There’s an old saying that many of us have heard that says “No man is an island unto himself”. This quote came from a 17th Century English author by the name of John Donne, the connotation being that no one in themselves are self-sufficient and that we all need to rely on others. He explored the idea that people are not like isolated islands, but part of a much larger purpose and that there is a connectedness between human beings that we all need to be a part of.
When it comes to Christianity and matters concerning our church life, I would have to agree with this statement. The Bible says this:
Hebrews 10:24-25 – NKJV – And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
One thing we are encouraged to do is to not forsake assembling—-or meeting together as the manner or habit of some. Why? Because our life together within a church community is vitally important, especially when it comes to growing up and maturing in our personal relationship with God.
We would all like to believe that we can just walk with God with just a “vertical” relationship with Him. And many seek to go that route. But he truth is, God has designed it where we need horizontal relationships—which are relationships with others within the body of Christ so that we can grow in our faith. Not only do we need to develop our personal relationship with the Lord (which I will describe as our “vertical” relationship), but also we need relationships with each other as members of His church body (which I will describe as “horizontal”). We need both in order to grow. According to the book of Ephesians, chapter 4, the ministerial leadership is called to equip the members of the church and show them the work that they are called to do in co-laboring with the building up of the church.
Ephesians 4:12 – NLT – Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 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.
Notice how it says this is the way we will continue toward unity and how we “mature” in the Lord. How? He makes it clear in the next couple of verses:
Ephesians 4:15-16 – NLT – 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.
Notice how it says that the Lord, who is the “Head”, or better described as the “Authority” of His church, causes each part to do it’s own special work. And in doing that part, helps the other parts of the body to grow.
This is simply how God has designed His church, to function as a community, which was modeled for us perfectly by the early church in Acts chapter 2:
Acts 2:42-48 – NLT – All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
There was, as described in the above Scriptures, a deep sense of community and most importantly, fellowship as they worshipped together in the temple and in homes. There was priority placed in their meeting together and as a result, each day, the Lord added those that were being saved.
While it appears that we, as the Christian church of today have fallen short of the unity and the fellowship demonstrated by the first church, and while we continue to trust God and believe that despite what we see outwardly, He is still working toward that unity of the church, we still need to see the value of belonging to a church community, a body of believers where we grow in our relationship with God and with one another. It is understandable that some have had a bad church experience and have suffered hurts and disappointments and shied away from any kind of church attendance. But it should not keep us from staying away from being a member. Separate from the body of Christ, not only are we not in a place where we can be spoken into and edified by other believers, but we are also robbing others of our own particular gifts, abilities and talents that could encourage and help others. Remember what it says in Ephesians 4:16 that “…each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow…” Each of us have God given gifts, talents, graces and abilities that were given to us to help someone else in the body of Christ to grow. So, ask yourself, who might I be withholding from benefiting from the gifts that God has given me If I am not part of a vibrant local church? Is there someone who I could encourage who is depressed? Is there someone who may need my prayers or maybe my knowledge of the Scripture to help them through tough times? Am I withholding the thing that I am gifted and good at? These are questions that you can ask yourself. If so, I encourage you to find out what local church that God may want to “plant” you in, as He is the One that determines where you are placed in His church (1 Corinthians 12:18) so that not only that you can begin to be blessed and grow, but also, so that you can be a blessing to someone else.
God Bless!
