1). In many circles "fellowship" has come to mean merely a social gathering consisting of propagating rumors, gossip, eating and vacuous other chit chat. “Fellership” does include social exchange and mutual pleasance of sharing , but its core should be spiritual.

2). Then there is also the dark cloud of DIS-fellowship or refusal to "fellowship" with certain "brethren and/or "sistren" due to differences of opinion, doctrine, or interpretation of scripture. Eventually Christians feel they can only "fellowship" with like minded believers; in other words those who agree with me and my gang.

3). Personally, I like the sound of the word fellership (selfish, I know). It conveys an informal "country-fied" picture. Since Alice and I live out in the country, it kinda fits the local vernacular.

Flowing and sharing together in life

I John 1:3 says, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." To me, "fellership" is a flow of life one to another. In particular the flow of God's life - Spirit to spirit/spirit to Spirit. Fellership is a two-way flow. This is true concerning our fellership toward God, and His fellership toward us. It is also that same life flow cycle among us “fellers” (and fe-mellers), spirit to spirit among our earthsuits on this planet.

HORIZONTAL FELLERSHIP

If we have received and enjoyed the life of our Lord, we will also seek out others who have that same flow of life in common with us. When we meet (even for the first time), we spontaneously KNOW we are family; there is an immediate connection-fellership! We also will have a desire to share that life with others who may not know His life yet. I'm not speaking of merely preaching with words or "browbeating," but living what and Who we believe. It is that hunger and desire to declare to others “what we have seen and heard,” experienced and enjoyed that fuels "fellership." It's NOT through the power of persuasion, but the power of God's love, life and nature that we reach out to others.

VERTICAL FELLERSHIP

Our “fellership” is also with our Father and His Son! God actually longs for that same “fellership” with us as much (if not more) than we long for that “fellership” with Him. It was that kind of "fellership" that Jesus had with His Father while on earth. This type of "fellership" is a two way street, but even more than that, it's a communion. It is a communication and flow of life that produces and springs out of an intimate union. Jesus prayed for this fellership, this ONENESS in Jn.17:21. It is that oneness, communion, and love that the world will see in our lives and thus believe that God sent Jesus.

Jesus had to go through an arduous process to make this two-way fellership possible. God, through the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Christ has now given us His Spirit (Rom. 8:9-11). {notice the intertwining of God’s Spirit, Christ’s Spirit and our spirit in these verses} It is the Spirit of Christ that is the link that connects us to Himself. "He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." (I Cor. 6:17) Now that is intimate!!

"Fellership" is practical

Practically speaking "fellership" is made possible by being sensitive to all those within our circle: workers, schoolmates, neighbors, kinfolk, friends and even strangers (to name a few). Jesus and His disciples got together with such and related to them on their own turf.

Unfortunately "fellership" does have a limitation: time. But as to the who, where and how, it is limitless. It could be while standing in a bank line, in a vehicle, on a sidewalk, in a park, under a tree, in a hospital, while traveling and yes, even at "church. Informal settings seem to be the best (such as around the table), because we can be ourselves and let the Lord’s life flow out more spontaneously and intimately. This setting also engenders dialogue.

So "fellership” is vertical and horizontal. How can others know and learn of God's love or life? It is ONLY by first experiencing His love/life personally. We have been given everything pertaining to life, and godliness that we might partake of His divine nature. It’s by partaking of God’s love, life and nature – then living it – that others will see God in us. You can't preach it, explain it, force it, manipulate it, or persuade anyone of it. BUT, whenever that life-flowing connection is made --- FELLERSHIP has begun!