{"id":3152,"date":"2010-06-17T08:00:31","date_gmt":"2010-06-17T12:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/?p=3152"},"modified":"2026-07-23T14:37:25","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T18:37:25","slug":"open-to-fellowship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/open-to-fellowship.htm","title":{"rendered":"Getting Disillusioned People to Open Themselves to True Fellowship"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Fellowship<\/a><\/p>\n

In a previous post we looked at possible causes for the decline of true fellowship<\/a> in the church, suggesting that sometimes people become disillusioned with the church<\/strong> and therefore seek to distance themselves.<\/p>\n

We live in a world with corruption and self-centered politics everywhere, including the church.\u00a0 People, however, expect that the church should be exempt and so disillusionment comes with the resultant attitude of “why bother?”\u00a0 Problems in the church, however, are nothing new. Read through the New Testament Epistles and you will encounter a far-from-perfect church.<\/p>\n

The harsh reality is that we live in a fallen world. Though redeemed, Christians still must contend with the old sin nature. Read Romans 7 for a good description of that inner battle. If not walking in the Spirit, Christians too can fall into temptation and live for self, hence the need for true fellowship.\u00a0 We need to spur one another on rather than spurn one another.<\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0We are all a work in progress.<\/p>\n

How can we help disillusioned people be open to fellowship?<\/h2>\n

If we follow these seven suggestions, we’ll begin to change the tide in people’s feelings toward the church. Of course, we must follow through with consistent and persistent actions and reactions as described.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Do not be afraid to apologize for wrongs done in the church, to ask for forgiveness.\u00a0 Worse than making a mistake is being too proud to admit it.<\/li>\n
  2. Be patient, kind, and respectful toward them.\u00a0 Criticizing them for how they feel will probably only make it worse.<\/li>\n
  3. Be an example.\u00a0 Model forgiveness and true fellowship.<\/li>\n
  4. Teach on the role of forgiveness in relationships.<\/li>\n
  5. Work at reconciliation and restoration among believers before irreparable damage is done (Phil. 4:2-3).<\/span>\u00a0 What one or two people do can\u00a0affect people’s perception of the whole church.<\/li>\n
  6. Compel them with the irresistible love of Jesus.\u00a0 Let His love flow through you so much that people want more. “Perfect love drives out fear” (1 Jn. 4:8).<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Don’t give up on them.\u00a0 You’ll only be living up to their expectations if you do.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    . . . sometimes people become disillusioned with the church and therefore seek to distance themselves. . . . disillusionment comes with the resultant attitude of “why bother?” . . . Continue reading Getting Disillusioned People to Open Themselves to True Fellowship<\/span>→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fellowship-unity"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\t