While at lunch the other day I overheard a conversation at the next table. The person speaking said "I guess I'm kind of a 'loner' Christian. I believe in God and the Bible, but I don't go to church." It seems this sentiment is more and more prevalent in today's culture. Many seem to feel that they can watch sermons on the web, listen to modern worship music perhaps, even belong to a virtual church digitally over their mobile device and still function within the Body of Christ and grow as a Christ follower adequately. But is that totally true?
Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Heb. 10:24-25
The Bible uses several different words to describe the relationship between followers of Christ. Koinonia is the Greek word for fellowship. It describes the "community" and "communion" (both words from the same Greek word) that believers have with one another.
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42
The word "church" is ecclesia, or assembly, a gathering of believers. The "church" is not a building, and not even really a specific group of believers. It is all believers in Christ, all over the world, at this present time, in the past, and into the future. This assembly is the true "church."
Believers are also described as the "flock", as in sheep. Any sheep or herd animal can tell you that there is safety and security inside the flock. It allows for protection from predators, shelter from cold and storms, and a safe place for weaker individuals in the flock to strengthen and grow.
One of the most descriptive words for believers gathered together however is the "body" of Christ. As Paul describes the body analogy in his letter to the Corinthians, he makes the point that if one part of the body does not want to perform its intended function, or not be a part of the body at all, the rest of the members of the body suffer and it cannot reach its fullest possible potential. Either that body part's function will not be performed, or another body part will have to step in and fulfill the other part's intended function.
For the body is not one member, but many... But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired...so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. I Cor. 12:14-27
Throughout the epistles, one word is used continually when describing how believers relate to "one another"...allelon. This word is used to direct Followers of Christ to, among other things, love, honor, build up, greet, serve, forgive, teach, encourage, and pray for one another.
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Col. 3:16
All of these words and ideas lead us to the same conclusion...we as Christians are meant to fellowship together, to belong to one another, and to function as one entity. The Christian life is meant to be shared..not only for your own sake, but for the benefit and well-being of other believers around you.
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
