Lone Ranger Christians

LRCs (Lone Ranger Christians) are born again believers who got tired of church politics or quit church for a variety of reasons...

That doesn't necessarily mean they quit loving Jesus or quit trying to live an honorable Christian life.

Why are some GLBTs Lone Ranger Christians? Their reasons for becoming LRCs are many and varied.

Some were kicked out of church because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered.

Some who were kicked out of "straight" churches tried going to a gay church or a gay-affirming church and got discouraged because the Bible was never taught verse by verse or the Bible teaching couldn't honestly even be described as skim milk (since its so weak and watered down...)

Christians are designed to be part of a body, not Lone Rangers

"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body?But now are they many members, yet but one body.

And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular." -1 Corinthians 12:13-27, KJV

We are intentionally designed by God to need each other, to thrive in each other's company.

God created Christians for community, to be part of a family. Christians are like the many parts of the human body. Each part is designed by God to work with the other parts, smoothly, efficiently, almost effortlessly so that the body functions normally.

1. When we got saved, God adopted us into the family of God, Ephesians 1:5. Like it or not, born-again Christians are part of God's family, with all the intricate and sometimes difficult relationships found in any family.

2. God intentionally designed our spiritual selves to thrive as part of God's family, 1 Corinthians 12:13-26.

3. God placed pastors/teachers in local congregations to help us grow to spiritual maturity, Ephesians 4:11-16. This means that not being part of a local congregation is at odds with God's plan. By staying out of church, we may be settling for a lot less than God intends for us.

4. Scripture assumes that Christians will be part of a local church, including giving heed to pastors who watch for our souls before God, Hebrews 10:25; 13:17

5. Spiritual growth stems in part from loving interaction with our brothers and sisters in Christ, Ephesians 5:3, 8, 21, 30. We share laughter, tears, sorrow and joy. We face challenges together and pray about the difficulties we face. Family is important.

Lone Ranger Christians? - You're welcome to use this Bible study for your Sunday School class. Click here to copy and paste.