The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-09-13
Church of Christ
V. E. Hoven, Minister.
THE FELLOWSHIP.
Acts 2;42.

AUS . stSs
In this study we consider the second
step in the program of public worship
as observed by the first Church. The
word koinonia. translated fellow
ship" in this verse, occurs eighteen
times in the N. 7. and is defined as
follows: Partnership. joint interest,
participation"
In what did the fellowship consist?
1t was a joint fund, consisting of all
the free will offerings Of all the disci-
pies of Christ for all religious pur-
poses. Salvation is free. but to carry
out Gods plan in connection with it
costs something. The maintenance of
the house of worship, the care for the
poor and needy, the support of the
minister and the sending of the gospel
into the whole world cost something.
Evidently the old sister did not realize
this when she got up in the prayer
meeting, thanked God salvation is
free and said that she could testify to
that fact because she had been men,
Der of the Chul ch for forty years and
it had cost her but quarter.
God is God of order, hence we may
expect system in the fellowship as
we'll as in the rest Of His plans. The
early Church had treasury. Cor.
1879. clay by in store" for the treas
ury was the exhortation. Here we see
the wisdom of God. We often get into
trouble when we want to raise money
for the preacher. Some like him and
some do not. But when we ask people
to put money into the treasury of the
Church for all religious purposes, we
avoid much unpleasantness.
They had a time set for putting
money into the treasury, upon the first
day of the week." On each Lords day
when they met for worship, this was
a part of their worship and they never
omitted it.
All were to contribute toward this
fund, 'let each one of you" That
means every member. little and big.
But now the head of the family usually
so much for the year for the
whole family, thus setting aside Gods
plan and also taking away the privi-
lege of worship from those for whom
be suEsoribes. Let US remember it is
a part of worship and that cne cannot
for another.
The amount to lie given is also spec
flied, "as be may prosper" and "as he
hath purposed in his heart" There
are just two parties who know of his
and purpose of heart, him
self and God, so think, at least twice,
before you act here. Then also the
question of stewardship confronts us
here, and let us not forget that
stingy, mean Christian is an unjust
steward of God.
The purpose of the fellowship, in
addition to what we have said above,
may be summed up as follows: Money
has power to multiply mans life.
With it he can set others to work, thus
multiplying his own life work. The
story of Sarah Hoslner has teen told
in many tongues. Out of her small
income from her daily toll, she edu.
Gated student in the HISTORIAN Semi
nary. who went as minister of the
gospel to his native land. Five times
,he gave $4,000 which she earned in a
factory and by which she sent out FIVE
native missionaries. When IS years
Did, she wanted to send out one more
of the cross. To get the
means. she did sewing until the money
was earned. Thus she multiplied her
life seven fold.
Then money has power to extend the
field of mans service. Money speaks
all the languages of the world, SO there
is no limits geographically to its in
duenoe. I believe every Christian
ought to work in every land for which
Christ died; let him stay where he
will to make expenses.
Last of all, money does, in a sense,
save a person. As country, we are
in danger of ruin because of our enor-
rious wealth. Daniel Webster on re-
turning from trip to the West, sum
med up the peril of America in four
words, abundance, luxury, decline,
desolation. The boarding and wrong
use of gold has been pointed out as ''the
true yellow peril"
If it is true that the failure to use
money Alright is menace to the coun-
try, the same is true with greater en-
phasis of the church. To save her
from covetousness, luxury and worldli-
ness, with increased getting there
must be increased giving. Her failure
to observe this of late has shorn her of
her power. The story is told that the
Pope, pointing to the treasure of the
said to Thomas Aquinas, "See,
Thomas, the church of today can no
longer use the language of st. Peter,
silver aud gold have I none. "
'True your Holiness" Aquinas re-
piled, "tut neither can she say. Rise
mn ond xyalk