The Right Hand of Fellowship

Sometimes churches do weird stuff. Whether it’s an attempt to be trendy or to keep a white-knuckle grip on an old tradition, we do and say things in church that just make the church look strange to the onlooking world.

For instance, a church that I attended a long time ago would occasionally have a short ceremony recognizing and welcoming new members into the church. It went something like this at the end of a service:

“We would like our newest members to come forward so we can extend to them the right hand of fellowship”.

The pastors and the other church leaders would then stand in line in front of the congregation while the new members walked past, each one receiving a warm and hearty handshake. That was it. The only explanation ever offered was that these people were new members of the church. No charge was given to the new members. No challenge to the church on their responsibilities to disciple the new members. Nothing. It was an odd event.

But just like many things that happen in the church in general, no one ever questioned it. Never wondered what the purpose was. Never asked where the phrase ‘right hand of fellowship’ came from and why it was used. Nothing. Is there a left hand of fellowship? A wrong hand? Are there arms and legs of fellowship?

Certainly, when we use a phrase like this, somewhat detached from the Bible, we do a great disservice to those watching. And worse yet, the original intent of the phrase is lost. The ‘church’, being the pillar and support of the truth, has a duty to clarify the things we find in the Scriptures.

To the Bible student, it should be obvious that the phrase ‘right hand of fellowship’ comes from Galatians 2:9. But what exactly does this mean? It is certain that Paul and Barnabas weren’t expected to awkwardly walk to a front of a crowded room simply to shake hands with a bunch of stiff church leaders in blazers and khakis.

It is explained in the passage that James, Cephas (Peter) and John were pillars in the church. They weren’t just ordinary pew-sitters. These men were committed and reputable leaders; steady men of wisdom, strength and authority. They had recognized that Paul and Barnabas were commissioned to spread the gospel to the Gentiles by the grace given to them. While Paul and his encourager-friend Barnabas were called to share the good news with the Gentiles, James, Peter and John’s call was to share it with the Jews. Different people groups, but same message. They were on the same team and they needed one another.

This is exactly what the ‘right hand of fellowship’ terminology is trying to convey.

The phrase ‘right hand’ is used over 160 times in the Bible. There is significance to the phrase by virtue of appearing in God’s Word so many times. The majority of times in the scripture the phrase is refering to God’s right hand which would carry the meaning of sovereignty, strength, authority and such characteristics. In this passage however, ‘the right hand’ is being used along with ‘fellowship’, and in context with believers interacting with one another. The right hand here is not referring to God’s right hand.

Fellowship among believers means that they are in a close knit relationship, a joint partnership, a common community pursuing the same goals. I believe it is safe to conclude that by joining their right hands, these men in Galatians 2 were pledging themselves to one another in an unbreakable commitment. They recognized their need for one another. They knew they would draw much needed encouragement and help from their friends. Paul wrote about this to his Roman brothers when he said, ‘I long to see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine’ (Romans 1:11-12).

We are no different today. Christians absolutely need one another. We cannot exist on our own island and expect to flourish in our faith. The community of believers must be strongly committed to building one another up.

Instead of using the ‘right hand of fellowship’ as simply a catchy cliche when introducing new members to the church, we should use it as an opportunity to emphasize our great need to be in tight relationships with other like-minded brothers and sisters in Christ. They will be encouraged to press on in the battle by our faith, and we will likewise be encouraged by theirs.