February 2007
The biblical idea of koinonia is wonderfully illustrated in the first of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, “The Fellowship of the Ring.” In one scene the Council of Elrond gathers to discuss their plight with the ring, they come to the conclusion that they must take the ring back to Mount Doom where the ring can be unmade and its power broken. Heated debate quickly breaks out (where mission lacks, confusion reigns) on the danger of the mission and its impossibility when Frodo steps up and says “I’ll take the ring, although I do not know the way.” At this point real koinonia takes place as various members step up and partner in the mission as they offer their lives, talent and skill (ax, bow, sword). True koinonia is a partnership “in” the mission. It is here that the “Fellowship of the Ring” is formed – nine companions on a quest.
In the much the same way, we are the “Fellowship of the Cross”. A fellowship that has come together around the mission of Jesus centered in the grace and power of the Cross that has released us to a mission that continues to break the power of darkness in our world. We are committed to each other because of the mission. We have a “relationship with a reason” and that reason is the mission of loving God, loving others, and making disciples.
The Bible makes it quite clear that the early church was together (at least at Pentecost), living out the reality of the “Fellowship of the Cross.” Acts 1:14 tells us that “They all met continually for prayer.” Luke tells us that the early church shared all things in common (Acts 2:43-47). Even Peter’s inaugural sermon that gave birth to the church was not a solitary act. Luke adds a rather stunning fact that “Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles” (Acts 2:14). It would appear the early church understood “relationship with a reason.”
What we at times have forgotten is that the Church is in a war. Frodo knew he was in a battle. “Fate has chosen him. A Fellowship will protect him. Evil will hunt him.” (from the Lord of the Rings trailer). The Church in the West often finds itself in a war that is more with each other than the forces of darkness. Scripture makes it clear that we are in a war.
Then there was war in heaven. Michael and the angels under his command fought the dragon and his angels…But terror will come on the earth and the sea. For the Devil has come down to you in great anger, and he knows that he has little time. (Revelation 12:7, 12, NLT)
What Hell seeks to do is to weaken and destroy the fellowship by dividing it. The fellowship is meant to stand in such a way that it can be on mission while taking care of its members. This division is best accomplished when Hell takes the fellowship and moves them from standing together for the mission to turning from the mission to tear each other down. The fellowship is meant to be like a group of people that stand in a circle and holding hands – while facing outwards. We are to cover the backs of our brothers and sisters as we fight our spiritual battle, staying connected, always looking to receive the next person into our community. In this way whatever is coming to attack us will be picked up and stopped by our faithful brother who defends us with his life (a great picture of koinonia), while our eyes are facing outward to the mission. What Hell loves to do and can only do is turn the soldiers on each other. Since Satan has no power against the Church, all he can do is play on our insecurities, fears, and suspicions of one another, lying to each believer about the motives and intentions of the others. What takes place then is the soldier turns inward, no longer covering the other soldiers, and begins to make war with his own brothers and sisters. Each does the same and the army is incapacitated. Hell does all it can to move us away from the mission and being the “Fellowship of the Cross.”
We are most like beasts when we kill. We are most like men when we judge. We are most like God when we forgive. - Anonymous
I’d like to leave you with a few questions that might move us all to live out the reality of being the Fellowship of the Cross. Like the Council of Elrond, may we each offer our lives, our gifts, our talents for this incredible mission – companions who are the Fellowship of the Cross.
Who Is Willing? Who Will Go?
- Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to my people? Who will go for us?” (Isaiah 6:8, NLT)
How Do I Start?
- Share the Jesus that you know (Revelation 12:11), tell people about the Jesus that saved you and continues to save you
- You may not know the answers of life but you know the answer to life. Share the answer you know.
Where Do I Start?
- Jerusalem: Start at home and with the people closest to you
- Judea/Samaria: People near but different from me
- Ends of the earth: Everybody else!
How Do We Do this?
- Together
- Be a light (Matthew 5:14-16), simply let your light shine
- Your light shines best when you live right and your life will testify to Christ (I Peter 2:12; Micah 6:8)
- Live a life of love (John 13:34-35; I Timothy 1:5; I Corinthians 13:4-8)
When Do We Do this?
- NOW! TODAY!
- “Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.” (Hosea 10:12, NLT)
Tell me what you think. Let’s talk about it.
2 comments:
I beleive that there is in each of us the instictual desire to have someone at our backs. As a believer in CHrist I know that He is at my back. But how joyous to have Christ Incarnated through the baody of Christ phyically at my back. I thirst for this and wonder if I am being selfish. Should I be sacrifing this to be able to go out to the ends of the earth? But I have found myself too weak to do this. HAve I failed? When we left North America it felt like we had left this kionania behind and were to find where we were going. But it was harder to find that we thought and I found myself feeling very much alone. How can we prctice this in such a way that we can send people out from the koinania and not have them feeling like they have been shoved out into the battle all alone?
In a world where we struggle to be the Body of Christ, it all the more critical that those who are being moved by the Holy Spirit become the people God is asking us to be. In such a difficult environment it is easy to pull away, become discouraged, and even cynical. Whatever people have not been to us, it behooves us all the more to become the people God would have us be. May God empower you to reflect His love and nature and may we become His body, reflecting His love to a lost world.
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