Christian Fellowship—Friends or Foes

Have you heard this song?

They\’ll Know We are Christians by Our Love

Do others know you are a Christian by your love?

Are you encouraging?

Tearing them down?

Making them wonder why they call theselves Christians because of the way they sees other Christian treat each other or themselves?

Do you fall into one of those?

Have you ever wondered why there are so many that are not Christians?

Does our behavior toward each other drive them away?

Are we showing God’s love?

Ouch!

I know I have failed at this. However, for every failure, I attempt to learn from it. As a mom who is home with her children all day, every day, verbal contact with other Christian women is essential to me. However, the constant judgment for following the path that God has led our family down, tends to drive me away from the relationship of other Christians. People in general tend to ask questions about our lifestyle, that is not considered normal:

• Large Family, against most forms of birth control
• Homeschooling family
• Conservative both as a Christian family and in political views
• Extended Breastfeeding past year and many times 2 years
• Co-sleeping family—babies sleep with us in our bed.
• Babywearing family—Mom wears the baby in a carrier more often then placing baby in a stroller.
• We make our own laundry soap, bath soap, hand soap, dishwasher soap.
• Cloth diaper
• Cook from scratch
• Do not use government assistance for our farm, health care, wic, food stamps or other such forms—we would qualify for most.
• Have our own garden and preserve the produce
• Turn to natural remedies for health before Over the counter or prescriptions
• Wife stays home with children

See, we don’t need to be questioned and tormented about our lifestyle choices by other Christians, we get enough from others.

So, the next time you call, email, text, or converse with your Christian friend, don’t start in on the why they are the way they are. They may like things simple. Don’t ask them a question, only to judge them because they do things differently then you would. Is anything on the above list going against anything in the Bible?

Encourage the Christians in your life by praying with them for God to work in their life by His will. Pray that they are able to find the encouragement and strength to be the best that God desires of them. Pray that they are able to meet the needs of their family, children, and above all husbands/spouses. Pray that they can get the rest they need, to ward off the depression that so many Christians fight.

Have a great book that you have read that you believe may encourage them? Pass it onto them.

Have you ever advised a Christian woman not to submit to her husband? Do you realize that the consequences of that is detrimental to her family? Yes, if there is true serious abuse, neglect or such going on, there is a reason to advise, but seriously be careful here.

In a public setting, do you treat your friends the same in a public setting as you do in a private setting? Or do you ignore them? Do you know how many supposedly Christian friends call me, talk to me in private, but at church don’t even acknowledge that I am there? Nice huh? Is that showing God’s love? Do you know how that makes a person feel?

Did you congratulate your friends when they told you they were pregnant with baby number 5, 6, 7, 8 or more? Or did you laugh and act like they were crazy. Do you see ALL children as a gift from God?

I remember this type of behavior from Christians as a child too. I didn’t grow up in a going to church every Sunday family, I still noticed this. I believe fellowship with other Christians is necessary, however, if that fellowship is not building Christian character, then it is time to find Christian fellowship that is following Christ’ example.

Normally, I don’t blog on weekends. However, when I woke this morning this was all tumbling around in my head and all over my heart. I pray as many head to church tomorrow, that maybe this will help them see how their actions will make that visitor feel welcome, or the mother that has been struggling know that someone cares, what about the widow, or the family who is quiet? Reach out to others and demonstrate the love of Christ. Don’t stop once all seems to be well, don’t you always have something you are struggling with? Think it is any different for anyone else?