Lone Rangers in the Bible?

The Lone Ranger is an identity that most of us are familiar with. This gun slinging cowboy would chivalrously help the helpless victim and then ride off alone into the sunset. While the image may be appealing, the scriptural reality is starkly different. Put bluntly, there are no Lone Rangers in the Bible. Each and every believer in the New Testament is integrated into a congregation, more than likely, a local congregation. Each and every believer in the New Testament is part of a highly committed and God-centred team that finds expression in the local congregation.

The idea of church hopping or church cruising is foreign to the New Testament. The idea of being a Christian but not belonging to or being a member of the local church is simply non-existent.  The idea of being a free agent is anathema to the New Testament.

The words ‘love’ and ‘congregation’ go hand in hand in the Bible. The love of God compels us to be loving towards each other. The very word ’love’ implies commitment and togetherness. While there are times when we simply cannot be at our local church gathering, we have to remember that absence is not love. It is a sure sign of apathy (at the very least) towards the congregation. The Bible  even suggests that your attitude and love towards the local congregation is reflective of your attitude and love towards God. If you love the local congregation and are committed to them, it shows that you love and are committed to the Lord God Almighty. Loving one means loving the other. That’s how the greatest two commandments work together. It really is all or nothing at this point.

God is love. If we have tasted and received His love then love for each other will flow out of us. Stores of living water will well up within us. We will naturally ooze out love for our brothers and sisters. We will naturally want to be with those we love. And the place where that love is most visibly and outwardly displayed  is the Sonday Church gathering.

Questions for Reflection:

What are the key words, phrases in the passage? What do they mean?

What one life changing truth can you take with you from this passage?

What impact does this passage have on your life?