CONNECT: Event or Lifestyle (Pt 3)

So, why the big deal about Fellowship? Isn’t good Relationship enough? “Steve, isn’t this just you being a perfectionist again?”

“Good enough” is an interesting expression. The staff at my previous church were guided by that phrase. It was because we didn’t want to be paralyzed while we strove for perfection. But what does “good enough” look like in your worship of God? How about in your marriage? How about in your parenting? Isn’t the story of Cain one of offering God what he thought was “good enough” (Genesis 4:3-5)? Look at a similar story about the sons of Aaron who worshipped God according to their own standards:

Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over it. In this way, they disobeyed the LORD by burning before him a different kind of fire than he had commanded. So fire blazed forth from the LORD's presence and burned them up, and they died there before the LORD. Leviticus 10:1-2

Now, I’m not suggesting that settling for Relationship means that God will reject you on Judgment Day. But, I am saying that an earnest Christ-follower should seek to be obedient in every way. And the clear description of the new thing God created by His Spirit on Pentecost was characterized by Fellowship:

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:41-47

If you let the Word speak and don’t cast your cultural preferences upon it, it’s clear that this Spirit-generated community was continually doing all aspects of life together, especially those that we would consider religious. And Christ had told His disciples, during His prayer for them and the church that He expected that the unity among His followers and toward the Lord would be so radically richer than anything in the world that the world would know the love the Father has for His Son and for His church (John 17:20-23).

So, you should answer for yourself. Is this a matter of personal choice or should we have profound conviction? Christ’s hope as He went to His death was that what would be born from His suffering would be a community which has been radically transformed by divine power. So, can you be satisfied with anything less?