Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
I Corinthians 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 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?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 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.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 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.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
We are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. This involves finding a good local church where the Lord directs each individual to go and receive as well as participate. God sees the church as a body that functions as one. This is why we need to participate in the life of the church, of the body of Christ, with attending, giving, and serving.
Thinking about the natural human body gives a good example. Every part of the natural human body is present as part of the whole, it serves a certain part of the whole, as well as receives from the whole. The heart pumps the blood. Oxygen is given to the heart via the lungs and blood cells that carry oxygen. The nerves and muscles and organs function together. None function in isolation. As a matter of fact, if a body part is removed, that part dies, it cannot live on its own. If God directs a person to a certain church, the life found in giving and serving, and receiving, will be there.
Regardless of whether someone “feels” that they can “make it on their own” without church, God’s viewpoint is the one that prevails. His ways are higher than our ways, his thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8,9). God’s thoughts and ways are found throughout the Word of God. Life is found in obedience to the Word of God.
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