My question is that I attend church every Sunday. Do I have to work for the church? Do I have to “get close” to the members? I am friendly and love my brothers and sisters. I just don’t want to do the fellowship things. I just want to go and worship God and be with other Christians. ~ James Buckley
The primary Greek noun for the English word “fellowship” is “koinonia”; it means partnership or participation. It is used 20 times in the New Testament and is applied in various contexts to the relationship that Christians sustain between themselves and with the Godhead (1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 2:9; 1 John 1:3, 7), the church contribution (2 Corinthians 8:4; translated as “contribution” Romans 15:26; translated as “distribution” 2 Corinthians 9:13; translated as “communicate” Hebrews 13:16), the Lord’s Supper (translated as “communion” 1 Corinthians 10:16) and suffering for the cause of Christ (Philippians 3:10). Two more Greek nouns and two Greek verbs are also translated as “fellowship” or a related word, similar to the references and citations just mentioned.
In addition, compound Greek words that employ the preposition “sun” portray a union in whatever activity to which “sun” (or a form of it) is attached. Commonly, this results in a compound English word where “fellow” is half the word (“fellowdisciples” John 11:16; “fellowprisoners” Romans 16:7; Colossians 4:10; Philemon 23; “workfellow” Romans 16:21; “fellowhelper” 2 Corinthians 8:23; 3 John 8; “fellowcitizens” Ephesians 2:19; “fellowheirs” Ephesians 3:6; “fellowsoldier” Philippians 2:25; Philemon 2; “yokefellow” and “fellowlabourers” Philippians 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; Philemon 1, 24; “fellowservant” Colossians 1:7; 4:7; Revelation 6:11; 19:10; 22:9; “fellowworkers” Colossians 4:11).
In the next place, other Scriptures paint the close relationship that Christians ought to maintain with each other in every facet of the practice of Christianity. “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king” (1 Peter 2:17). “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). “Let brotherly love continue” (Hebrews 13:1). “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (1 Peter 1:22). “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another” (Romans 12:10). “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common” (Acts 4:32).
Finally, Christians anticipate a closeness forever in heaven before Almighty God (Revelation 7:15). There will be no intermission in heaven during which one may pursue respite from partnership with other saints in rendering unending homage to God. That fellowship will be all encompassing without end.
In conclusion, from the foregoing considerations, Christian fellowship includes: (1) the relationship sustained between Christians as well with the Godhead, (2) worship: e.g., the church contribution and the Lord’s Supper, (3) suffering together, (4) being prisoners together if necessary, (5) working together, (6) preferring the presence of Christians over any others on the planet, and (7) joyfully expecting that closeness to only increase in heaven, without interruption forever. True Christianity is supposed to be a whole, new way of life where we being many members become one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-14). “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another” (Romans 12:5).
Consequently, fellowship is supposed to pervade the entire Christian experience. Hermits, introverts, shy folks, private people and such like (with whom I personally empathize) need to work at embracing Christian fellowship in the fullest sense.
