The Fellowship

By W. L. Wilson

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     The apostles continued steadfastly in togetherness until the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost. So did many of the disciples. The early church "continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship" (Acts 2:42). This togetherness, or fellowship, was an important part in the lives of the early saints. At Jerusalem, for a time, private property was sold and distributed under supervision of the apostles. It probably did not go that far in most cities, but it went much farther than it does in our world today. A certain man, named Ananias, and his wife, lost their lives for duplicity in regard to these things, for lying about it to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-11).

     The apostles had the people select seven men to look after the material welfare of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 6). Clearly the fellowship of the early church was close enough to be concerned with every part of the welfare of others. When the disciples went out as missionaries, they went in groups of at least two, and often more. When the elders met at Jerusalem, there were several of them. Even the young church in Antioch was presided over by prophets and teachers (Acts 13:1). Everywhere in the New Testament this spirit of togetherness is seen. One looks in vain for the example of one pastor for one church. It is not found in the New Testament. The Spirit set in the church "some pastors" and "some teachers" (Eph. 4; 1 Cor. 12) and "the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal" (1 Cor. 12:7).

     The community life which was part and parcel of the Bible way of living has been largely overlooked by the modern church, and the concept in 1 Corinthians 12, that the Spirit will, through each member, make a contribution to the common good is ignored. Other than money, the average member of the average church is not expected to, and does not usually contribute anything worthy of notice. This was not the way things worked at Corinth, at Antioch, at Jerusalem, or any other place mentioned in the New Testament. Jerusalem had its "apostles and elders," Antioch had her "prophets and teachers," and Corinth had so many people ministering they had to be told bluntly to speak one at a time (1 Cor. 14:31). This vital Spirit-given principle of fellowship in work, worship, play, or planning, is well proven, and we use it to our profit, or ignore it to our detriment. At the Ford plant, one man puts a wheel in place, another puts nuts in place, another tightens them. Precisely because of this organized togetherness can a car be built better, quicker, and cheaper, to give more transportation to more people at a lower price, while also affording better pay to the workmen. Practically every man at Ford or General Motors has a slightly different job. But every one is important to the finished product.

     In the old style frontier family, father had his work in forest and field. Mother had her tasks in the log cabin. Big brother had chores to do with the livestock, and, in hunting and trapping. Sister helped with the house and the baby. Little brother carried in wood and ran errands. As the family grew on the frontier, each member of it had its important place and his necessary work. A collection of several of these families made a church or community and life had vital meaning to all.

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     What has happened? We have moved to big cities. The community has lost its importance. The family has been under heavy attack and great strain. The job is central because of the money, and recreation is second to take away the frustration that such unorganized godless living produces. The church, for various reasons, has done little to satisfy hunger in this modern Babylon. We hesitate more to attack the problems of our concrete and asphalt jungles than our ancestors did to face the perils of Indians and wild animals. The church in the city does not want to face slums and poverty, foreigners and transients. It had rather move to the suburbs and let the devil have the city. But even in the suburbs there is little spirit of community in either church or Parent-Teachers Association. Instead of each helping his neighbor, all are in competition with each other. Each has a feeling of frustration, a fear of others, and a certain loneliness. To love God supremely and to love neighbor as self would cure all this, but to effect this the fellowship (koinonia) of God and man is necessary.