Fellowship
June 8, 2003
Dear Friends,
Back in 1997, I wrote my own personal creed for fellowship. Mind you, this was not a statement of faith, but concerning fellowship directly. It seems to me that we have a Statement of Faith outlining the doctrines which we believe define the boundaries of fellowship, but have only a limited understanding of what the Statement of Faith should accomplish and what exactly fellowship is. This was never intended for publish consumption, but rather for my clarifying my own thoughts on the subject. However, having run across this recently, I thought I would share it with you.
I believe…
…that fellowship is primarily the partnership between a believer with God and Jesus Christ. All those who share that relationship with God and Jesus share fellowship with each other.
…that fellowship requires belief in the Gospel, baptism and proper walk in relation to our Creator.
…that the unity of the body of Christ is a fundamental first principle to be pursued by all brethren in Christ.
…that the breaking of bread, hymns and prayers are ways that brethren acknowledge our mutual fellowship with each other but are not the substance of fellowship itself. We should, without exception and to the best of our abilities, manifest fellowship with all those we consider to be brethren.
…that fellowship can be withdrawn from someone by God on the basis of teaching false doctrine, gross and unrepentant immorality or seeking to divide the ecclesia.
…that the use of withdrawal is to teach a person and the ecclesia that, although Christ is the ultimate judge, we believe, based on clear Scriptural passages, that their sin will keep them from being in the Kingdom of God. Withdrawal for any other purpose is not Biblical.
…that “block disfellowship” and “contamination by association” are false doctrines and that the teaching of or the practice of such is sinful.
…that any man-made document, no matter how sincere, generally accepted or well-written, should ever be used to exclude brethren from the manifesting of fellowship with brethren.
…that it is better to obey God rather than men. Therefore any traditions concerning fellowship, no matter how comfortable, ancient or practical, are null and void if they contradict the teaching of Scripture.
Have a great week!
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