We are finalizing our study on how we as Christians must begin to go deeper in our relationship with the Lord and build a stronger foundation in the following 4 areas of our lives:
1 – Deeper relationship with God
2 – Deeper understanding of God’s Word
3 – Deeper in God’s love
4 – Deeper planting in a church of His choice
For the past few issues, we have covered all 4 of these, the last issue having dealt with reasons why some do not belong to a strong church community, primarily because of church hurts and offenses and how we all as members of the church (myself included) must improve in this area. As we finish up this series, we will discuss the other reason why some avoid church attendance despite the Scripture admonishing us not to forsake meeting together as some do (Hebrews 10:25). This particular separation does not deal with a church hurt as much as it does pride. And that is what is known as the “lone wolf” syndrome. So what is the lone wolf syndrome?
It can be best described as a person who has a very independent personality with a preference of self sufficiency and little need for socialization. Lone wolves within the body of Christ have a tendency to never stay connected to a church community, hopping from one church to another, always searching for the “perfect” church and never finding one that is good enough for them. They are very critical of just about every ministry they come into contact with, always finding faults, problems and so called “errors of doctrine” wherever they go. And while we all know that every church has its flaws because the church is made up of flawed individuals who have been saved and their sins washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ (1 John 1:7), these individuals continue to church-hop, setting themselves up as judge and jury sometimes for years and years.
I have run into these types of individuals over the years and the interesting thing I have found is that most of them all have a common saying to justify their behavior. And that is the following statement:
“I got my Bible and the Holy Spirit. So I don’t need to belong to a church.”
Well, that’s not what Hebrews 10:25 teaches. Scripture teaches us that we should not forsake gathering together as a church community. God has designed His church body to where we are co-dependent on one another. Here’s what Ephesians 4:11-16 says (New Living Translation):
“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
Within a strong, Bible based church community, there is truth spoken in love, causing us to grow and mature in our personal relationship with God and with each other as brothers and sisters in Christ, and if they have discerning leadership, is a safety net from false doctrine. And as verse 16 states, God makes the whole body “fit” together perfectly as each part does its own work, causing the body to become healthy, growing in love. However, if you are a lone wolf, you are missing out on this vital piece of your personal growth in the Lord. Not only will you not be spoken into to be edified because you are under the impression that your “Bible” and the “Holy Spirit” is all you need for growth apart from the body and not only are you being robbed of the gifts that others may have to build you up, but others are also missing out on the gifts that you may possess to build up others. So they are being robbed as well!
Another thing I have found amongst those who are lone wolves is that many do not like any kind of accountability in their lives. They want to continue on in that independent “spirit” which Scripture does not say is good. Listen to the wisdom of Proverbs:
“A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;he rages against all wise judgment” (Proverbs 18:1 – NKJV)
There’s an old saying that says that “isolation is the tool of the devil”. When you are a lone wolf, you are more prone to be open to deception when it comes to spiritual things, but there is safety in the multitude of counselors (Proverbs 11:14). So, if you are under the lone wolf syndrome, I sincerely appeal to you: Humble yourself. Begin to pray and ask the Lord to show you how He views His church, though imperfect, but striving on to maturity. When you begin to see God’s people the way that He sees them, which is through the eyes of love, you will stop looking for perfection everywhere you go. You will develop a desire to see God’s people grow and for you to grow along with them. Ask the Lord to plant you where He wants you to be according to 1 Corinthians 12:18, in a strong, Bible believing church. And when He does, be a blessing. Be faithful. Don’t come in with a “haughty”, know-it-all attitude, but, again, be humble and God will exalt you in due time (James 4:10). And let the Lord through His people begin to build you up while you learn to build others up. Don’t fool yourself into believing you have it all together. You don’t. And honestly, no one (including myself) has it all together. Being a disciple of the Lord is a lifelong process which entails needing not only God’s Word and God’s Spirit, but each other within a strong, bible based church community.
This concludes our “Going Deeper” series. My prayer is that as Christians, we will continue to develop the close intimacy with the Lord that He so desires from us. God Bless!
