dishonesty and lust.  A small fellowship group is in the best position to prevent each other from falling into sin, and to gently restore those who had sinned without judgment and condemnation.  Mutual accountability and confidentiality should be afforded to one another.  Only when the member refuses to change his ways, then the matter can be taken to the elders of the church for disciplinary process.

It is sad that Christians who are in one of these troubles (especially the second and third category) often shy away from fellowship groups because they feel their problem is a private matter, or they do not want to be confronted about their lifestyles.  Yet, God’s “programme” for character building and for correction do involve other Christians. It is very difficult for God to help us get out of these troubles or spiritual bondage without us being willing to open and learn from believers God puts around us.

3. Outward: Ministry to pre-believers 

Jesus said “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” (Jn 13:35).  A Christian Community distinguished by genuine acts of love for one another is the home base for gospel outreach.

Why is this so? Because Jesus is attractive to those seeking for answers. In Jesus are all the spiritual gifts in one person. Since Jesus is not physically here, the only place where pre-believers can have a glimpse of the beauty (and power) of Jesus is when we each practice our respective gifts with agape love in our community. In this way shall we be the light of the world – not as heroic individuals but as a community of forgiven sinners.

You may also notice that some of the spiritual gifts listed earlier are not just for believers but also community outside the Body of Christ. These gifts include those of evangelism, prophecy, serving, giving, and mercy.  In the same way these gifts can be used to minister directly to pre-believers in their physical and spiritual needs.

Romans 12:20 says “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink” – this teaching obviously applies to your friendly neighbours and the needy in the secular community as well.

As the saying goes: “They don’t care what you know until they know that you care.”

D. Conclusion

Do you know that the relationship among Christian brothers and sisters is the only form of human relationship that we carry into heaven?  Yes, sadly, all other relationships - spouse, children, parents - will all terminate in death. In heaven, we will only know them as brothers and sisters, just like any other Christians we know on earth. (What’s more to value our family now!)

The Christian community is THE new family that we will continue to have in heaven, and it gives pre-believers a glimpse of how the Kingdom of God is like. What a heavy responsibility!

However, “community” is more than just as merely an organisation, just like the word “church” means more than a building with a cross on top. Community is not about structure but about our hearts. A Christian with a koinonia heart will be driven to connect and contribute to the fellowship of believers regardless of available structure or organisation.  At the same time, by design, a Christian can only achieve full spiritual potential in the context of a community.

Each of us, by the gifts and blessings God has given us, has something unique to offer back to our local community – no matter how small that piece of jigsaw you hold. God has a purpose for where He puts you – it is not by accident. No one else can do it the way you do! If not you, then who?