David Mathis, Describing Biblical Fellowship

“The koinonia – Greek for commonality, partnership, fellowship – that the first Christians shared wasn’t anchored in a common love for pizza, pop, and a nice clean evening of fun among the fellow churchified. Its essence was in their common Christ, and their common life-or-death missing together in his summons to take the faith worldwide in the face or impending persecution. Rightly did Tolkien call his nine “the Fellowship of the Ring.” There is no chummy hobnob with apps and drinks and a game on the tube. It is an all-in, life-or-death collective venture in the face of great evil and overwhelming opposition. True fellowship is less like friends gathered to watch the Super Bowl and more like the players on the field in blood, sweat, and tears, huddled in the backfield only in preparation for the next down. True fellowship, in this age, is more like the invading troops side by side on the beach of Normandy than it is the gleeful revelers in the street on V-F day.” (David Mathis, Habits of Grace)