Having Fellowship
written at Wednesday, May 6, 2009
What does it mean to have a true fellowship with one another?
Dr Simon Chan's lecture today changed a lot of my perspectives of what having fellowship with one another meant. It has certainly broadened and crystallized the many views I had towards the aspect of "Having fellowship". How wonderful it is to end the whole lecture on a very refreshing note!
When we have fellowship, as Christians we do not define a person by their "function" or "qualities". Is that why too many a time in the secular society, it deems those who are physically or mentally handicapped as lesser or more inferior than those who are "normal"?
When we have fellowship, it is not a question of whether or not they know God, but rather the main truth is that God knows them! Sometimes we question whether someone with a mental disability will have the capacity to know God, but God knows them. And even so, many might be closer to God than we are! Dr Simon quoted a psychologist who said, "Within the façade of an idiot may be the most beautiful saint." Man looks at the outer appearance, but God looks at the heart. That person may be mentally handicapped, but in them their spirit is capable of being touched by the spirit of God.
When we have fellowship, we love our enemies. We open up the fellowship to someone other than my "beneficiary". As Jesus mentioned, loving our friends is also an act easily accomplished by the pagans. But loving our enemies, now that's different.
Something to think about.
Having Fellowship
written at Wednesday, May 6, 2009
What does it mean to have a true fellowship with one another?
Dr Simon Chan's lecture today changed a lot of my perspectives of what having fellowship with one another meant. It has certainly broadened and crystallized the many views I had towards the aspect of "Having fellowship". How wonderful it is to end the whole lecture on a very refreshing note!
When we have fellowship, as Christians we do not define a person by their "function" or "qualities". Is that why too many a time in the secular society, it deems those who are physically or mentally handicapped as lesser or more inferior than those who are "normal"?
When we have fellowship, it is not a question of whether or not they know God, but rather the main truth is that God knows them! Sometimes we question whether someone with a mental disability will have the capacity to know God, but God knows them. And even so, many might be closer to God than we are! Dr Simon quoted a psychologist who said, "Within the façade of an idiot may be the most beautiful saint." Man looks at the outer appearance, but God looks at the heart. That person may be mentally handicapped, but in them their spirit is capable of being touched by the spirit of God.
When we have fellowship, we love our enemies. We open up the fellowship to someone other than my "beneficiary". As Jesus mentioned, loving our friends is also an act easily accomplished by the pagans. But loving our enemies, now that's different.
Something to think about.
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Knowing
What matters supremely, therefore, is not
in the last analysis, the fact that I know God,
but the larger fact which underlies it --
the fact that He knows me.
J. I. Packer
