"One Anothering" More Biblically

Most, if not all, of us 'church goers' at one time or another have attended a Sunday morning Bible class, a Wednesday night Bible study, a sermon series, or a workshop based on the "One Another" passages of the New Testament. From those studies and probably from our own personal study, we have become familiar with our responsibilities to "_______ one another". As a matter of fact the New Testament contains fifty-nine "one another"/"each other" admonitions.

And we have also been taught what the 'supposed' outcomes, benefits, and blessings are in faithfully living out these admonitions. Among them include....everyone in our church loves one another; our brothers and sisters are encouraged to live more godly lives and do more good; more members of congregations live in harmony with one another; individual's or family's burdens are carried; and, forgiveness is rampant in congregations and families.

However, we all have observed and very well know that our practice of these admonitions very rarely have led to God's full and complete intent and purpose.

Why?

Partly, because we are flawed humans. But more importantly, I believe, because we have a flawed understanding of "one anothering" as God and Jesus intented it to be.

Let me explain.

God's Spirit knew I was deeply troubled by and struggling with the recent leaving of a few good friends from the congregation that we had mutually attended for many years. His Spirit knew I simply wanted a better understanding of why good, involved, Christian people leave one congregation for another after years of fellowship?

This questioning led me to thinking about and pondering the "one another" aspect of the church body.

First, in meditating on the phrase "one another", I visualized only two people...one on one.

Secondly, the idea behind the meaning of the word for "one another" is reciprocally and mutually. I believe this is the key! Just for a moment, close your eyes. Visualize two people, just one on one, encouraging one another mutually, agape-loving one another mutually, bearing each other's burdens mutually, or forgiving one another reciprocally.

Is that not a beautiful vision?

The mutual and reciprocal part is foreign and strange to our church culture, though. You may encourage someone, but not necessarily receive encouragement back from that individual; you may sacrifically love someone, but never receive that kind of love back in return; you may have helped carry another's burden, but where was that individual when your burden was too heavy to bear; or how often have you forgiven someone, but have never received forgiveness back?

We have been taught all of our lives to encourage, love, help, and forgive others. That is part of what I am to do as a Christian, right? It is simply a lot easier to encourage, love, help, and forgive the 'whole' or a group or a family or 'someone', but face to face...that is challenging. And with the idea of mutually....do we know how to encourage back, love back, help back, and forgive back?

Admittedly, some of my strongest days as a Christian have been those following a one-on-one engagement with a brother or sister in Christ. Where we mutually and reciprocally encouraged, agape-loved, submitted, or forgave "one another". Amen?

My hope and prayer that this blog post is only the beginning of further study, more discussions, and a better understanding of what 'one anothering' is all about!