Tuesday 21 April 2009

Background

The heart of the Greek word 'koinonia', which we translate as'fellowship', is 'koina' which means 'in common' (see Acts 2:42-47).Luke, the author of the Acts of the Apostles, tells us of an earlyChurch fellowship in which the practical needs of others are thebasis of their spiritual life. I find this a challenge becausefellowship for Christians like myself today can mean no more thanwarm tea and sympathy. For a hundred and one good reasons, the morerobust meaning of the word that Luke uses to describe the earlyChurch's fellowship gets lost.

Alongside the hugeness of the challenge to us in which we treatothers' needs as equal to our own is the equally huge claim thatJesus is risen. The disciples give powerful testimony to the latterwhile expressing that belief practically with the former.

The Methodist story is similarly based in a practical expression ofjoyful news. Band meetings and class meetings formed the basis of faithsharing and discipleship - they were not only how we learnt goodnews, they were a key part of that good news. The first Methodistsin the 18th century also tried to hold things in common as a way ofhaving fellowship, in what they said and how they cared for eachother.

The early Church in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD explored theboldest of fellowship life of sharing and trust as they awaited thecoming kingdom (which they believed was imminent). The normal saferules by which society maintained its status quo were subverted bya hope-driven economy based on need. The hope sprang from theextraordinary claim that now the crucified Jesus was risen, all waspossible!

To Ponder

While modern life is complex, where might we have'things in common' with each other?

The sharing of faith stories, of needs and hopeswas very much part of both the early Christian Church and earlyMethodism. How might we regain that hopeful boldness in the lightof the story of the risen Christ?

An old Christian Aid slogan 'Live simply thatothers may simply live' resonates today with this Scripture - notout of guilty duty, but from joyful news - 'Christ is risen!'Hallelujah! How might you live out this slogan today?