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Chapter 13
 FELLLOWSI1IPPING WITH THE BODY OF CH1RIST
by Daniel LeEarl Hall
When a person receives Jesus Christ and they are in a Christian church of any
kind, they usually stay in that fellowship. However, when someone in the
Watchtower or Mormon church receives Christ, some stay temporarily to help their
families, but they eventually leave. Though they are free to fellowship
anywhere, even at the Kingdom Hall or Mormon Church, their newly alive spirit
(Eph 2:1,5) cannot bear hearing the humanistic and anti-Christ message, nor the
constant adulation of the "organization" and "Governing Body" of the Watchtower
or the Mormon church leaders.
God established the early Christian churches as autonomous! They were not under
surveillance by a Governing Body or Apostolic Council in Jerusalem. All
Christian fellowship is beneficial and an opportunity to be encouraged and built
up by the Word of God and our association with those with whom we will spend
eternity. Jesus said that where two or more were gathered, He would be there.
Are you currently fellowshipping with other members of the body of Christ, so
that you can edify them and in turn be edified by them, so that all are being
built up in love and in the faith, to the fullness which belongs to Christ?
(Eph. 4:11-16)
The Watchtower Society uses Hebrews 10:24,25 repeatedly, to tell Jehovah's
Witnesses that they must attend meetings at the Kingdom Hall. Paul was referring
to fellowship, meeting together, but not where Christians would receive
information designed to program their minds for obedience to some religion or
organization.
This is a very difficult issue for Jehovah's Witnesses, for they have been told
that all the churches are evil, under the devil, and full of demons. This is
simply a control mechanism. What the churches are full of is wonderful
Christians, praising and serving God the Father and rejoicing in Jesus Christ
the Son. If we don't fellowship we will not progress as quickly in understanding
the real truth, the wonderful grace of God, and learning to live the real
Christian life.
God established the provision of fellowship in the first century, and even
though man has developed ecclesiastical systems, God has used the Christian
churches for nearly 2,000 years to gather His elect and edify His body, His
church, and to maintain pure doctrine in regard to the essentials of the
orthodox Christian faith. This provision is still functioning today and
qualified church leaders continue to work together as Christ's body to resolve
Christian issues.
If you wish to grow in grace, find a Christ-centered, non-legalistic fellowship.
God has a fellowship for every different type of person, including one for you.
Pray about it. He will direct you in your search.
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