Ekklesia and Koinonia. These are the terms that were used in the original letters to The Way in the first century. Ekklesia is what we translate as ‘church’. Koinonia is what we translate communion, or a more modern translation would be fellowship. So the ‘coming together’ (ekklesia) where they met in each others homes and ate together and encouraged one another (koinonia) was the main practice in the very beginning. We have greatly changed the concept of “church” as well as “fellowship” in our modern view and practice of Christianity. It has become centralized, homogenized, pasteurized, professionally incorporated, and made into a very bland product. Sure some try to add sugar or spices (better worship team, lighting, marketing, etc) but doing that with a very processed man-made product still doesn’t really give it any more ‘goodness’ to it other than the taste. It’s value is still marginal .. to the Body. Are we really fellowshipping by just sitting in a movie theater watching the screen or performers on a stage / platform? Or do we have to engage with one another hopefully in deeper and deeper ways? Is the Church a building made out of earth’s building materials or is it … us … in which our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit? What is the value we really get out of our fellowship time? How life changing is it? How inspired and encouraged are we after being together, BY one another … rather than just listening to a ‘talking head’? What questions did we ask one another that helped us think, and grow deeper together?
So what actually defines the ekklesia?
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. Matthew 18:20
So the ekklesia can be as small as .. two? And those two actually can have koinonia .. together?
Is all the effort I put into my spiritual life a morning where I force myself to attend a service, where I basically just sit there — and then leave? Maybe I do a ‘service’ where I help set up chairs for the service, but never really interact with anyone else. Is that koinonia or ekklesia? The modern Church has all sorts of ways for you to ‘serve’.. as the centralized system has A LOT of moving parts that need maintenance and constant upkeep. But how much of that ‘service’ is really helping you ‘grow’ spiritually? Or are you just ‘putting in your time’? Yes, yes, I know they are doing it ‘as to the Lord’, as many would say. But how many of ‘these’ workers are really in fellowship with ANY of the members of the Body? To what level? Are we ever able to ask questions of each other that go deeper into our thinking and life experience? Do we ever challenge one another? IS there ANY discipleship happening at all? I’m talking about the same level Jesus had with His disciples. Living. Laughing. Crying. Struggling. Eating. Sleeping. Wrestling. Teaching. Listening. Working. ……. all together.
Ask the Lord (Holy Spirit) who you should get together with (ekklesia) and have fellowship with (koinonia) today. Ask Him if there is anything you need to ask them, give to them (bless them), or pray for them. Let’s work on restoring the ‘old ways’ of really working on getting to know one another.