Friday, September 13, 2013

Misconception #8: The Christian Life Can Be Lived Alone

[This is the 8th in a series of Top 10 misconceptions some MKs face.]

The Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation. Yes, I often think I can do things on my own. And the American culture ingrains in us the need to be independent, to not depend on others, and to be self-made people. Now, the balance to this is that we need to learn to be responsible adults.

I remember moving to Lafayette in the fall of 2000. I was 22 and just out of college. I didn't really understand what went into setting up housekeeping. I had never had an apartment before, never had to set up a home phone, pay bills, or provide furnishings. Yet my desire was to have my own place where I could be away from people to recharge my batteries. I'm not big on labeling people, but I have to say I would tend to be an "introvert." However, I've discovered that isolation can lead to discouragement, making me tend to think that I'm alone in the world, that like as Elijah said in 1 Kings 18:22, "I am the only one left."

Yes, there are things we need to do on our own. But living for God is NOT one of them. Positionally as Christians we have the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. And Jesus alone IS truly enough. But we are human. God has created us to live alongside other people. We can be "iron sharpening iron" to the fellow Christians around us. I have found that I need to be engaged in the lives of other Christians (personally I have found what works best for me is a Tuesday night ladies' Bible study).

Reality: I need the fellowship of the body of Christ. It's called the BODY of Christ for a reason.