“The Dangers of Christian “Fellowship”
Christian fellowship is meant to be a powerful force for good—a means of building each other up, sharing in Christ’s love, and glorifying God together.
However, when it deviates from its true purpose, fellowship can become something dangerous.
This lesson serves as a wake-up call to those who may think that simply gathering together or calling it “fellowship” is enough, when in fact, it has become a breeding ground for negativity, division, and dishonor to God.
It’s crucial to remember that true fellowship is about mutual encouragement, spiritual growth, and lifting each other up in the faith.
Unfortunately, too many Christians have turned fellowship into an opportunity to indulge in unhealthy behavior—spreading gossip, sowing seeds of jealousy, and creating an environment that does not promote the love and unity Christ desires.
Fellowship that fails to reflect Christ’s love does not glorify God; instead, it causes division and hinders the work of the Holy Spirit.
This lesson will explore the 10 signs of a dangerous fellowship when it strays from its God-ordained purpose and how we can correct course to truly honor God in our relationships with one another.
10 Signs of a Dangerous
Christian Fellowship
1. Gossip and Backbiting:
• One of the clearest signs of a dangerous fellowship is the constant exchange of gossip. Instead of building each other up, conversations revolve around tearing others down. This leads to distrust, division, and the spread of lies. Proverbs 16:28 warns, “A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.”
2. Jealousy and Competition:
• Fellowship should be about mutual edification, but when jealousy creeps in, it destroys unity. Envy over others’ success or spiritual growth can lead to unhealthy competition and division within the body. Galatians 5:26 urges, “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
3. Exclusivity and Cliques:
• Dangerous fellowship can become insular, where only certain people or groups are accepted, leading to exclusion of others. This contradicts the inclusive love of Christ. James 2:1-4 warns against showing partiality within the church.
4. Spiritual Manipulation and Control:
• A dangerous fellowship may lead to spiritual manipulation, where certain individuals or leaders use the fellowship to control or dominate others. This can lead to an unhealthy dependence on a person rather than on Christ.
Matthew 23:4 warns against those who “bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders,” yet Jesus calls us to freedom in Him.
• Rebuke: Beware of fellowships where control, manipulation, and authority are misused. True Christian fellowship encourages freedom in Christ, personal responsibility, and empowerment by the Holy Spirit.
5. Lack of Spiritual Growth:
• A fellowship that remains stagnant and does not encourage spiritual growth or the deepening of faith is a sign that the fellowship is not fulfilling its purpose. True fellowship pushes us closer to God and to holiness.
1 Peter 2:2 encourages us to “desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”
6. Encouraging Worldly Behavior:
• Dangerous fellowship can lead believers to compromise their values. When fellowship becomes a place to encourage sinful actions or indulgence in worldly pleasures, it no longer serves its purpose of honoring God. Romans 12:2 calls us to “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
7. Lack of Love and Compassion:
• A fellowship that does not exhibit the love of Christ is a dangerous one.
1 John 4:7 reminds us that “Let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” When love is lacking, fellowship becomes shallow and self-centered.
8. Selfishness and Self-Promotion:
• Fellowship should encourage selflessness, but when individuals use it as a platform for self-promotion or personal gain, it becomes toxic.
Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
9. Lack of Prayer and Worship:
• A fellowship that neglects prayer and worship is not growing in its relationship with God. If gatherings are filled with distractions or superficial interactions, rather than focusing on seeking God’s presence, it becomes spiritually unhealthy.
Acts 2:42 describes the early church as one that was devoted to prayer and worship.
10. Division and Disunity:
• If a fellowship fosters division or disunity, it is counterproductive to the Gospel.
1 Corinthians 1:10 urges, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
Conclusion: Christian fellowship is meant to be a place of unity, love, and spiritual growth, but when it becomes a breeding ground for negativity, division, and unhealthy behaviors, it no longer serves its true purpose.
It is crucial to examine the fellowship we are part of and make sure it aligns with God’s design. If you recognize any of these signs in your own fellowship, it is time to repent and refocus on creating an environment that truly honors God. Let our fellowship be one that builds each other up, encourages holiness, and points to the glory of God.
Application Question:
• Are there areas in your fellowship that need to be addressed in order to reflect the true purpose of God’s community? How can you contribute to healthier, Christ-centered fellowship?