Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
And on that point we can generally agree. But whether or not the fellowship is really about "church" and therefore we are talking about when the church meets (assembles), or is just about a get together to chit-chat, watch a baseball game, eat bar-b-q, or any other activity, then that is the difference.
Now I am quick to point out that everything about the life of a Christian should be spiritual. That does not mean that it is all about prayer, "fellowship" with other believers, learning from the word, etc. It means that our life is ordered around Christ in all that we do. We are the best doctors, nurses, accountants, programmers, engineers, short-order cooks, truck drivers, trash haulers, farmers, day laborers, etc., that we can be because we serve our employers (masters) as serving Christ. We are the most honest customers and vendors in the marketplace. We are quick to help those in need, and slow to say anything bad about anyone (outside of any truth that must be said — and that is not license to lay down biblical truth on everyone who is a sinner).
That is our life. And when we get together to meet as Christians, we are quick to admit our own faults and pray for forgiveness (not just assume that we have grace and move on). We focus on God in our worship, not on ourselves.
So while there is always "fellowship" in a meeting of Christians, it is still rational to assume that when someone says "fellowship" in the context of a meeting of Christians, it is intended to refer to their Christ-facing thoughts, actions, talk, and issues, and not just everything simply because everything is "fellowship."
I also would agree that a meeting without interaction is not fellowship. But that is a rather unique (if it has ever actually happened) situation to be making a comment about. What were you really trying to say? Just to be at odds on yet another point? That seems to be your MO.
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I recall attending liturgical church services when I was young, I didn't have much to do, it was quite boring, no one really to talk to. Just because I heard a pastor's sermon or went to church does not mean I had fellowship. I had some fellowship with God, but I could have done that at home. That's the difference between a service and a meeting I guess. A service is like going to the dentist.You sit on the chair and the dentist does things with you. But fellowship would be like going for a coffee. The Lord's table meeting is a kind of a feast, a meal, where everyone participates and enjoys. The denominational church services, the masses and communions, are like going to the dentist for a spiritual checkup, scale and clean.
In fact, things are so bad in the denominations, that the good ones will schedule small group meetings during the week to make up for the fellowship they did not have on Sunday. The Sunday service is the ritualistic "must do", and the small groups are where the real fellowship is said to happen. They've taken a page out of the "home church" groups on that one, keeping the Sunday service but adding some house meetings as well. Many denominations don't really do the house meetings at all. The Recovery is basically built on home meetings, rather than church services, it puts fellowship number 1, over ritualistic church services.