[Biblemat] S) "LOVE THE BROTHERHOOD"

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  Here is a study from my
files.  Use to the glory of God.

"LOVE THE BROTHERHOOD"

For A Number Of Years The Word BROTHERHOOD Has Had
Negative Connotations In My Mind Because It Has Been So
Seriously Abused: -- Some seem to think of the brotherhood
as an association of churches that is little less than a denom-
ination.  They speak of brotherhood papers, brotherhood
schools, and brotherhood institutions of various kinds.

     Some, who more correctly think of the brotherhood as ind-
ividuals, still seem to limit it to those who read the same pap-
ers, use literature from the same publishing houses, send 
their students to the same schools, and draw their preachers
from the same pool.  This is also a misuse of the word.

     Recently I have come to think of the word in a better light,
remembering the admonition of the Holy Spirit through Peter:
"Love the brotherhood" (1 Pet. 2:17; see also 1 Jno. 4:20,21).

Identifying The Brotherhood: -- Just as the Godhood is the
three who are God, the brotherhood is all who are brothers.
Jesus said to His disciples, "you are all brethren" (Matt. 23:9).
"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus"
(Gal. 3;26).  Every individual in the world who has been baptiz-
ed into Christ (Gal. 3:27) is my brother (sister).  To love the
brotherhood is to love each such brother or sister, whether
known or unknown.

Distant Brothers We Do Not Know: -- Christians in the first
century loved unknown brothers in distance places.  When the church in 
Jerusalem learned there were brothers in Antio-
ch, they sent Barnabas to teach and encourage them (Acts 11:19-23).  Later 
the brethren in Antioch learned of a famine
threatening the brothers in Judea.  "Then the disciples, each
according to his ability, determined to send relief to the breth-
ren dwelling in Judea" (Acts 11:29).  Later "it pleased those
from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution to
the poor among the saints (i.e. brotherhood) in Jerusalem"
(Rom. 15:26).  Most of the recipients of these loving benefits
were unknown personally to their benefactors.

     We have brothers and sisters in distant lands that we have
never met and likely will not meet in this life.  It is proper to 
send teachers to encourage them.  It is also proper to send
material assistance to those who are in famine or other distre-
ss where this can be done expediently.  And, by all means we
should pray for them, especially for those who are suffering
persecution and hardship.

Brothers In Neighboring Congregations: -- In our wholesome
zeal to maintain the autonomy of each congregation, we may
practice an unwholesome isolation.  In past years, several
Christians could be counted on to visit meetings in nearby
congregations at least once.  In areas where churches were
scattered, some would travel many miles to encourage the
preaching of the gospel.  More recently such visits have be-
come less common.  Those who are members of nearby con-
gregations are our brothers.  They need us and we need them.

     Brethren in New Testament times knew each other.  Young
Timothy was not only "well spoken of by the brethren who
were at Lystra" where he lived, but also by those in Iconium,
some distance away (Acts 16:2).  Paul speaks of a "brother
whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches,
and not only that, but who was chosen by the churches to
travel" with Paul (2 Cor. 8:18,19).  Paul directed that the epist-
le to the Colossians "be read also in the church of the Laodi-
ceans, and that you likewise read the epistle from Laodicea"
(Col. 4:16).  Rom.16 reveals the acquaintance Paul and his
companions had with many in the church at Rome.

     Association with brothers and sisters in nearby congregat-
ions provides an opportunity to form friendships and even
marriages with Christians whom we might not know otherwise
On a preaching tour of Australia in 1966, it was noted that 
Australian Christians usually married Christians in spite of the
great distance between churches.  This was accomplished by
their habit of traveling many miles to visit churches, thus get-
ting to know other Christians eligible for marriage.

Brothers In The Same Congregation: -- It is sad that members
of the same congregation often do not know one another's
name.  A brother or sister in God's family should mean more
to us than any companion in the world, regardless of the sec-
ular interests we may have in common.  Matt. 25:31-46 challe-
nges us with the fact that  our eternal destiny depends in part
upon our response to our brother's needs.  But how can we 
respond if we do not know the brother, much less his needs?
Our salvation depends in part upon whether, indeed, we "love
the brotherhood."   ------ Sewell Hall in Biblical Insights, Vol. 7,
No. 3, March 2007.   </HTML>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.biblematters.net/pipermail/biblemat/attachments/20070908/dc0262a7/attachment-0001.html