Christians aren't meant to be loners.
I've heard this stated before. I know that the Bible says we should not neglect to meet together. I just never realized how important Christian fellowship is until recently.
About six months ago, the Bible study group that I had been a part of quit meeting. At the time, it didn't seem like a huge deal. Attendance had been way down anyway and it meant I had a free night to work on my projects. Besides, I was still attending church on Sundays. Over time, however, I began to sense myself feeling increasingly dissatisfied, distant with God, and truth be told, a little lonely. Looking back over the times in my life when I felt closest to God, it hit me: those were the times I was closest to other believers. I was surrounded by people who were actively pursuing Him, and they were taking me along for the ride via our discussions.
Something I've found along the way is that there is a difference between just hanging out with someone who happens to be a Christian and having meaningful fellowship. I've spent a lot of time around Christian people these few months. We watched movies, attended church, did craft projects, and had superficial “how was your past week or two?” chats. But I still found myself lonely and starved for real fellowship.
To be truly fulfilling, Christian fellowship can't be continually superficial. We need a few fellow believers who we can be close with. We need people with whom we can intentionally discuss scripture, faith, and struggles. Superficial conversations in between church services are not true fellowship.
"I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." - Ephesians 3:17b-19
I couldn't agree more. Community is meant to sanctify us; fellowship encourages us and conflict should sharpen us. It shapes who we are and who we are becoming.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 12 my grandfather passed away. I remember grieving but I also remember thinking to myself that I would get more of my grand mother because I wouldn't have to share her. I was wrong. What I found was that there less of my grand mother. There was a part of her that only he, my grandfather, would bring out of her. And I had lost that too.
All that to say that we are different people when we don't have community and fellowship in our lives.
I really enjoyed your post. Thank you Sarah.
Precisely! I hate conflict, but looking back at times of conflict, I always realize that's when I've grown the most. It's truly amazing how God uses others to play a role in shaping our lives.
DeleteAw, that is a very hard lesson learned as a kid. Quite belated, but sorry about your grandfather. Losing grandparents is difficult.
Thanks for reading and commenting! I am glad you enjoyed it.