Today, I would like to continue our journey through Vondey’s work, People of Bread: Rediscovering Ecclesiology. In previous posts (Feb-8 Theological Imagination, Feb-9 Imagine That, Feb-11 To Image or Not to Image), we surveyed the importance and role of images in the Church. Chapter two is called Companionship: The Social Nature of the People of God. Before reading the chapter, I was intrigued by the chapter title. How would the author connect the relationships that exist (or should) within the Body of Christ with the image of bread?
The author methodically explores key Scriptures which point to the importance of bread as a central theme of fellowship in both the Old and New Testament (e.g. Gen 31.54; Exod 2.20; Ruth 2.14; 2 Sam 9.7, 10; Prov 23.6; et al). Interestingly, in the Hebrew culture, joining someone for a meal meant the parties involved were entering a relationship together.¹ Of note, the derivatives of the Semitic root for the word bread “are the Syrian ‘to join,’ the Moabite ‘to fight,’ and the Arabic ‘weft,’ ‘weld,’ or ‘relationship’” (p. 37). With my dad a sheet metal worker for the past 20 years or so, I have observed the effects of welding. So, the Arabic nuance of “weld” sticks out to me. Welding brings parts together in the undeniable context of focused (intentional) energy (heat).
Furthermore, Vondey notes how the word “companion” “literally refers to partaking in the production and consumption of ‘bread’ (panis) ‘together’ (com-)” (p. 42). Think about the times when you invite someone over for a meal or meet with others after the morning service in order to eat together. For ACoG, oftentimes we meet at a local Mexican restaurant (after all, corn chips and salsa is a type of bread, right? lol 
). Something occurs during such fellowship other than everyone simply receiving physical nourishment (for me, the chicken fajitas!). There is a spiritual nourishment of sorts that takes place as persons share thoughts, questions, stories, testimonies, hardships, etc. Over the context of the meal, we embrace a vulnerability that is necessary in order to get to know people better.
Now, the reason for the title of the post is because we must be careful not to relegate “church” to merely attending Sunday and Wednesday services (for those of us in the CoG tradition, these are the usual times of corporate gathering). ”Church” goes beyond meeting at a designated building (“going to Church”) and involves issues, stories, pains, struggles, triumphs, etc. of real persons. People make up the Church and at the heart of our being the body of Christ is the development of meaningful relationships with one another (and those around us).
A few questions: What are some ways in which a local assembly may foster stronger relationships? What are the major obstacles facing the development of such meaningful relationships (between age groups, interests, handicaps, locales, etc.)? As a Christian, is fellowship with others essential? Can I be a Christian and not (intentionally) engage in meaningful relationships with others?
Blessings,
Shannon
¹ Vondey, People of Bread, p. 37.
