We're NOT Hermits!

If so that if I am delayed, you may know how one should behave in the household of God, which is the Community of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. (1 Tim.3:15 )

God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Gen.2:18). Yes, this is referring to the creation of woman as the help meet for man, but have you ever thought about why God made that statement, that it is not good for man to be alone, or by himself?  This is a statement that does not apply to just marriage. 

We are created to be part of a community. We are born into a family, a group that forms relationships, bonds, and fellowship. We are urged from youth to adapt skills of intercommunication, how to play fair with others, how to be considerate of those we're around, and more. Interpersonal skills are cultivated in us, and even the world at large requires it of us. 

The Bible knows nothing of solitary saints or spiritual hermits. Even when the mighty Elijah fled to a cave to hide from people, God calls him out of the cave (1 Ki.19:13-15), He didn't want Elijah to be by himself. God's will required him to be out among people, not secluded in a cave alone. 

While our relationship to Christ is a personal one, God never intended it to be private and secluded. God does not wanting us living our lives as Christians in secluded personal caves shut off from everyone else.  It is important to understand, that in Acts 2:47 God ADDS us to His family. That means that just like when we are born in life we are born into a family, so too, when we are born spiritually (Jn.3:5; Rom.6:1-4), we are added to God's spiritual family.  The Bible says, “In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (Rom.12:5). Following Christ includes belonging, not just believing. We term it "membership," but noted author C.S. Lewis stated once,  that the word "membership" is of Christian origin, but the world has emptied it of its original meaning. Stores offer discounts to “members,” and advertisers use "member names" to create mailing lists. In Christian corners, membership is often reduced to adding your name to a roll like you are attending school. 

 Paul, references being a “member” of God's family means being a vital organ of a living body. As part of the family of God, we are interconnected with ever other part of the Body of Christ.  God's family is a body, not a building!  It is a living organism, not an organization or business (Rom.12:4-5; 1 Cor.6:15; 12:12-27).  We "function" within it "..from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Eph.4:16)" Because the body of Christ is a living entity!

 Jim