The Right Fellowship
Breaking Fellowship with evil company
Don’t let a church fellowship lie and tell you, “you were planted here” or, “God placed you here and you’re disobeying God by leaving our church or ministry”. Non of this “planting” crap is in the Bible. And even if God led you there, nothing is permanent. If the Lord says, “Stay” stay, if the Lord says, “Go”, go.
Some will act as if your departure is a departure from God. But this is the way they see things through their institutional eyes. These people are deceived. God is not in some brick building, a small group in someone’s basement, or an online ministry. God is with you when you are obeying him (John 14:23). Don’t let these people intimidate and ridicule you into staying in a fellowship that is unhealthy and dishonoring to God.
You will have to expect shaming and damning from those fellowships you decide to break off. Expect flaming arrows, but block them with your shield of faith and know that you have changed your destination and you now “row a boat”, up stream, towards Heaven with your God. Also, some people may even change once you make the decision to depart, so don’t rule this out either, but if their change is just to keep you and not for the Lord, you will have to let them go.
The Lord is bigger and better than them and his fellowship has rewards. Plus, God won’t leave you hanging. God will send you an earthly fellowship that is in alignment with him and you won’t be alone.
In review, the right fellowship has the following:
- Love according to God’s view of love
- A hatred of sin
- Good works, edification and spiritual growth
- Correction and exhortation (without scoffing)
- Jesus as the center
Further Thought:
Lately, more people are choosing to avoid church and public worship meetings, to practice their faith more privately and independently. Many are steering clear of “organized religion” because of the cases of abuse they’ve seen occur in God’s name. So, is it mandatory to attend a fellowship in order to be considered a follower of Jesus Christ? Check out this video by Pastor David. YouTube link
Also check out our fellowship: The Fellowship Network
Thank you for this word Neal. It is a word in season to me right now. See how the Lord can use the pain you went through to guide and encourage others who are now treading this path.
Praise God.
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Bless you Deborah, I’m glad that this word is helping you.
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I love this! I need to say that I have no godly friends in my life and never really did. I am single and have 2 wonderful children but I do need godly fellowship but every ‘christian’ and church i went to in 10 years have closed their doors on me and wanted nothing to do with me. I have prayed hard about this. What can I do?
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Hi Beth. First, what you should do is get rid of any ungodly friends as James 4:4 suggests. Hanging with the world will block your relationship with God and any real and godly fellowships he has for you. After this, you may find yourself alone and the only friend you have is God. This is painful but normal for a season as this time is allotted for you to build a firm foundation, root and connection to him. After that is done, you will be free to fellowship with people he chooses for you. This is where I’m at currently, but I know that as I become firmly rooted in him, he’ll show me where the true fellowships are. I hope this helps.
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