Preaching & Fellowship

PREACHING AND FELLOWSHIP

INTRODUCTION

I would like to extend my appreciation for the invitation to be a part of this lectureship. The theme for this year, "Christianity And Fellowship" is timely and much needed. There are those who would speak in terms of "levels of fellowship." The Bible, however, teaches no such thing. The Bible clearly teaches that one cannot have fellowship with another if that fellowship is not with God (1 John 1:6-7). I am either in fellowship with God, or I am not. Fellowship then has for its very foundation, TRUTH. It is because many have rejected truth that we have such a problem in this area. The subject that has been assigned to me is "Preaching And Fellowship." To properly understand this, we must first understand preaching. Then, we must understand fellowship. And then, we must see how the two relate.

BIBLICAL PREACHING

There is no greater privilege in the world than preaching the gospel. Paul declared, "Though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:16). Paul helps us to see to whom the glory belongs in preaching; it belongs to God. There are really two kinds of preachers. There is the preacher who glorifies himself and the preacher who glorifies God. The preacher who glorifies himself preaches to tickle the ears of the people (2 Tim. 4:3). The preacher who glorifies God is a gospel preacher for he declares the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:26,27). In declaring the whole counsel of God, one would most definitely preach on fellowship, for fellowship

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is at the very heart of giving glory to God. The difficulty with preaching today is most do not want it. We hear people talking in terms of negative and positive preaching rather than scriptural and non-scriptural. Paul declared that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Within this text, there is no mention of positive and negative. He simply states that "all scripture" is profitable.

Gospel preachers, therefore, do not think in terms of negative and positive. If it is the Word of God, it is positive. If it means to rebuke, they rebuke; if it means to exhort, they exhort (Tit. 2:15). If it is the Bible, God is speaking, not man, and that is profitable. I am convinced that 70% of the churches of Christ would not accept Jesus Christ as their local preacher, because He was simply too negative in His preaching, especially toward the Pharisees (Mat. 23). Most would not put up with an Isaiah or a Jeremiah. One of the reasons we have such trouble in this area is some have been telling people there are certain parts of God's Word that should not be spoken. We are told that to preach on the one church, what constitutes acceptable worship, marriage, divorce, and remarriage "drives" people away and should be shunned. We have convinced them that certain parts of the Bible are milk and certain parts are meat, and we should not feed meat to a milk person (Heb. 5-6). Yet, in doing so, we have compartmentalized the Bible declaring to the people that some of God's Word is too harsh.

The reason some have come to this position is a misconception of Hebrews 5. Some have concluded that the "first principles of the oracles of God" are the ABC's of Christianity. Given that thought, one would be careful not to

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teach "meat" passages to one who needs milk. Yet, the passage seems more to indicate the teachings of Judaism (Heb. 6:1-3), and that seems to fit the overall purpose of the book. We then need to leave the principles of Christ as taught in Judaism and go on unto perfection (New Testament of Christ). Therefore, Peter states we must desire the Word as newborn babes desire milk. There is not a scripture in the Bible that is not profitable to me. Therefore, I must proclaim the whole counsel of God. What we need in the church today are preachers who know the Book and will preach the Book and are not ashamed of the Book but ashamed only of those who would oppose it.

FELLOWSHIP

The basic meaning of fellowship is found in two Greek words, "koinonia" which means "communion, sharing in common" and "metoche" which means "partnership."1 Paul declared that we should "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Eph. 5:11). He declared in 1 Corinthians 5:9, not to have company with fornicators. He again declared in 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 "Be ye not unequally yoked together. " The fellowship that we enjoy then has its foundation in the Word of God. "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" (1 John 1:6-7). One then must realize that there can be no fellowship with others who are not walking in the light because they are not in fellowship with God. We must always remember that it is those who oppose truth who are the very cause of disunity and lack of fellowship (Rom. 16:17-18).

