You Are Not a Lone Ranger Christian
Many people try to live the Christian life alone. They say things like, “I don’t really need to go to church to be a Christian,” “I can just live out my own individual walk with Jesus,” or “I’ve got access to lots of Christian content through books and the internet, so I’m good.”
The problem with that mentality is that according to Scripture, we are not lone ranger Christians.
The Christian life was never meant to be lived in isolation. When we accept Christ as our Savior, we receive more than just a personal relationship with Him – we gain a corporate identity that connects us deeply with other believers. This truth, woven throughout the New Testament, is illustrated through powerful metaphors that help us understand our role in the broader Christian community.
We Are Family
When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we experience a spiritual rebirth that brings us into God's family.
The apostle John teaches us this in John 1:12-13:
"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."
(John 1:12-13)
This familial relationship isn't just between us and God – it extends to our fellow believers as well. We become brothers and sisters in Christ, members of the same spiritual household.
The Apostle Paul emphasizes this in Ephesians 2:19, declaring that we are "no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household."
As New Testament Professor Joseph Hellerman notes in his book, When the Church Was a Family:
"God, in Jesus' great work of redemption, was not establishing a series of isolated personal relationships with His individual followers. He was creating a family of sons and daughters—siblings—who are now all one in Christ Jesus."
(Joseph Hellerman, When the Church Was a Family)
This family identity carries profound implications for how we live. Scripture tells us that through our corporate identity as a family, we participate in life with one another.
· “Instruct one another.” (Romans 15:14)
· “Serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13)
· “Carry each other’s burdens.” (Galatians 6:2)
· “Encourage each other.” (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
· “Live in harmony with one another.” (1 Peter 3:8)
· “Love each other deeply.” (1 Peter 4:8)
· “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” (1 Peter 4:9)
How can we live out these “one-anothers” of Scripture if we are attempting to live as lone ranger Christians? We can’t!
We Are the Body of Christ
Another powerful metaphor for our corporate identity is that of being the Body of Christ. In Ephesians 1:22-23, Paul describes how God appointed Christ "to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."
This imagery emphasizes several crucial truths:
Unity in Diversity
While we may be many individual believers, we form one unified body under Christ's headship. We are united together under the direction of the head, Jesus Christ. He is on mission today through His Church. He is accomplishing His Kingdom work through the Body of Christ.
Interdependence
As Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 12, every part of the body is essential and interdependent. No member can say to another, "I don't need you!" Each believer has unique gifts and roles, yet all are equally valuable and necessary for the body to function properly. When one part suffers, the whole body suffers; when one part rejoices, all rejoice together.
The Impossibility of Isolation
Just as a severed limb cannot survive on its own, we cannot thrive in isolation from the body of Christ. The very idea of trying to live the Christian life alone should seem as absurd as a dismembered body part trying to function independently.
We are not lone ranger Christians. We are the Body of Christ.
We Are a Building
The third metaphor Paul uses to describe our corporate identity is that of a building. Continuing in Ephesians 2:20-22, he describes believers as being "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord... being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."
This imagery emphasizes several important aspects of our corporate identity:
Continuous Construction
The building process is ongoing – Jesus continues to add new "stones" as people come to faith in Him. This reminds us that our community should always be open and welcoming to new believers.
Collective Beauty
While each individual brick has value, it’s the bricks as a collective unit that draws attention. God is at work in each son and daughter of His, but He is forming a magnificent building to capture the attention of the world. Together, we form a dwelling place for God's Spirit.
Structural Interdependence
Each stone in a building depends on the others for stability and support. Similarly, we need each other as we stand firm in our faith and he works through us to fulfill His purposes.
Living Out Our Corporate Identity
Understanding these metaphors will impact how we live. When we truly grasp our corporate identity in Christ, we will:
Be a part of a local church and not attempt to be a lone ranger Christian
Value unity over individual preferences
Prioritize community and relationships
Actively participate in corporate worship
Serve together as a family and body of Christ
The Christian life isn't just about "me and Jesus" – it's about "us and Jesus." We are not lone ranger Christians. There is a corporate aspect to our identity in Christ, and this truth will shape how we think about and participate in church life.
We are family. We are Christ's body. We are God's building.
Let's live accordingly, valuing and nurturing the connections that are part of who we are in Christ.
Spiritual formation occurs primarily in the context of community. But as the modern cultural norm of what social scientists call “radical American individualism” extends itself, many Christians grow lax in their relational accountability to the church. Faith threatens to become an “I” not “us,” a “my God” not “our God” concern.
When the Church Was a Family calls believers back to the wisdom of the first century, examining the early Christian church from a sociohistorical perspective and applying the findings to the evangelical church in America today. With confidence, author Joseph Hellerman writes intentionally to traditional church leaders and emerging church visionaries alike, believing what is detailed here about Jesus’ original vision for authentic Christian community will deeply satisfy the relational longings of both audiences.
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