Discussion questions:
Can a mature Christian be a lone ranger Christian?
What are the benefits of corporate fellowship?
What are the barriers to church attendance for some?
What are the benefits of church attendance to you?
Is corporate fellowship about you, or is it about you sharing your spiritual gifts with others?
Is online fellowship a suitable substitute?
Can a mature Christian be a lone ranger Christian?
What are the benefits of corporate fellowship?
What are the barriers to church attendance for some?
What are the benefits of church attendance to you?
Is corporate fellowship about you, or is it about you sharing your spiritual gifts with others?
Is online fellowship a suitable substitute?
"Go sell that thou hast, and give it to the poor...and come, follow Me." Mark 10:17-24.
A lone-wolf (for God) by way of proxy with others lays bear the fruit of his spirit. He has not voluntarily abandoned all his resources, and self-evaluations deliberately devoting himself detached from ALL things save one - Jesus Christ's interests who carries the interests of His Father. This is not an option, we all must do this surrender. We are so desperately wise in our own conceit that we continually make out that Jesus did not mean what He says, and we spiritualize His meaning into thin air. God saw, in Mark, that that man depended on riches, but if God had come to the lone-ranger Christian He would have said, "Love one another, as I have loved you." John 13:34-35. In Jesus' examples we know He came to save people, and to be a refuge for His people, only taking time out to sit at the Fathers feet of authority, yet to be renewed to serve the people.
Phil. 2:1-2 employees us to encourage one another, to comfort one another, to participate with one another in spirit, to emotionally expound in love, and to show mercy and grace with each other in reconciliation. We are told to complete the Lord's joy in these acts staying united in thought and spirit of purpose, to be found enlightened in the hope of His calling which, according to Eph. 1:18-23, tells us is the riches of His glory found in the inheritance of His saints, compelling us to serve the lost and to maintain the brethren. How does a lone ranger fit this picture? It isolates, specializes, shows pride, and contempt for the compelling unconditional love for others wrought out by a life lived in the spirit. Simply put, "Lone-Ranger Mentality" -- doesn't fit God's picture.
We must disengage ourselves from all things, including preferences, until we are a naked soul; becoming merely a man or woman then, henceforth, give that manhood or womanhood to God. We must reduce ourselves until nothing remains but our consciousness of ourselves and then cast that consciousness at the feet of Jesus Christ. If we do that the "ought to's" will be ever-present in our spiritual walk and in the Word of God prefacing God's will. We are to actively love all people, sinners; being Ambassadors of Christ, and with Saints; being encouragement and support, leaving way to iron sharpening iron, as "notuptome" has already graciously stated.