The Fellowship of the Faithful

In Letters from a Stoic, the Roman statesman and philosopher Seneca described friendship as the company of those sharing a common mind and spirit. He wrote, "Why should I keep back anything when I'm with a friend? Why shouldn't I imagine I'm alone when I'm in his company?" Seneca believed that in a true friendship we feel as if we are with ourselves. A comfort emerges among true friends because of mutual values and outlook. In this sense true friendship is a balm for the soul.   

 The biblical authors refer to the shared values and commitments as “fellowship.” “Fellowship” is not so much being together socially as sharing the same commitments and sharing in communion with God. It is far more than sharing a meal or sharing time together. True fellowship partakes of the same Spirit.  The Apostle John describes it this way, 

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—  the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—  that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. I John 1:1-4 

This fellowship John described emerges from shared belief and shared commitments regarding the Father and the Son incarnate. This kind of friendship in the faith produces a joy that is complete (vs. 4). However, when shared beliefs are absent, we experience a sense of loss and detachment. When hostility and antagonism toward our beliefs become the norm, despair and isolation threaten to steal our joy.  

 I recently taught a group of retreatants how to write their own prayers of lament based on the pattern found in the Psalms. I encouraged the participants to share their psalms with one another just as the psalmists shared their prayers with the community of faith. One young lady wrote a lament articulating the despair that comes when we feel alone in our commitments to and belief in God. She gave me permission to share it here.   

The Feeling of Isolation 

Almighty God,  

Ruler and Judge,  

Hear my prayer. 

Answer my petition. 

I am the only one left,  

Like a sole tree after a raging forest fire, 

Like a house still standing in the line of a storm.  

All around me have fallen asleep, 

Too overcome by the trials of life, 

Too enticed by the luxuries of this world.  

Am I crazy to still trust in your word? 

Am I insane to believe you mean what you say? 

Am I a lunatic for confiding in a God who seems so far away?  

You sit back as the world spreads lies. 

You watch silent as kids’ families are torn apart.  

Like a wolf watching as its pups are mauled by a bear!  

Where are you to protect the innocent?  

Where are you to defend your name?  

Don’t you care that mockers ridicule you?  

Don’t you care that believers fall away?  

Even in the church you take a backrow seat 

To our feelings and emotions 

Justifications and ignorance.  

You sit back as leaders of your “Church” tell your children   

To “Find their own way.” 

“Find your own truth.”  

“Do what feels good.”  

“Love yourself first.”  

“These words aren’t absolute, just guidelines.”  

“These words don’t apply to today.”  

“They’re outdated and out-of-touch.” 

You stand by as other pastors beat the Bible over our heads.  

“These words should shame and convict you for what you’ve done.”  

“God hates this.”  

“God hates that.”  

“He hates both the sin and the sinner.”  

“How could you wear that?”  

“How could you say that?”  

“This generation will come to no good.”  

How long will you stay silent?  

How long will you watch from afar?  

If you tarry all will be gone.  

If you tarry, I fear I too will be lost.  

It’s scary and lonely to stand all alone.  

How will I defend my faith when all around me scoff?  

Even to my closest friends will I be called 

A bigot?  

Unloving?  

A Pharisee?  

How do I live by your words, 

But also walk in your love?  

God even in this time,  

Even when you seem far, 

Even when I don’t hear your words.  

I know you to be true. 

I will stand on your foundation.  

I will rest in your truth.  

Give me the strength.  

Embolden me.  

You alone are Holy.  

Amen. 

I resonate deeply with this young lady’s cry to God. From all sides voices challenge my faith. Instead of affirmation I find confrontation. But this prayer reminds me that I am not alone. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses in heaven and on earth. The fellowship of the faithful exists in all time and all places.  

The enemy would have us settle into isolation. He would have us live by the words of Elijah in his own moment of despair; “I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” (I Kings 19:14). Elijah is free to speak those words to God, but the Father - who will not leave us in our despair – responded, “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.” (I Kings 19:14) 

Our task is to lament as Elijah did. We are free to express the sense of isolation we feel as my friend does in her lament. But then we turn to find the “seven thousand” in whom we find fellowship. We need each other desperately but not so we may live in an echo chamber that enables us to remain as we are. Instead, our common faith and the orthodox beliefs held by the church for two thousand years transform us into the likeness of Christ – the holy people of God.