Christian Living

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“I don’t need to attend church to be a Christian.” How many times have we heard that? Many seem to believe it, but it is unscriptural, unbiblical. God didn’t intend us to be “Lone Ranger” Christians all of the time.

To isolate oneself is to disobey God. Hebrews 10:25 says: "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

“Attending church” doesn’t have to mean visiting a building. Any gathering of believers can be a fellowship, such as in a private home. “Church” can be anywhere that believers meet.

Though born again, regarding human faults we are all guilty. We cannot travel alone down the Christian path merely because we see faults in others or in the way they do things.

Even in a remote location there must surely be at least one believer within driving distance to have fellowship with.

Note that Jesus sent out the disciples two by two, not as individuals. The Bible says: “How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight……..” (Deuteronomy 32:30) At first sight, Jesus had a lone ministry in human terms, but we know He did have a partner—an unseen one. Continually He was consulting, praying to, and very close to, the Father.

Yet Jesus as the Son of God didn’t isolate Himself from mere humans. After appointing the disciples He was with them continually, apart from His lone prayer times.

Sometimes the Christians around us don’t behave as we expect, or have personalities that grate on us like rough sandpaper. No doubt they could equally say the same about you and I as individuals. Nevertheless they are all our brothers and sisters in Christ, and likewise us to them. Despite our faults we all need each other.

That is not to say we cannot have individual dreams regarding what we can do for God; there are several instances in the Bible of the Lord using individuals for His purpose. However we do need collective fellowship.

[I'm not in "Private Messenger" so can't reply to your emails. I live outside the US. You can reach me at saul2_au at yahoo dot com

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