[Biblemat] Fellowship One of the Bibles Patty Hearst words
Jerry Blount
jerry at eldorable.kscoxmail.com
Thu Apr 26 16:32:56 CDT 2007
"Fellowship"
One of the Bible's Patty Hearst words
"And I pray that the "fellowship" of your faith may become effective through
the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake.
Philemon 1:6
Patty Hearst's mugshot, taken by the San Mateo Police on September 19,
1975.Nearly 30 years ago John Clark (a Bible teacher) described a sermon he
had titled "Patty Hearst words of the Bible." I was never able to hear his
sermon, but knew that some day I would preach a sermon noting the same
premise.
What are Patty Hearst words?
Patty Hearst was "the granddaughter of publishing magnate William Randolph
Hearst. She gained notoriety in 1974 when, following her kidnapping by the
Symbionese Liberation Army, she ultimately joined her captors in furthering
their cause. Apprehended after having taken part in a bank robbery with
other SLA members, Hearst was imprisoned for almost two years before her
sentence was commuted by President Jimmy Carter." (Wikipedia, Patty
Hearst)
Image:Patty Hearst.jpgHere is her mug shot when arrested for bank robbery
and a promotional picture of her with the terrorist organization's logo in
the background. The bottom line is that she went from being a kidnap victim
to a terrorist.
Most would assume she was brainwashed when the so called Stockholme Syndrome
set in. Be that as it may be, Patty Hearst was taken from her family clean
then given back dirty.
How many words in the Bible are taken out .. "dirtied" by being used
improperly then given back? Let's see, how about "Pentecostal?" I picture
some guy babbling in a nonlanguage, foaming at the mouth then passing out
(they call it slain in the spirit.). Do you find anything like that in the
Bible? Absolutely not!
Let's try "Baptism." For most of the world this means sprinkling water on a
baby. Do you find anything like that in the Bible? Even the word
"Christian" is commonly applied to things that would embarrass Jesus. I
received a bulletin a week ago that was announced "Christian wrestling".
"Body slam for Jesus!" I was appalled.
Now "fellowship";
Tell the truth. When you think of "Christian fellowship" don't you picture
some kind of banquet? Did you know that the Bible never uses the term
"fellowship" in this way? I know this is the way most folks use the term
today. Did you know that the term "fellowship hall" doesn't occur in the
Bible even though such social events are the focal point of most churches
today?
Actually, if you think this through, a "fellowship hall" would have to be
the auditorium where the worship of God was held. That is the Bible's use
of the term.
Have you ever heard a sermon in your church, on this "forgotten" passage of
scripture?
"What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise
the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you?
Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you." I Corinthians 11:22
Not one in one hundred today claiming the name of Jesus realize that Paul
ordered the entire class of behavior today referred to as "fellowship" out
of the church . . . and into the home 2000 years ago.
Talk about a Patty Hearst word!!!
Fellowship is a beautiful word "cheapened" by the way it is commonly used.
In fact, the reason you have a Bible is explained through the use of the
word "fellowship."
"What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may
have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and
with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be
made complete." I John 1:3-4
The word "fellowship" is only translated as such once in the entire OT. It
describes a relationship of trust and intimacy. It's a little ironic that
it's only use is in Ps 55:14, a prophecy of Judas. The origial Hebrew word
actually occurs 20x even though it comes out in English just once.
The New Testament uses it 20x, translated 12x as "fellowship". Not once
does it describe the common meal that it is commonly attached to today.
Here they are: Look them up. the thing today commonly called "Christian
fellowship" does not exist in Scripture. Actually, you will find that the
real "fellowship" of the Bible is a much deeper treasure.
Acts 2:42, Romans 15:26, I Corinthians 1:9, 10:16, II Corinthians 6:14,
8:4, 9:13, 13:13-14, Galatians 2:9, Philippians 1:5, 2:1, 3:10, Philemon
1:6, Hebrews 13:16, I John 1:3, 6, 7
The verb shows up three times Ephesians 5:11, Philippians 4:14, Revelation
18:4.
Did you find any "chicken leg fellowship" practiced by the church of the
Bible?
I didn't find it in my Bible either!
I would ask the same question here, that I would ask of a young couple
simply living together, without marriage. Why would anyone be satisfied
with the cheap version when they have the opportunity for so much more?
Have you ever noticed a central failure of idolatry? We all realize that
God condemned idolatry, but what was it's failure? Did you know that the
"behavior of idolatry" was often done in the name of God?
Did you also know that the Bible identified the so called "fellowship hall
syndrome" of today as idolatry? No, I am not making it up.
"Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave
evil things as they also craved. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were;
as it is written, "THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO
PLAY." I Corinthians 10:6-7 Note this is in the same overall discussion
in which Paul orders this behavior out of the church! (I Corinthians
11:22)
Yes, idolatry is trading a true relationship with God for something cheap.
Just as fornication is trading a true relationship with the opposite sex for
something cheap. In this case a true relationship with each other and with
our Creator is traded away for the social gospel. In other words, many
churches today trade away substance for hype.
Note that the Bible actually draws the same distinction I am drawing. Acts
2:42. "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."
Note that while "fellowship" is used the same sentence here as breaking of
bread (a meal), it is listed as something distinct. Teaching is not the
same as "fellowship", which is not the same as breaking of bread, which is
not the same as prayer. Have you ever heard of someone calling a common
meal, Christian prayer? Me neither.
In fact, if we look in Acts 2:46, while the teaching was in the Temple, the
breaking of bread was from house to house. Hmmm. From the church's very
first day this activity was distinguished as falling into the realm of the
home.
The actual ""fellowship" meal" of Christianity is the "Lord's supper."
I Corinthians 10
15. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.
16. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the
blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the
body of Christ?
17. For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all
partakers of that one bread.
Yes, the term communion is "Koinonia," the word normally translated as
"fellowship." The "fellowship" of Christianity is a spiritual communing
with the Son of God and each other. The intimate relationship is not
possible with sin in the picture.
As noted above (I Corinthians 11:22), the one time the social gospel invaded
the church, Paul ordered it back to the home.
The church is for spiritual things . . .
I John 1
6. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we
lie, and do not the truth:
7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship
one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from
all sin.
Darkness is a characterization of ignorance (including willful ignorance).
How many do you know that use "fellowship" without having a clue what it
really means?
Hebrews 11 is often recognized as the "Faith chapter" of the Bible. It
explains, then demonstrates what faith means. I John Chapter 1 could be
characterized as the ""fellowship" chapter" of the Bible. It explains
"fellowship", then the rest of I John demonstrates what fellowship means.
It is often a surprise to open our Bibles and find out that the words mean
something different. In this case it can be a blessing.. Our "fellowship"
is so much more than it is often portrayed to be. We can have so much more,
if we will just let go of the world's way of thinking.
Galatians 2:9.
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the
grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands
of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the
circumcision.
Jerry Blount
PV 04/07
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