“For where two or three are gathered together in (or unto) My name, I am there in the midst of them.”  Mt. 18:20.

The newly passed legislation concerning same sex marriages to be offered in our state sponsored national church, the so called “Evangelical Lutheran Church”, has caused so much grief and frustration that increasing numbers are resigning their membership to start their own independent fellowships.  They seem to spring up like mushrooms especially in the western part of our country.  That I find encouraging.

Our own home fellowship in our modest house came into being for the simple reason that I was more or less kicked out from our local parish church as an active servant of Christ.  I was bullied out because I´m not a formal member of our state church like the abt. 80% of our population.  Our weekly, informal gatherings around the word of God have been a blessed alternative though.

Unto whom do we gather?  Our Lord Jesus Christ of course!  His promise is, “I am there in the midst of them!”  And so the question is not:  to what do we gather?  It´s so important that we know the difference.  It´s the difference between life and death.  I once overheard a phone conversation between one of our dear old missionaries and a Christian radio station.  I couldn´t tell what they were discussing, but I overheard that precious old lady objecting to its streamlined program, “There´s too little of Christ in it!”  I liked that.  That´s all that matters.

Such a gathering around the Bible you would sometimes call a “Bible study”, and we invite people to come for that very thing.  In Denmark we use a different word.  Bible study is a good word, but we often use the word “a Bible hour” whether it´s in a home or at a big conference or whether it lasts exactly one hour or not. Mr. so and so will have “a Bible hour” on this or that subject, it is solemnly announced.

I suggested to our little group that we use a different word.  Why not call it a “Christ hour” or a “Christ gathering”?  After all we are not gathered to study a “subject” or be theologically puffed up, but we are gathered unto Him, no matter what the Bible text happens to be.  I´m not sure my dear brothers and sisters always see the difference. 

But the sensitive consciousness of having Christ in our midst and be subject to His reviving Spirit who “gives light” and “understanding to the simple”  (Psa. 119:130) – o, that makes a world of difference!  That makes spiritual fellowship what it´s meant to be.  That makes “the precious oil running” (Psa. 133:2), doesn´t it?  Of that kind of fellowship the apostle was inquiring in Phil. 2:1.

May the “mushrooms” springing up be of that blessed nature.  May it never be said of our gatherings, “There´s too little of Christ in it!”

We may soon be meeting Him in the air  (1 Thess. 4:17).  The air will then be full of Him!  Let the “air” of our fellowship be full of Him too!  That´s the only way in which to breathe freely!

July 4, 2012 – jn