Lately I've been discovering the difference between hanging out and fellowship... and what a difference it is. I just wonder how much time we Christians spend together just goofing off and talking about the same stuff everyone else is talking about.
Doesn't the Way, the path marked out for us, the Cultural Mandate, the Great commission, our sin, our Savior, our soul, our personal relationship with our father, our corporate relationship with him, our common brother/sisterhood in Christ garner enough to talk about?
Can't you just imagine where our souls would be if we were "fellowshiping" regularly? What if we were bringing the gospel, bringing Scripture to bear on our problems, on our jobs, on our families and relationships? Think of the healing, the deep fellowship with God, the deep understanding of his love, and the confidence of faith we would have. It would really make us new people.
I recognize that a small part of fellowship is just goofing off with one another, but it appears that we have taken that small chunk and let it become the whole. What percentage of my time with fellow Christians is in prayer, in studying the Word, in bringing the Christian worldview to bear on the issues of our day, in applying Scripture to our lives? It's gross!
In my life, it seems like I need to demarcate when is "Christian" time and when is "live lukewarm" time. Many are perfectly ok with this sacred/secular split in their lives. I can't do that.
God, would you set me free to be a whole person- a single personality? Help me to follow you in this area. The gospel gives me confidence in cutting against the grain- I'm already accepted in the eyes of you, my Father, so if people see me as strange so be it. Instead of my own feeble love, help me point people to Christ- to the cross. Instead of my own advice which seems so damn smart to me sometimes, help me point people to Scripture. Forgive me for my failing to obey in this way. Lord, help me to be receptive to your Spirit as I try to engage in real fellowship.
