John Donne, a famous poet, once wrote, “No man is an island entire of itself…” One of the major tragedies of modern society is that many people have forgotten this simple need of humanity, the need to have a circle of friends and family upon whom we can depend. This desire that people have to be “lone wolves” has even infiltrated Christianity. Many Christians today have forgotten that we are to be a “family in Christ,” connected to each other, helping and supporting each other in our Christian lives. They seem to have taken on the “Lone Ranger” mentality, not surrounding themselves with their brothers and sisters in Christ, and instead surrounding themselves with the evil influence of the world. This is a dangerous risk to take spiritually, for in the Bible there is no such thing as “The Lone Christian,” and for good reason.
The church is the “body of Christ” (Ephesians 1:22-23), and we are supposed to look upon each other as members working together for the good of the whole body (Romans 12:3-10; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Yet, many today have forgotten this essential and significant element of being a Christian, and they cut themselves off from their base of Christian support. Many don’t attend worship services and congregational functions like they should. Even many of those who do attend somewhat regularly have no contact with Christians other than during those services. This leaves us open to the temptations and to the attacks of the devil! Peter described the devil as a lion who is stalking us, trying to kill us spiritually (1 Peter 5:8). This is a very apt analogy, especially since lions always try to pick off the prey that is weak or alone. If we as Christians are separating ourselves out from the body, walking alone in life, then we are far more likely to be taken down and devoured by Satan and his temptations!
So, instead of trying to be “The Lone Christian,” we must do our best to be connected to other Christians, both in attending church services and functions as well as in our everyday lives. In fact, one of the reasons that we are commanded not to forsake the assemblies of the church is for the very reason that we receive encouragement from each other (Hebrews 10:24-25). Let us remember that a congregation is not just a group of people, but it is a family, and specifically it is the family of God, even as Jesus and Paul taught (Mark 3:31-35; Ephesians 2:19). We must each do our parts in this family if the body is going to work the way it is supposed to work (Ephesians 4:16).
Therefore, let us do the things that are required for the right function of the body of Christ. Let us think of each other before we think of ourselves, and remember that we have been saved in order to serve our Lord and each other. This was the attitude that Jesus had, and it is the one we need, especially in maintaining the unity of the church and in walking worthy of our calling to be Christians (Philippians 2:2-5; Ephesians 4:1-3). Let us no more be “lone” anything, but let us be the family of God, brothers and sisters to each other in love!
