The One Anothering Concept

John 13:34-35

 

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 

The core essence of Christianity is based on the one another thing.

Our Lord never thought about himself, but more about others.

Christianity is about Christ and the nature of the kingdom of God, so when you hear people say they are Christians and there is no one anothering spirit, then you wonder what kind of Christianity is that!

 

When we use anothering, it depicts a continuous action rather than a one off event.

The word another refers to additional or different person, so when we use anothering, we are just adding ‘ing” to another.

 

When our lord was going away in Mt. 28:19-20, he gave us the great commission, to Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen

• This is core to the message of the kingdom
• But it appears as if that was what we had to do only

 

But I believe our Lord was aware that we could be carried away with delivering the gospel message alone, without thinking about his body, the Christian community

 

Hence, in 1 Jn. 4:20 it says – If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

 

It is easy to say we are children of the kingdom of God and focus on ourselves alone, because we claim to love God, this is why our Lord is saying to us, think about another believer, it’s a one anothering concept

 

The church is a community, we are already facing a lot of attacks from the world and the devil, so looking after one another is vital to our Lord

We sometimes think we could be very holy if, after doing our daily devotions, we just stayed in our homes all day alone, then we don’t have to bother anyone, then we can find patience, joy, Peace, too.

We even feel a general kindness and goodwill when we are alone, its good, but we all need other people.

 

Loneliness can bring sadness and depression, I see why we get calls to come and stay with elderly lonely people for a few hours as voluntary service, because all the devices we use, cannot replace human beings, even robots can’t.

 

The Christian faith is inherently relational (interconnected), it is deeply rooted in love, the love for God and the love for each other, that is where we have a healthy association, interaction and joy unspeakable.

 

In the New Testament, our Lord Jesus Christ  and even the apostles tell us to feel, say, or do something to “one another.” We are to care for one another and bear with one another, honor one another and sing to one another, do good to one another and forgive one another.

 

The one anothering concept is all over the New Testament and this is relevant to us in our times.

In Colossians 3:13, we are admonished to Forbear one another, and forgive one another, and that if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, we should do the same, but v14, emphasised the need to  “Love one another.”

 

It is the love for one another that brings the bond of unity.

 

Christianity is an active faith and lifestyle, it involves community and when we are in a community, we are commanded to actively get involved with one another and treat one another kindly.

 

Over the years, some brethren will say, because they came to church and were hurt through whatever means, they will rather just worshiping the lord and withdraw after the church meeting (jump out just before the grace, will not even give offerings, or tithes or special seeds) or even stop attending church totally!.

• This is not the concept of our faith
• Offence is something that we must as people of God fight against, because there is always the tendency and opportunity to be offended
• Some of us will refuse to forgive or connect with others because we felt offended, this is not in line with true Christianity
• in the process of worship and kingdom business, we will step on each other’s toes, its normal, sometimes not deliberate, but the devil will try to amplify it

 

Love is the foundation of the one anothering concept and it’s a command from our lord, we have no choice

• People will know that we are the Lord’s by our love for one another
• By our peaceful and joyful interaction with one another
• By our care and concern for one another
• We cannot live in isolation

 

Col. 3:12 reminds us of who we are:

 

We are the God’s chosen people, so we should ‘Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering’

 

There is so much that is expected of us, as believers in Christ, that is why we need to stay grounded in God’s word through reading/studying ourselves and also attending church events and group meetings:

 

• We are to be holy and beloved of God
• We are to show bowels of mercy (to give food to the hungry; drink to the thirsty; to welcome strangers; to clothe the naked; to care for the sick; to visit the prisoners and even to bury the dead)
• Kindness
• Humbleness of mind
• Meekness
• Longsuffering

 

Sometimes, we see the body of Christ divided, where even leaders of faith are focusing on one another, instead of uniting to fight the common enemy Satan, the devil.

 

22/06/2025

It is interesting that what we see today, happened in the bible, as in Mk. 9:38-40,

³⁸ And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

³⁹ But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

⁴⁰ For he that is not against us is on our part

 

Today, we are torn apart because of disagreement and doctrines and beliefs and traditions of men or even offense, this is not the one anothering concept at all.

 

Instead of focusing on the main task, we are focused on which church is the best, which pastor is better, which member is better, this is not what our lord said.

