Koinonia

One thing that we take for granted far too often is the gift of Christian fellowship.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminds us, "that what is an unspeakable gift of God for the lonely individual is easily disregarded and trodden under foot by those who have the gift every day."  I don't think any of us (definitely not me) are exempt from this, dare I say, sin of taking this gift of fellowship as lightly as we do (thank the Lord for his never ending grace and mercy).  Here I am a seminary student on my way to becoming a pastor of all things and as I was sitting in class I couldn't help but be convicted of how half-assed I engage, cherish, utilize this gift of fellowship.

When I attended undergrad at Hope College I had the privilege of living with a group of deeply rooted Christian brothers.  This rag-tag troupe was the weirdest, funniest, most genuine, loving group of men that one could have asked to live with.  During our time together we kept each other accountable, loved one another, and realized that we do life best when we are together. Thus, we long for the day when we can be back together in close proximity with each other.  After graduation we all have been dispersed across two countries but with today's technology we can still stay involved with each other's lives through prayer, advice and the sharing of stories.  We keep up with each other via email and usually do a good job of staying in touch weekly, but we aren't always the best at it.

"It is easily forgotten that the fellowship of Christian brothers and sisters is a gift of grace, a gift of the Kingdom of God that any day may be taken from us, that the time that still separates us from utter loneliness may be brief indeed."

Once again, Bonhoeffer reminds us that our chances to meet together is nothing less than grace and that this gift my be gone at any second.  Back to earlier when I was sitting in my ministry formation class...it was one of those classes where so many nuggets of goodness were said either by students or the professor that I just kept writing down thoughts as people were bringing up questions and comments.

We need to be better at communally discerning things in our lives as the church and as Christ's body.  This means praying for and with each other more; keeping each other accountable; reading scripture together; telling each other how we are hurting (Gal 6:2); sharing our joys.

"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.  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 10:22-25 emphasis added)  Let us do as the writer of Hebrews says and not neglect to meet together.  Let us encourage one another with words and towards good works in love.

I'm going to give Bonhoeffer the last word because he is a lot smarter than I am:
"But if there is so much blessing and joy even in a single encounter of brother with sister, how inexhaustible are the riches that open up for those who by God's will are privileged to live in the daily fellowship of life with other Christians!"