INTERNET ONLY CHRISTIANS?
There are several reasons why we need to be personally involved with other Christians in a face to face experience.
First of all, the New Testament is filled with admonitions to “love one another”—the “one another” refers to fellow Christians (John 13:34–35; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 4:11). Love is not just a noun; it is an action verb (see 1 Corinthians 13:1–8). We are to actively pursue ways in which we can demonstrate unselfish love for each other. “Internet Christians” who avoid association with other believers cannot do that but on the page. Can we correct it? Yes! Outside ministry is one. Even live phone chats and caring calls another. We are in the internet age! It has maturation issues.
Second, most of the books of the New Testament are letters written to churches, not to isolated Christians. Although God loves us as individuals, we are collectively referred to in Scripture as “the church” (Ephesians 5:25, 32). The Epistles, addressed to groups of Christians, include detailed instructions about how members are to conduct ourselves within the group. The letters were to be read corporately and are best understood in the context of a church working together. As a unit, Christians are the “bride of Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7). Most of the New Testament is instruction on how the “bride” can ready herself for her groom, Christ.
We are also called the “body of Christ.” This body has many parts, just as a physical body does (1 Corinthians 12:27). One body part cannot exist on its own. The heart cannot go solo; the chin cannot survive on its own. Any one part needs the participation of all the other parts in order to function successfully. The same is true for the members of the body of Christ. Jesus equips each one with certain gifts that He wants us to use to benefit the whole (see 1 Corinthians 12:12–30). We can express love and edify and encourage, even admonish and correct over Google+ but it lacks the FACE TO FACE and union of two in His love that is our brand in Christ.
Romans 12:4–5 says, 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
There is no room in this passage for the isolated Christian.
A third reason solo Christianity is not a good idea is that we need the encouragement and accountability provided by our brothers and sisters in Christ. Often, WE who shun involvement in a local church live with major blind spots and spiritual strongholds that we are only mildly aware of. Because we do not make ourselves accountable to other believers, we have no one to strengthen our weaknesses. Flaws such as pride, greed, envy, anger, and a judgmental spirit often grow unchecked in the heart of one who rejects spiritual oversight from those who could gently guide us back to obedience (Galatians 6:1).
The loner Christian misses out on corporate worship times, and opportunities to serve. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” We grow sharper as useful tools for God when we learn from each other, pray for each other, and invest ourselves in the lives of others. Local churches offer many opportunities in which to use our gifts to serve others and glorify God. Avoiding such connections weakens us. There is this ability here but it is limited and unsupervised by elders who can help in disputes as well as corrections
Finally, we have a powerful enemy who “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The lion metaphor works in Scripture because God’s people are often referred to as sheep (Psalm 95:7; 100:3; 1 Peter 2:25; Mark 6:34). As any good shepherd knows, the sheep are safest when they stay with the flock, under the watch-care of a kind shepherd.
1Peter 5:2 exhorts pastors with this: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
A pastor is called the shepherd of the flock. It is his responsibility before God to nurture, protect, and encourage the sheep God has entrusted to him. A lone sheep, separated from the flock, is vulnerable to the enemy. Wolves and lions don’t usually attack a healthy flock. They wait for one who lags behind, isolated from the shepherd and the safety of the fold. WE SEE AND EXPERIENCE ATTACKS WITHOUT RECOURSE SUCH AS IN A GROUP WORSHIP SETTING
Christians need to involve ourselves with other believers in order to remain healthy and productive. Satan cannot steal a soul that belongs to God (John 10:29), but he can render our lives useless for the kingdom by convincing us that we don’t need fellowship, spiritual encouragement, or challenge from anyone else. He likes to stir up trouble, bitterness, disappointment, pride, and a critical spirit to keep lone sheep away from the flock (Ephesians 4:30–31; 1 Peter 2:1; Colossians 3:5–10). Then he attacks us with discouragement, temptation, and deception to eliminate any heavenly treasure that we could have stored up for ourselves (Matthew 6:20; 10:41; Luke 12:33; Revelation 22:12).
We will spend all eternity worshiping with other redeemed saints of God. We might as well learn to enjoy it now. At least go out and see what God has for us. Visit a Bible believing body. Check it out. Talk to the Pastor. See their doctrines and the Bible they use. Be careful. Be wise. Choose if the Spirit moves you. You can always remove yourself for good cause.
