Hard as it is for our over-confident minds, it is good for us to meet with faithful men who are not of our group. It is good for us to be forced to test our beliefs and our practices. As iron sharpeneth iron', so brethren whose rule is Scripture will correct and refute one another by mutual converse and religious discussion. Even where we cannot adopt a brother's views or opinions as our own, we can submit ourselves to him to the extent that, respecting his sincerity, we permit ourselves to be influenced by him for good whenever possible. If we are to submit to one another in the Lord, we shall have to learn to listen to one another in conversation.
Fellowship is sharing and, in con-versation, that means give and take.
The art of conversation is to ask a few questions now and then, and to wait for an answer. We submit to one another when we request their prayers. In the course of the Middle Ages this formula was altered to mean that the layman should confess to the priest. But no such thought is intended in the New Testament. There are times when it is perfectly proper for the older, more experienced Christian to confess his shortcomings to the younger.