What is it? Definition of fellowship by Webster's Definition is:
1: COMPANIONSHIP, COMPANY looking for the fellowship of friendly people
2a: community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience their fellowship in crime— A. J. Ayer
b: the state of being a fellow or associate
3: a company of equals or friends : ASSOCIATION a youth fellowship
4: the quality or state of being comradely meaningful communication for building trust and fellowship
How is it to be accomplished? Fellowship to me is a relationship more than an action. It is shared through the common bonds of faith in Jesus Christ. Fellowship should be encouraging and developmental in nature.
How do we know if we're doing it right? Not sure we can do fellowship, at least not by my definition. We can know if we have fellowship with someone or a group by feeling refreshed by your experiences with them and anticipate the next time of fellowship.
What does the Bible say? Proverbs 27:17 says that "iron sharpens iron" and "one person sharpens another". Thessalonians 5:11 and Hebrews 10:25 indicates that encouragement and building one another up are indicative of fellowship. Whereas, 1 John 1:7 describes fellowship as walking together in the Light. I don't believe non-believers can truly have fellowship because they do not have a common unifier. They may like a certain thing or need a certain thing but there isn't an entity which can unify or solidify a relationship without Jesus Christ because He is peace.
What does it mean? Having indicated my convictions thus far I would restate the previous as pertaining also to this question.
What "kind" of fellowship does God approve of... or disapprove of? Having stated my convictions thus far I would assert that the only fellowship that God approves of is the fellowship of believers in an attempt to better serve Him and unifying in the faith. He doesn't necessarily disapprove, per-say, of non-believers' "fellowship" but, instead, wouldn't regard it at all. Kind of like marriage of non-believers. If it is done but not done for Him then it is in vain and is irrelevant.
Let's discuss it, learn, grow, and help each other. Agreed.
1: COMPANIONSHIP, COMPANY looking for the fellowship of friendly people
2a: community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience their fellowship in crime— A. J. Ayer
b: the state of being a fellow or associate
3: a company of equals or friends : ASSOCIATION a youth fellowship
4: the quality or state of being comradely meaningful communication for building trust and fellowship
How is it to be accomplished? Fellowship to me is a relationship more than an action. It is shared through the common bonds of faith in Jesus Christ. Fellowship should be encouraging and developmental in nature.
How do we know if we're doing it right? Not sure we can do fellowship, at least not by my definition. We can know if we have fellowship with someone or a group by feeling refreshed by your experiences with them and anticipate the next time of fellowship.
What does the Bible say? Proverbs 27:17 says that "iron sharpens iron" and "one person sharpens another". Thessalonians 5:11 and Hebrews 10:25 indicates that encouragement and building one another up are indicative of fellowship. Whereas, 1 John 1:7 describes fellowship as walking together in the Light. I don't believe non-believers can truly have fellowship because they do not have a common unifier. They may like a certain thing or need a certain thing but there isn't an entity which can unify or solidify a relationship without Jesus Christ because He is peace.
What does it mean? Having indicated my convictions thus far I would restate the previous as pertaining also to this question.
What "kind" of fellowship does God approve of... or disapprove of? Having stated my convictions thus far I would assert that the only fellowship that God approves of is the fellowship of believers in an attempt to better serve Him and unifying in the faith. He doesn't necessarily disapprove, per-say, of non-believers' "fellowship" but, instead, wouldn't regard it at all. Kind of like marriage of non-believers. If it is done but not done for Him then it is in vain and is irrelevant.
Let's discuss it, learn, grow, and help each other. Agreed.