 

In Acts 2:42-47, they continued in the apostles’ doctrines and fellowship

 

They were interested in who Christ is and stands for, selfless lifestyle (that’s a good point to say AMEN)

 

1 Thes 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you

 

• This love should be one anothering in concept
• the place of the One Anothers is in the church—the localchurch or assembly of God’s people
• “One Anothering” is not something we do with people with whom we are merely acquainted. We don’t One Another our househelper, although we should be kind and generous. We don’t One Another our finance agent, our daughter’s basketball coach, or most of our social media “friends,” although we should seek to do good to them as we have opportunity.
• We One Another those with whom we share our lives, or better those with whom we are in covenant. Marriage, family, and church are the predominant locations where we one another. Surely some friendships, working environments, neighbourhoods, and ministries also call for and benefit from the concept of One Anothering.
• The local church is so important in our days, where people are trying to ignore it by giving excuses not to attend only when in a challenging moment or try to belong

 

Any church where there is no one anothering, Satan thrives there; this is the life of the church.

 

We know that we can truly trust a believer in Christ especially when they are a genuine part of our local church.

 

If someone says to you, I’m a Christian and you ask them which local church do they attend regularly, who is the lead Pastor, and they don’t know, then you need to watch them carefully, especially if they say I attend only once in a while.

 

You can see that after the church events, people like to hang around and interact which we call fellowship, this is part of one anothering, but it goes deeper.

 

We need to remember that we are one in Christ Jesus; there is no status, race, tribe, colour or even denomination amongst us.

 

Rm 12:5 – so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

 

Some people will only associate with others on their common identity, but thank God our identity is in Christ Jesus, there is no separate God or heaven or kingdom, except of God.

 

The body of Christ is deeply connected in faith and spirit, hence in One anothering, we are transparent to ourselves.

 

We need to be more at home with a true believer in Christ than a friend who is unsaved or even a family member, because, when we are in Christ we life like Him.

 

In the new testament, we can see how the apostles developed a vision of church life that presses people of different backgrounds to follow Christ with one another. Using dozens of metaphors, they describe the church as a body, a bride, a priesthood, a temple, a household, and a family.

 

In Christ Jesus there is no Jew or Greeks or Gentiles, as Eph. 2:13, scriptures declare that But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

 

There is nothing that should make us to be far from one another, as the prayer of our Lord was that we may be one as he and His father are one.

 

In one anothering, we need to remember that we are the church, not really the 4 walls of the building or room, but individuals.

How excited are we about meeting together to form the church? Some of God’s people will have every excuse to avoid church because the spirit of One anothering have not really caught them.

 

I read of a Pastor who was saying to a member who always come to church on Christmas day only, hey, I’m so glad to see you for Christmas, and he replied, you know “I’m in God’s army”, just to cover up himself.

 

The question is how excited are we when we are looking forward to our gathering together on Sundays, Wednesdays or other special events?

 

One anothering is not just for some people but all of us, as some members are happy to be the ones to be called via telephone or other voice/video media or visited, but they feel it’s not their responsibility.

 

As a people we may need to think like bees, which build beehives that help them survive during harsh weather especially cold winter, they form themselves into something of a ball at the center of the hive – huddling together, as it were. From there they are constantly trading positions – those on the outer portions of the ball moving inward toward the warmer center, while those duly warmed migrate out to the edges; a circulation constantly underway so that everyone takes its turn; everyone does it’s part.”  Shout halleluyah

 

Heb 10:24 encouraged us to provoke one another in love.

• We can use provoke both in negative or positive way, though using it in a negative way is more common, as we see nations go to war or people get angry for that.
• Here, ours should be positive, in that we are to stir up, excite or even incite one another in love
• It means we are to be looking for ways to motivate and encourage one another to show the selfless live of our lord displayed in good works and love.

 

When we think about the love of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ we can see love that is Sacrificial, unconditional, consistent and genuine. He was even washing their feet (Jn. 13:4-6)

 

That love is even something we can feel and touch and it is expensive (costly)

 

God expects his people (the church) to be marked by grace, peace and reciprocal care.

 

When we are setting expectations for others alone and not ourselves, that is not One Anothering, the focus is the other person not us.