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Yet, the foundation of fellowship is seen in God's establishing Israel as a nation of His people. God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, and that through his seed will all the families of the earth be blessed (Gen. 12:1-3). The fulfillment of this great nation is seen in Israel. The first numbering in the wilderness of those males 20 years old and upward able to go to war were 603,550 thus showing God's fulfillment of that promise. This nation, established by God, however, would need to unite as one nation. They would need a fellowship that would strengthen their ties together. To do this, God made Israel a distinct and different people. He intended to make them different, peculiar to other nations to keep them together and fulfill their purpose of giving glory to God. Therefore, God established the Feast of the Passover to make them different; He changed their calendar (Exo. 12:2). He instituted the Passover which became the first sacrifice offered as a nation of God's people (Exo. 12:6). The Passover would be a means by which their children would know how God formed this nation (Exo. 12:26-27). No doubt, there were other nations, but this was the only nation formed by God for His purpose and in connection with His promise. Other nations were found only in rebellion against God (Gen. 11). Yet, the institution of the Passover had a part in drawing the people together as a unit. They faced a common danger (death of firstborn). In facing that danger, direction was given so it could be avoided. Therefore, the Passover was given, not to be celebrated by individuals, but rather as a whole nation. No doubt, the very institution of the Lord's Supper today has much the same purpose. Paul declared that Christ today is our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7). The Lord's Supper then is expressive of the unity and fellowship we have as God's people. It shows a separation from the world (1 Cor. 10:16-21). It shows the fellowship we have with God.

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GOD GAVE THEM CLEAN AND UNCLEAN ANIMALS

Leviticus 11 states a list of animals that were regarded as clean and unclean. The underlying principle given for these laws is stated in Leviticus 11:44-47.

"For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and

ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with

any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am

the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God:

ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. This is the law of the beasts,

and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters,

and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: To make a

difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the

beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten."

They were to be holy, as God is holy. In doing so, they could glorify God to the world and fulfill their purpose as God's people. They could not turn the heart of a pagan world toward God, if they are in fellowship with that world. Therefore, God stated in Leviticus 11:24-26,

"I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other

people. Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and

unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not

make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner

of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated

from you as unclean. And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord

am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine."

God knew that food was used for hospitality, fellowship. Therefore, to make certain foods as clean or unclean would cease social contacts between Israel and pagan, idolatrous nations, and therefore, they would not intermarry. This principle was abused by the Jews for they felt that the Gentiles were not equal in the sight of God. Yet, the separation was not to teach the lesson of inequality but rather to keep them from the influence of idolatry.

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GOD ESTABLISHED A PRIESTHOOD, A TABERNACLE, AND SACRIFICE

Through priesthood, sacrifice, and a place (tabernacle), Israel had the means to approach God and be in fellowship with God as God's people. The only way one can be holy before God is through the provisions God has made. The character and tenor of our life must be one of faithfulness to God. One cannot live a life of neglect, worldly living, sinful living and then attempt to assemble with God's people and enjoy God's fellowship. No doubt, all have sinned (Rom. 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10), but we can use the provisions God has given so we can be faithful in our service. Today, God has provided a way of approach. He gave us a priesthood -- Christ and the church (1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Heb. 3:1). He gave us the sacrifice (Christ). He gave us the place of approach (church, body of Christ). Without using these provisions, we can never be in fellowship with God or His people. The Mosaical priesthood, however, had a special privilege for they were allowed to enter the tabernacle and draw near to God. In the same fashion, Christians as God's priests, can draw near to Him (Heb. 10:18-23). Yet, with this privilege goes responsibility. The primary function of the priest was to teach, "For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts" (Mal. 2:7). This became the downfall of Israel for the priests neglected the law (Mal. 2:8-10; Hos. 4). As God's priests today (I Pet. 2:5), our primary function is to teach. We teach by retaining our distinction. We teach by following God's directions. We teach by showing others those directions, so they can be in fellowship with God and with His people.

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PREACHING AND FELLOWSHIP

Fellowship is the distinguishing feature that united and strengthened the early church. Paul declared to the church at Corinth, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment " (1 Cor. 1:10). He reminded them that he and the brethren were "laborers together with God" (1 Cor. 3:9). Paul was trying to combat the spirit of factionalism and to show the strength in being together working for one cause and one purpose. No doubt, when fellowship is ignored, then the strength of our ties in reaching out to the lost are weakened. We must see the benefit of seeking "sweet counsel together" (Psa. 55:14). We must work together in preaching and teaching the Word of God. Is it not a joy to visit fellow congregations during a gospel meeting and counsel together in proclaiming the Word of God? Paul declared that we should "stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;" (Phi. 1:27). Paul prayed for their fellowship in the gospel (Phi. 1:5a). If the church is to be as God wants it to be, then there must be a joy in working together for the cause of Christ. There must be a partnership in the work of the gospel. When one becomes a child of God, from that day forward, there must be an active participation in the work of the gospel. Paul remembered the fellowship he as a gospel preacher enjoyed with those at Philippi "from the first day until now" (Phi. 1:5b). No doubt, he remembered Lydia. How great was the day he met her. He taught her the gospel, and she opened her will to God and obeyed that gospel. Here was a woman who lived in the darkness of paganism, having found some light in Judaism and coming to the full light in Christ. No doubt, Paul remembered the Philippian jailer, a man who was wicked and hardened against

