Individual Fellowship, Together

Peace be unto you, along with everything that has breath… Praise the Lord with me! I am a “member in particular” adhering to the Apostles’ Doctrine. This “doctrine” proclaims “that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another” (I Corinthians 12:25). As individuals who decide to follow the practices, precepts, and instructions of Jesus Christ, the chief Apostle, we become part of a group looking out for one another, desiring the same thing—hope of the coming of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Notwithstanding in this alone, through fellowship we praise the living God every day that He gives us breath (Psalm 150:6). In this blog post, let’s talk about two themes: our individuality (faith) and our grouping (fellowship). Do you think it interesting in how we, as believers, choose to serve the living God?

In our walk with God, we are true worshipers, following the ordinances of the Gospel. I think about Paul when he said, “Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice” (Philippians 1:18). Thus, our “individual choice” to worship God is governed by the practices, precepts, and instructions, as set forth in the scriptures; therefore, behaviors that violate these ordinances (scriptures) are unacceptable and seems somewhat odd, especially for individuals who think “principled behavior is predictable behavior with little to no flexibility.” Is this common for all religious sects or just the individuals who practice the Apostles’ Doctrine?

Now the thought of the Apostolic Faith as rigid and inflexible brings us to our “fellowship” as a group. Earlier we introduced the precept that “our adherence to the Apostles’ Doctrine directs us to praise the living God with every breath.” This Praise from individuals coming together and fellowshipping in a group setting gives great meaning to “the day approaching and (us) choosing not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25). As true worshippers, we decided not to follow the norms of this world, but rather perfect ourselves in the knowledge that Christ has made us free (Galatians 5:1).

Therefore, as individuals, do we live and practice the ordinances of the Gospel? Do we fellowship together with the knowledge that “one day we will rise and crown Him,” surely to be set free indeed?