THOUGHTS ON FELLOWSHIP
Carl Ketcherside 

Carl's penetrating understanding of "fellowship" has made him a persuasive teacher on this subject. Here are some insightful quotations from Mission Messenger compiled by Lloyd A. Boyll: 

"Our obedience to the demands of the gospel, introduces us into that state or condition called fellowship with God. We are in fellowship with each other only because we sustain the same relationship to Him." M. M. Jan., 1958, p.3.

"On the divine side, fellowship is a union with and a participation in the life of Christ through the Spirit; on the human side it is a communion with brethren whose mutual relations were transformed by the Spirit." M. M., Jan., 1958, p.3.

"One of the most tragic misconceptions is based on the idea that fellowship is synonymous with, or equivalent to, endorsement of everything the other 'fellow' may hold or advocate." M. M., Feb., 1958, p.4.

"Every baptized penitent believer on this earth is my brother, and we are in fellowship, because we are a part of the brotherhood of Christ . . . I am in fellowship with every saved person on this earth, that is, if I am saved!" M. M., Feb., 1958, p. 5.

"(l John 1:3). . . . Now, if God being perfect, can fellowship us in our ignorance and imperfection, why do we set up a standard for others which he did not set up for us?" M. M., Feb., 1958, p.4.

"Fellowship is not endorsement of another's views. It is not agreement with opinions of another, but love for the person which transcends his views and yours. It is a state or relationship in Jesus. We are called into fellowship by the gospel. Nothing should ever be made a test of fellowship which God has not made a condition of salvation. We do not come into the fellowship by agreement upon opinions; we should not disrupt it because of disagreement over such. If fellowship in Christ was conditioned upon perfect agreement, there would be no place for forbearance, and the instruction to 'forbear one another in love' would be useless." M. M., May, 1959, p.12.