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On Partnership

“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you and that too from God.”

(Philippians 1:27-28)

The definition of ‘the fellowship of believers’ has degenerated over the years into meaning; the social-interaction of people that academically give mental assent to similar theological presuppositions. “Koinonia’ means much more than ‘social inter-action. It means much more than becoming friends with those who see things the way I do. Nor is it, touching base, off and on, with those who are moral, ethical and responsible.

It means to join with others who have the same goal in mind, the same purpose: to be in partnership with them. This is right in line with the idea of Repentance. Since repentance has somewhat to do with a ‘purpose shift’, Koinonia is the joining together of those who have made that ‘shift’, to unite their efforts along the same line. This partnership is based on being of one mind, one purpose, one Spirit, one faith. In this corporate partnership there comes a shared intimacy, a filial bond of family regardless of where we come from or the prejudices we carry with us. It tangibly joins us together locally, not just philosophically. Participation in the partnership of the gospel brings the truth out of the conceptual & theoretical, down into the realities of everyday life. The partnership is a safety check that helps keep each one from lying to one’s self and believing our old nature which happens so easily when we are isolated, chasing the American dream.

“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 that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

(1 Corinthians 1:10)

That is almost unheard of today, where people think it is idealistic to think of the church in such a way. There are voices that say that, pragmatically that sort of thing is impossible, unless it’s dictatorial. Not so, it is very possible, but not when people try to chase their own dreams and attempt to follow the Lord Jesus Christ as well. The Koinonian Covenant is our attempt at deliberately trying to partner together as a repentant people.