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Paul and Silas, a man who watched or had a part in their beating, a man who placed them in chains, stocks, and bonds. He did not care that their backs were bleeding and yet the earthquake came and Paul said, "Do thyself no harm: for we are all here" (Acts 16:28). This jailer had never known a man like that before. Yet, he not only saved his physical life, more importantly, he saved his soul in preaching. What a tremendous joy there is in that fellowship!

Preachers must realize that if one is to enjoy fellowship with God, it will be in preaching the truth for it is in truth that we have the very foundation of fellowship (John 17:17). When one has the will to remain in error, then God has commanded that we withdraw our fellowship. This is because when one has crossed God's line of demarcation, we must choose whether we will stand with God or with error. We must choose whether we will be a partaker with God or with false teachers. One reason why there is confusion is too many preachers have preached "disfellowship" rather than "withdrawing fellowship". The term "disfellowship" is not a Biblical term. When a brother in Christ refuses to repent, then we are required to withdraw our fellowship as he no longer walks in truth (2 The. 3:6,14). A man that is preaching error and no longer stands for truth is one from whom we withdraw our fellowship and teach others to do the same (Rom. 16:17). The Bible says nothing of different kinds or levels of fellowship. We are either a partner with God, or we are not. A gospel preacher then who stands with God cannot participate in lectureships, meetings, workshops of those who are teaching error.

In Leviticus 4 we read concerning the sin offering a distinction made between the priest, ruler, congregation, and the common man. This distinction must be understood in light of the responsibility of each. There is a clear distinction made between responsibility and the position of knowledge. One of

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the functions of priesthood was to instruct the people (Mal. 2:7-12; Hos. 4:6). Their position of responsibility and instruction shows that their knowledge of sin should be greater than other people's. With an increase of knowledge comes an increase of responsibility. With an increase of responsibility comes an increase in influence. God does not make a distinction between sins, but shows that our influence can be greater because of our position. No doubt the sins of a preacher are not different than the sins of others. Yet, in light of his position the damage he can do may be much greater. For this reason a preacher places himself on a higher plane. He is careful about his associations, both among the world and among false teachers. No doubt for this very reason, Paul requested prayers (Rom.15:30). In like manner, a distinction is made in the sin offering of the whole congregation (Lev. 4:13). Israel is to be a light to the whole world. Think of the influence the whole congregation would have before the world. When a congregation of God's people is in sin, think about its influence. It is for this very reason that when a congregation is in sin to God that we withdraw our fellowship lest we lose our influence with the truth of God's Word. The same distinction is made with the rulers (Lev. 4:22). Think of the influence of the eldership. What happens to that influence when they condone error in the pulpit nor do what is necessary to spare the flock from it? The same distinction is made with the common man (Lev. 4:27). From this we see that no one is above God's law, and no one is below God's law. Rather all must obey God's law and realize the influence they have before the world.

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CONCLUSION

There is no greater fellowship one can enjoy than the fellowship that is associated with preaching -- to be able to call another a brother or sister in Christ -- to share in the work of the gospel -- to enjoy the blessings of God together. Yet, how saddened we are when others break that fellowship through ungodly living or ungodly teaching. May we ever strive to follow God's directions and encourage others to do the same.

ENDNOTES

1 W. E. Vine, Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1985), pp. 115, 122.

Mark was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, in 1965. He is the son of Keith, Sr. and Dorothy Mosher. He received a diploma from Memphis School of Preaching in 1987 and a graduate diploma in 1991. He received his B.A. from Southern Christian University and is presently preaching for the Wesconnett Church of Christ in Jacksonville, Florida.

He has been preaching for 11 years. He is married to the former Beckye Bell, and they have two children, Caiti and Cassidy.