A side of fellowship please …

Have you ever tried to get ketchup at a fast food restaurant?

Fast food is rarely a part of my diet, but when I do drop in for a burger, I usually try to get some ketchup.

“Try” is the key word!

Many fast food places have switched from small packets of ketchup to a dispenser. The problem? They provide you with TINY little paper “cups” to put the ketchup in. Paper cups that make it difficult (at best!) to use, and greatly minimize the amount of ketchup you get. I wind up filling multiple paper cups.

The idea behind the dispenser with the paper cups is to provide something customers demand (the ketchup) while controlling the amount used. By providing tiny little cups, the food establishments discourage volume, thus containing their costs. What they don’t factor in is the inconvenience and frustration to the customer. Minimizing costs seems to be paramount. However, by squeezing the customer on a little ketchup, they set a poor example of providing the customer with what they want in a convenient manner.

I really dislike those little paper cups!

Sometimes I think Christians, even churches, dish out fellowship kind of like the way fast food restaurants dish out ketchup. We provide a little flavor “at church” … because fellowship is a big demand of the “customer” … but we contain it to very little, and make it fairly inconvenient. It seems we think if we shake a few hands or say hello to some people at a church service, we’ve “done fellowship.”

That is light years from the fellowship enjoyed by the early church. Take a look at what fellowship meant to the early followers of Christ:

Acts 2:42: “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.”

Acts 2:44-47: “44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”

Acts 4:32-35: “32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.”

We see in the Book of Acts that the early church was riddled with fellowship! Their lives — including their needs and resources — were meshed together. Their coming together was for more than a handshake, a song, and a sermon, it was for sharing life together by serving one another.

We have cheapened fellowship to mean a small cup of bad coffee, donuts, a handshake, and surface level conversation before a worship service. Then we go home and face life, and all its challenges, all alone.

No wonder so many Christians fall. No wonder thousands of churches close their doors permanently every year.

The next time someone extends a hand to shake at church, why not go beyond a firm grip of palms to getting to know those around you, diving into their lives, and doing life together? It will mean selfless giving, serving, and spending your time and resources on others.

But isn’t that exactly what being a part of the church is all about?

Scotty