Are You a Lone Ranger Christian?

I got to thinking yesterday about trying to live a Christian life with little or without any involvement in a Church. I've had periods in my life when I held back from church but I still knew I was a Christian because my faith was very real.

However, I've learned that is not a wise thing to do. Living a Christian life all alone without fellowship and involvement in the Church family is dangerous for us and is not God's plan for us, unless we are trapped in a prison cell, or out in the wilds of a desert without anyone with us, or adrift on the ocean without a single human to share the danger and the efforts to survive with us.

Now, when I look around and I see people I know who hold themselves aloof from church, perhaps because they feel too shy, or - someone may have hurt their feelings in the past and they would rather lick their wounds in private.

I've come to believe earnestly that God intends for us to be part of Christ's Body, the Church on earth, and if we hold ourselves aloof and keep to ourselves, we put ourselves in great danger of the Enemy coming to torment us with all kinds of bad temptations, or tremendous discouragement or - simply that we short-change ourselves of the cheer of fellow and probably more mature believers who could be a great encouragement to us. They might share a simple truth that encourages them, and it is light we would not be aware of otherwise.

By the same token, as we mature in our faith we are to be sharing and teaching those around us by our example, and words of encouragement. If we stay away from church we short-change the ones God wants us to minister to.

If you have a campfire and you remove one glowing hot log and toss it aside, it will soon die out and be nothing but a charred piece of wood. In a similar way, withdrawing from a church fellowship, means that we may lose our stronger faith. Our faith will go under when severe trials assault us. Others will be left without the blessing we could be to them.

If I were to share all my experiences in this regard, well, it would have to become a booklet - which is not such a bad idea... is it?

But for now I just want to add that when I sense any of my friends or relatives are straying away from church, I now make it my business to pray for them. They and the Church Body of Christ all suffer from the dangers that lurk - alert for these stray sheep that go off by themselves - away from the very Shepherd who wants to keep them safe. And feed them from His supply of fine spiritual food!

If this is you, please don't be a lone ranger Christian. It spells TROUBLE!

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