 

Did you wonder why our Lord Jesus Christ went to that cross and died a shameful death, though he had the power to free himself? Mt. 27:42

• They mocked him, because he faced the storm of His life
• He could have sent angels with swords to kill all the people, but He did not
• It was not about Him, but about others
• This is the concept our Lord is reminding us to do
• Even when we are doing it, he says DO MORE (This is a good point to say AMEN)

 

Paul The Apostle in Phi. 2:3-7 says to have this mind: think about others, not yourself, just like Jesus did. This is how we can be members of one another. There is no way for us to be the family of Christ that God has called us to be if each of us thinks only about ourselves.

The work of the Lord cannot be accomplished in this city and county if all we think about is ourselves. When we think about ourselves, then we do not make decisions for the Lord and for each other.

 

So we do not go to Bible studies, we show up late, we miss services, we do not teach, we do not evangelize, and we do not participate together in this work because we think about ourselves: we are tired, we are busy, we don’t want to, it’s inconvenient, etc.

 

Can you imagine if your left hand needed the assistance of your right hand and your eyes, but those body members decided to think about themselves? They would not act, help, or participate because they did not want to. It is ridiculous to think about. Yet we are the body of Christ and this happens and it must not happen.

Key points to note about One Anothering:

 

1. Being members of one another means there must be a dramatic change about how we think of each other and how we think about the body of believers, the church. 2:19

-You have to remember that anything that happens in the family that is taken out of the family will be from a member of the family

– When we are thinking of the collective good and wellbeing of the family, it’s a good thing and helpful

– can you imagine if Delilah did not betray Samson, would he have been captured?

– We cannot talk down one another, even when there is a clear need to,

Instead of pulling one another down, let us find a way to provide objective views and support as required

• We put in a united front, it’s so funny that some believers think only about what they can receive from others, even from the collective body and not what they can give

 

2. Being members of one another means that we are to be interdependent, and not independent

• No individual believer can function effectively or properly in isolation, no one is an island
• Everyone is important, old or young, we are all one people
• We were not meant to function alone as a Christian (We live in a time and culture where we are fiercely independent and do not need anyone else, we do not want anyone else, we do not want people in our lives, we do not want to be joined to anything. For some of us, the closest friend we want to have is someone online on a social media platform who gives you a thumb up when you make a funny comment
• But believers of old knew nothing about the idea of independent Christians as they were always pictured as being joined together and as members of one another. Acts 2:44-47
• We need to spend more time not only in prayers and bible study, but in sharing of meals, visits, help

 

3. We need to think rightly about ourselves. We need to think properly about who we are and furthermore who we are together.

• We read about our lord on the sermon on the mount 5, 6, 7
• As salt of the earth, light of the world, giving to the needy, praying for others etc

 

4. Serving one another with humility 5:13

• When we come to church, there should be nothing as this is my class of people
• We cannot do this or that in church, hence you see that we want everyone to be involved in all that we do
• We show respect to our leaders, mentors, elderly, parents etc
• We treat people with dignity and humility
• But believers of old knew nothing about the idea of independent Christians as they were
• We participate in the work of our lord in church without grumbling and complaining or comparing (we don’t get involved in asking why would ask me to do this and not them?)
• How interesting it is for us to allow others receive items before us such as food, drinks etc
• We use our gifts and abilities to meet the needs of others and the body such as getting involved in church activities (leading meetings, caring for children etc)
• We provide free advice and counsel to other members

 

5. In thinking of one another, we:1 Thes 5:11

• Show deep and genuine affection and care, if you see a believer, we care enough to see how people are looking? If you have a good opportunity (job, business, information, caution etc) to help others, let’s share it
• Inviting people to be a part of the body of Christ the church is good for the expansion of the church
• Encouragement is very good for other members in need, even offering hope, aspiration and support, sending scriptural verses to others, making calls, visits, giving items to members are all good (when we make effort to attend members events when invited, even when not convenient, is one anothering, we don’t provide support only to those who did support us, but to all?) 15:1
• We need to pray for one another (there is nothing wrong in taking upon a burden about another member in prayer and fasting to God 4:2
• Forgiveness (Releasing offense and extending grace)
• Support one another to build their Christian life in word and meditation