Sharing with Fellow Believers in Their Sufferings
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I remember growing up in the church in the late sixties and early seventies when the word “koinonia” became popular to describe the special relationship that exists among members of the body of Christ, his church. Today, this Greek word is often translated in the Bible as “sharing” (e.g., Heb. 13:6) or “fellowship” (e.g., 1 John 1:3-7). It is not used very often in Scripture, nineteen times in the New Testament, but in common usage it often finds its way into the language of the church such as naming places and events—“Fellowship" Hall, "Fellowship" Meal, and spending some time in “fellowship.”
One aspect of Christian fellowship is sharing.
Fellowship is not a word unique to Christianity though (some academic benefits are called “fellowships”). When this English word developed in the late Middle Ages it was used to describe close friendships, companionship, and unity among members of a group. But what does it mean in Christian circles where it seems to be most often used when Christians gather together? What does it mean, from a biblical perspective, to have “fellowship”? One aspect of Christian fellowship is sharing.
Sharing is an important part of Christian fellowship. As members of the body of Christ we are to be a sharing people, not only in terms of the good things of life, material things, financial benefits, meals, and hospitality, but also in suffering.
Christians are called to the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings, which includes helping others in their sufferings.
There is no doubt that to be a Christian means to suffer. Peter writes in his first letter,
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. (1 Pet. 2:21)
As Christ suffered, so we also as his followers expect to suffer. Paul writes that it is his desire to know Christ “and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship (koinonia) of His sufferings” (Phil. 3:10 NASB). We should expect suffering to be part of our lives—there is little doubt Christians know and experience this, whether it is at the hands of those who persecute us or the suffering of medical maladies or other painful and difficult challenges of life. In this life fellowship with one another means sharing in suffering—and this involves knowing how to help, for "if one member suffers, all suffer together" (1 Cor. 12:26).
Christian fellowship involves getting to the roots of each other’s lives.
As Christian brothers and sisters united together in Christ, we must take time to be part of each other’s lives. True fellowship means knowing each other intimately. Fellowship is not done merely over a meal but in the sometimes private areas of life such as listening to a friend in pain or hardship. It means working to know the heart of others by sincerely striving to learn about them, their families, their work, and their difficulties. Christian fellowship, especially when it comes to the distresses we all experience, means no longer knowing others on a surface level but instead getting to the roots of each other’s lives.
Of course, we cannot know everyone we meet or all fellow members in our local church in this deeper way; yet, we can make good efforts to know more closely a number of people with whom we come in contact. In this way we can share in the suffering of others with empathy and care, listening with an attentive ear and bringing comfort in the form of sharing. We do this by being with others in their sufferings and helping them to know they are never alone but are in true fellowship with our Lord and his eternal brothers and sisters.
This article was originally featured in Beautiful Christian Life’s October 2023 monthly newsletter under the title “Sharing in the Fellowship of Christ’s Sufferings.”
