THE BASIS FOR FELLOWSHIP
The Bible says:
“Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
“If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose” (Philippians 2:1-2).
LIKE-MINDED
Contained in the verses mentioned above is a description of the mental activity involved in maintaining fellowship.
Like-minded:
- agreement
- no divisions
- same mind
- same judgment
- same love
- one purpose
If your minds are not together, you are not together, even if you speak the same words and do the same things. To illustrate, look at these examples:
HIM (thinking): Her hair is pretty.
He says: I like your hairdo.
HIM (thinking): Delicious Food.
He says: Your cooking is great!
Obviously, his mind agrees with his words. He is communicating accurately.
Here is another Illustration:
HIM (thinking): Hungry.
He says: I’m hungry.
HER (thinking): Hungry.
She says: So am I.
HIM (thinking): Farrell’s
He says: Where do you want to go?
HER (thinking): Steak House
She says: Anywhere.
He says: Let’s go to Farrell’s.
She says: I don’t want to. Let’s go to the Steak House.
HIM (thinking): I hate this.
He says: O.K.
HER (thinking): He’s agreed.
She says: I’m pleased.
He and she were both hungry and agreed to go out. She said she would go anywhere, but she didn’t mean it and admitted it.
He agreed verbally to go to the Steak House, but he didn’t change his feelings. To that extent, he deceived her, and they were not like-minded.
What should he have done? He could have said:
”I’d rather not go to the Steak House, but I will.”
Why is that so important? He is telling the truth, rather than deceiving her.