Lone Wolf Christianity

By Jeff Arnette       Talk about an oxymoron. The epitome of isolation and loneliness connected with what should be the epitome of family, purpose, and belonging. You may disagree with my choice of titles, but chances are, you were taught to be a “lone wolf” just like me. From childhood most of us were taught that all we needed to succeed in life was hard work and determination. We were conditioned to believe that we don’t need anything or anyone to attain our goals in life. We were raised to be lone wolves in life, in work, and perhaps most importantly, in our faith.     Don’t get me wrong, I believe that our parents did the best they could with the information and training they had. How could they have known that they were creating a generation of people who would cast off all personal connections and go it alone? We live in a time when connections to friends and family are all but non-existent. A time when connections to faith and church have eroded to the point that the average person doesn’t attend church services. I was shocked to learn that 75% of our entire population doesn’t attend church services.     The problem with all this is that it is anti-Christian and destined to fail. Reality dictates that the lone wolf can survive along as everything goes his way (which is a rarity), but, as soon as winter comes, and life gets hard, he will starve to death. The pack survives and thrives while the lone wolf flounders in the anguish of starvation and loneliness.     I honestly believe this is Satan’s plan to destroy us. You cannot destroy a people until you separate them from each other. The lone wolf cannot survive the hard times of life. Alone they become more susceptible to sin and distractions. With no God, no faith, no family, no friends, no accountability, or authority in life; we will fail. It is inevitable.     God never intended for us to be alone. He gave us a church and family to ensure we are never alone through the winter of life.     God never intended for us to learn about faith and our gifts without the guidance of other men and women of God. Without the church, we never learn the fullness of faith and what it can be; so, we settle for whatever we have and wonder why we are unhappy.     God never intended for us to be the sole source of authority in our lives. We need the church; preachers, elders, and fellow church members to help keep us in line. He gave us a Bible and other men and women to help attain true faith and Christianity. Without the church, we settle for something that looks like the real thing but is a cheap imitation destined to fail.

- Jeff Arnette preaches for the Central Haywood church of Christ, Clyde, NC.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://centralhaywoodcoc.com/