Chaim
There are several reasons why we need to be personally involved with other Christians in a face to face experience.
First of all, the New Testament is filled with admonitions to “love one another”—the “one another” refers to fellow Christians (John 13:34–35; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 4:11). Love is not just a noun; it is an action verb (see 1 Corinthians 13:1–8). We are to actively pursue ways in which we can demonstrate unselfish love for each other. “Internet Christians” who avoid association with other believers cannot do that but on the page. Can we correct it? Yes! Outside ministry is one. Even live phone chats and caring calls another. We are in the internet age! It has maturation issues.
Second, most of the books of the New Testament are letters written to churches, not to isolated Christians. Although God loves us as individuals, we are collectively referred to in Scripture as “the church” (Ephesians 5:25, 32). The Epistles, addressed to groups of Christians, include detailed instructions about how members are to conduct ourselves within the group. The letters were to be read corporately and are best understood in the context of a church working together. As a unit, Christians are the “bride of Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7). Most of the New Testament is instruction on how the “bride” can ready herself for her groom, Christ.
We are also called the “body of Christ.” This body has many parts, just as a physical body does (1 Corinthians 12:27). One body part cannot exist on its own. The heart cannot go solo; the chin cannot survive on its own. Any one part needs the participation of all the other parts in order to function successfully. The same is true for the members of the body of Christ. Jesus equips each one with certain gifts that He wants us to use to benefit the whole (see 1 Corinthians 12:12–30). We can express love and edify and encourage, even admonish and correct over Google+ but it lacks the FACE TO FACE and union of two in His love that is our brand in Christ.
Romans 12:4–5 says, 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
There is no room in this passage for the isolated Christian.
A third reason solo Christianity is not a good idea is that we need the encouragement and accountability provided by our brothers and sisters in Christ. Often, WE who shun involvement in a local church live with major blind spots and spiritual strongholds that we are only mildly aware of. Because we do not make ourselves accountable to other believers, we have no one to strengthen our weaknesses. Flaws such as pride, greed, envy, anger, and a judgmental spirit often grow unchecked in the heart of one who rejects spiritual oversight from those who could gently guide us back to obedience (Galatians 6:1).
The loner Christian misses out on corporate worship times, and opportunities to serve. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” We grow sharper as useful tools for God when we learn from each other, pray for each other, and invest ourselves in the lives of others. Local churches offer many opportunities in which to use our gifts to serve others and glorify God. Avoiding such connections weakens us. There is this ability here but it is limited and unsupervised by elders who can help in disputes as well as corrections
Finally, we have a powerful enemy who “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The lion metaphor works in Scripture because God’s people are often referred to as sheep (Psalm 95:7; 100:3; 1 Peter 2:25; Mark 6:34). As any good shepherd knows, the sheep are safest when they stay with the flock, under the watch-care of a kind shepherd.
1Peter 5:2 exhorts pastors with this: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
A pastor is called the shepherd of the flock. It is his responsibility before God to nurture, protect, and encourage the sheep God has entrusted to him. A lone sheep, separated from the flock, is vulnerable to the enemy. Wolves and lions don’t usually attack a healthy flock. They wait for one who lags behind, isolated from the shepherd and the safety of the fold. WE SEE AND EXPERIENCE ATTACKS WITHOUT RECOURSE SUCH AS IN A GROUP WORSHIP SETTING
Christians need to involve ourselves with other believers in order to remain healthy and productive. Satan cannot steal a soul that belongs to God (John 10:29), but he can render our lives useless for the kingdom by convincing us that we don’t need fellowship, spiritual encouragement, or challenge from anyone else. He likes to stir up trouble, bitterness, disappointment, pride, and a critical spirit to keep lone sheep away from the flock (Ephesians 4:30–31; 1 Peter 2:1; Colossians 3:5–10). Then he attacks us with discouragement, temptation, and deception to eliminate any heavenly treasure that we could have stored up for ourselves (Matthew 6:20; 10:41; Luke 12:33; Revelation 22:12).
We will spend all eternity worshiping with other redeemed saints of God. We might as well learn to enjoy it now. At least go out and see what God has for us. Visit a Bible believing body. Check it out. Talk to the Pastor. See their doctrines and the Bible they use. Be careful. Be wise. Choose if the Spirit moves you. You can always remove yourself for good cause.
Chaim
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