Sunday, November 1, 2015

The Right Hand of Fellowship

On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for his apostolic ministry to the circumcised worked also through me for mine to the Gentiles), and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. (Galatians 2:7-10 ESV)
As long as I can remember, people who became members of a church received this "right hand of fellowship" when they joined. It was almost like shaking on a business deal. But the meaning is much deeper. Founded on some Old Testament instances, this act denotes an approval, an authority, and an act of mutual support. It is saying that "we're with you 100%; we've got your back; we are all working for the same goal." Is that they way you feel about fellow church members? Are you on the same team, the same page, the same wavelength as they are? Are we working together side by side and back to back trying to take new ground for the kingdom of God? Or are we disjointed and stabbing each other in the back? May we sincerely extend to one another the right hand of fellowship.

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