And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. 1 JOHN 5:20 (NLT)

Christians are encouraged to have fellowship with other believers. Fellowship is defined as, “A company of people that shares the same interest or aim; a feeling of friendship, relatedness or connection between people.” For Christians, the connection, of course, would be faith and belief in Jesus. The New Testament speaks about the fellowship of the believers among the newly formed church (ACTS 2:41-47). During these times of fellowship, they shared meals, had times of worship and they prayed together.

The New Testament book of 1John speaks of our fellowship with God the Father and with Jesus Christ the Son. The Old Testament book of Genesis speaks of two men who walked in fellowship with God. Enoch was taken up to heaven. “Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him.” (GENESIS 5:23,24 NLT). Noah was the only “good” man on earth during his time, so the LORD spared him; God told him to build the ark as shelter during the great flood. “Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.” (GENESIS 6:9 NLT). Everyone except Noah and his immediate family was destroyed, along with all the other living creatures that did not make the ark.

When the venue of a gathering is the Church, for a Bible Study for instance, the focus of conversation would most likely be about the Bible. Subsequent discussions are generally wholesome in nature, and bring people closer together through a more intimate understanding of each other. People tend to be more careful of the context of their statements and the selection of their words, and make an effort not to offend or hurt anyone’s feelings.

Perhaps a get together is elsewhere and consists of a few friends meeting for coffee. The atmosphere is different. The conversation could start out innocently; someone asks about the well being of a mutual friend. Then, before the friends are aware of it, they are engaged in a gossip session.

In another scenario, a group gathers for a prayer meeting. It is common they begin by discussing the people they will pray for. How quickly such a well-intended effort can turn into a time of talk that grieves the LORD. It is not necessary that secrets or intimacies be revealed, and personal information about others made known, especially if it is second-hand information. It is a betrayal if something is shared when it was received in confidence, even with the best intentions.

The conversations that people share should always be pleasing to God’s ears. Regardless of where His children gather, He hears every word that is said, and He knows the content of each heart. If words are not true, helpful, insightful, necessary, and kind, they shouldn’t be said. Fellowship is a wonderful time spent with God and with each other, and shouldn’t be tainted by dishonorable conversation, any time or any place.

PSALM 41:6 (NLT)
They visit me as if they were my friends, but all the while, they gather gossip, and when they leave, they spread it everywhere.

2 CORINTHIANS 13:14 (NLT)
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

JUDGE NOT LEST YE BE JUDGED

[Matthew 7:1-5] “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

Jesus pointed out that they who judge others unfairly would be judged themselves, in the same measure. It is foolish and hypocritical for us to criticize someone for a fault while remaining blind to our own considerable faults[1] . Plainly, we should expect to receive what we dish out. Jesus’ statement didn’t mean to dismiss or ignore bad behavior; His point was to loose the holier than thou attitude. He wants us to stop the practice of knocking people just to make ourselves feel superior. The contrast between the “speck in your friend’s eye” and “the log in your own eye” gives us an accurate visual. How can we possibly have clear vision? We don’t. Before we go looking for dust in our sister’s house, we better do some house cleaning at home first.

[Matthew 7:12] “So in everything, do to others what you would have them to do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets” [NIV]

Toward the beginning of The Sermon on the Mount, we read about meeting the requirements of the Law and the Prophets; here the Law and Prophets are mentioned again. A lot of His lessons up until this point pertain to this simple yet meaningful phrase we know as The Golden Rule. The message it delivers is that we should do for others what we’d want them to do for us. It sounds easy enough and is totally fair. It’s a tough act to follow, though. Who can be so caring and supporting 100% of the time? Who is so selfless that they always think of others before they think of themselves? Not me. Notice the second and third words: “in everything”. No further explanation is needed, eh?.

How quickly we jump to conclusions about others! Jesus tells us we have no right to judge others, only God does. He doesn’t suggest for us to turn a blind eye, rather, take a good, hard look at ourselves, and consider our motives and behavior before we pass judgment on others. We don’t have to apologize for mean things we don’t say. When we look at our peers through God’s loving eyes of pure, clear and wide vision instead of our own nearsighted critical eyes, we will see past their faults and catch glimpses of opportunities to glorify God. We will see how we can be forgiving and recognize how we can be helpful and respectful, in spite of different opinions.

We must treat each other the way God treats us: with love, generosity, patience, and forgiveness. When we apply the Golden Rule to our lives, in everything, we can refrain from jumping to the wrong conclusions, differentiate between good and bad, and show respect for everyone, even those we disagree with. [2]

Footnotes:
[1] NIV Study Bible; note on Luke 6:41

[2] Adult Student Book, by David C. Cook, Dec 2008 – Feb 2009; pgs. 33-39

Release and Forgive

Proverbs 19:11 (CEV)
“It's wise to be patient and show what you are like by forgiving others.”

Praise Song
This is how if feels to be free -- The Good guys

How wonderful the peace of mind
that comes when we receive the divine
gift to release and forgive.
Oh, how good it is to live
in freedom from holding onto grudges, and anger, and hate
against people we once loved, or a best friend, or a soul mate.

It’s like being furloughed from a prison;
or seeing with a new vision.
When we are no longer bound
to this invisible force so profound
that it stands as a case
against us, keeping us from God’s mercy and grace
He’s extending to us to claim.

The practice of forgiving others is our gain.
For over us, they’ll no longer have control.
Our forgiving them breaks the hold they have on our heart, mind and soul.

When we forgive,
we are free to live.
Only then can we ask God to forgive us,
and he does. We reflect back on how life was
before and wonder why
did we hold onto all the junk and bitterness. We cry
happy tears
because for the first time, in perhaps years,
we are at peace.
I praise you, God, and thank you for this blessed gift of release
and forgive.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (New Living Translation)
Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.