Lone Ranger Christianity is commonly used to justify one’s detachment from a local church. The idea that one can serve Jesus apart from other believers is unfounded in the Scriptures. Instead, the Bible is replete with passages urging disciples to live out their faith with other believers. In fact, we are commanded to live out the “one anothers” in a community, something impossible to do in isolation.
Here are a few of the “one anothers” found in Scripture:
- Love one another. (John 13:34)
- Be in agreement with one another. (Rom.12:16)
- Accept one another. (Rom. 15:7)
- Instruct one another. (Rom. 15:14)
- Greet one another. (Rom. 16:16)
- Serve one another. (Gal. 5:13)
- Be kind and compassionate to one another. (Eph. 4:32)
- Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Eph. 5:21)
- Admonish one another with all wisdom. (Col. 3:16)
- Encourage one another and build each other up. (1 Thess. 5:11)
- Be hospitable to one another. (1 Pet. 4:9)
- Confess your sins to one other and pray for one other. (James 5:16)
A discipleship group is an ideal setting for living out these commands. Take confession of sin for instance. Challenges present themselves on both sides of the spectrum. Larger contexts such as Sunday School and Bible study are intimidating environments for admission of one’s sins. On the other hand, sin is concealed in isolation. Since a discipleship group is less threatening, a believer may be more apt to open up about present struggles.
Dietrich Bonheoffer emphasizes the dangers of isolation
: “Sin demands to have a man by himself. It withdraws him from the community. The more isolated a person is, the more destructive will be the power of sin over him.”
Does sin have a grip on your life? Are you struggling with sin? I bet you’re battling it alone.
The Internet is a slippery slope to destruction.
Why?
You normally surf the web isolated and alone.
Don’t do that.
- Guard against being insulated and isolated.
- Live in community with other disciples.
- Labor alongside other disciples.
- Grow in a discipleship group of disciples.
Discipleship is about One For All and All for “One Another.”
