CHRISTIANS ENFELLOWSHIP | DJ-JOYFUL LEWIS

State of the Magazine Address

Some believe Christian Fellowship is equivalent to what you’ve seen in entertainment books and magazines. And if you’re like me, you end up feeling depressed and inadequate because you don’t quite see your holiday efforts measuring up to the glossy  pages you’ve been scanning and reading.

The good news is, practicing Christian Fellowship isn’t about the glamorous table settings or platters of picture perfect food; it’s about practicing servanthood right in the middle of your practical Christianity. More important, it’s about truth and loving others through Christ and making people feel special.

Let’s back-up to the title EnFellowship. The “E” stands for Emmanuel meaning God with us. The smaller “n” stands for the word “in.”  That leaves us with Fellowship, in which  it was derived from the biblical standpoint. Occasionally the Bible presents instances of a special fellowship with God enjoyed by individual people. Enoch ‘walked with God’ (Gen. 5:24); Abraham is called the ‘friend’ of God (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isa. 41:8); and Moses talks with God ‘face to face’ (Exod. 33:11; Deut. 34:10). The prophets’ experience of being commissioned by God suggests a special bond between the deity and his spokesmen (Isa. 6; Jer. 1; Ezek. 1), and the Davidic king is called God’s son (2 Sam. 7:14; Ps. 2:7).

All of that was to say, it’s my honor and calling/reasonable-duty to present to you and for you EnFellowship Magazine. I will continue from the top of this article with Christian Fellowship and developing the Magazine’s purpose and direction.

Spiritual Gift or Scriptural Mandate?
While not everyone feels comfortable at the helm of a social event or grand opening of new magazine, some folks have a natural  talent for making guests feel special. You might think those hospitality genes are inherited, but just because your mom isn’t Martha Stewart, or your dad isn’t Will Smith you’re not off the hook. That’s because hospitality takes on added dimensions and new definitions for Christian Fellowships.

Some Christians possess Fellowship as a spiritual gift. The Bible tells us that every believer is given at least one  spiritual gift for the purpose of building up God’s church and serving the body of Christ. In  other words, our gifts are given not for our own benefit, but for the enrichment of others. We should be serving those around us, including the body of  believers, family, and  friends.

Romans 12:13, however, encourages us all to practice hospitality, whether it is our spiritual gift or not. In fact, the Greek word philozenia is actually a combination of two words – philos, meaning “affection” and zenos,   meaning “stranger.” While usually translated to mean hospitality, philozenia signifies affection toward strangers.

In The NIV Bible, 1 Peter 4:8-10 says, “Most of all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.  As if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless – cheerfully. Be generous with the  different things God gave you.”

Whether we have the spiritual gift of hospitality or not, it can be a part of our way of life. None of us deny that it’s easier to share fellowship with family and friends than with the stranger on the street. But the New Testament teaches us that Christianity is the religion of open hands, open hearts, and open doors. When we open our hearts as well as our homes, we’re practicing Christian Fellowship.

Please consider EnFellowship Magazine open and welcomes all who labor in faith, fellowship, unconditional love and truth.