{"id":3710,"date":"2011-04-04T08:41:16","date_gmt":"2011-04-04T12:41:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/?p=3710"},"modified":"2011-04-04T17:13:47","modified_gmt":"2011-04-04T21:13:47","slug":"christian-be-the-church-by-himself","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redeeminggod.com\/christian-be-the-church-by-himself\/","title":{"rendered":"Can a Christian be the Church by Himself?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"lone<\/a>Can a Christian be the church by himself?<\/p>\n

Previously, we looked at Matthew 18:19-20<\/a>, which we discovered cannot be used to define church as a minimum gathering of 2 or 3 people. So what is church? It is defined not as the physical gathering of people in a particular location, but as the spiritual gathering by God of all believers into Jesus Christ (See the discussion here<\/a>).<\/p>\n

So, it seems possible for a person to be the church all by himself.<\/p>\n

However, I do not think a person can be the church all by himself when he is alone.<\/p>\n

Confused?<\/p>\n

Since the church is a spiritual gathering, and we do not “go to church” but the church goes with us, then wherever we go, there goes the church. However, one of the primary functions and purposes of the church is to be the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus in the world, which is impossible when you are all by yourself.<\/p>\n

There must be other people around to you and I to be the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus to.<\/p>\n

So, we cannot go rogue. We cannot be Lone Ranger Christians. We cannot isolate ourselves from other people and be the church all by ourself in the woods.<\/p>\n

Isolation from other believers is never wise, and is actually quite dangerous. Though theologically, you are still \u00a0“in church” \u00a0even when you are not physically with other believers, this does not mean that you can properly function as the church when you fail to gather physically with other believers.<\/p>\n

While the church is with you wherever you go, the church is not just\u00a0 Jesus and me.\u00a0 All believers around the world and throughout time are the church, and in order to function as the church, we must seek opportunities to gather together.<\/p>\n

A lot of this is elaborated further by Paul in 1 Corinthians 11, and his discussion of spiritual gifts and the Body of Christ, which we will look at later.<\/p>\n

But for now, what do you think? Can a lone Christian be the church, but not function as the church? What about the Chinese Christian pastor in a solitary prison cell?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Though you are still “in church” even when you are not physically with other believers, this does not mean a Christian can be the church all by himself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3714,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[15,32],"class_list":{"0":"post-3710","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"tag-close-your-church-for-good","8":"tag-theology-church","9":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nCan a Christian be the Church by Himself?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Though you are still 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