The rallying cry from the ecumenical crowd today is that ?there is no such thing as a Lone Ranger Christian?, but we must ask, ?Is this true??
The term ?Lone Ranger Christian? is only a recent invention, certainly no older than its namesake, but only becoming well used since the 1990?s. I have not been able to trace the origination the term, but I do know it was coined as a reaction to the great exodus of Christians from the apostate visible church. It is to be noted that fellowship with others of the Bride of Christ is a good thing when available, but such a luxury has not always been afforded to the saints of God. Starting with the apostles, many have been imprisoned and isolated for various reasons, to say ?there is no such thing as a Lone Ranger Christian? is to say that it is not possible for these lonely martyrs to have been real Christians.
The term is meant to be derogatory, causing the believer to doubt their decision of separation from the error in the visible church. What those who use the term are really telling you is that Christ alone is not sufficient to ensure your salvation; you also must come under their umbrella for you to be able to survive as a Christian. This amounts to nothing other than popery repackaged, and ought not surprise us with the visible church now in a full gallop in its run towards Rome.
We will do well to look at the biblical examples of men of God who walked with God alone. Let?s start with Abel, whom his own brother killed because Abel?s faith was genuine and Cain?s was merely for show. Or maybe Enoch who ?walked with God: and he was not; for God took him?, yet leaving everyone else. Then there was Noah who ?walked with God? as he spent 100 years building the ark, for which only he and his family entered in; or Elijah who though there were seven thousand which had not bowed unto Baal, he himself was left alone. These are just a few, there are many others recorded in the Book.
Now you say these are only Old Testament examples, the church didn?t come about until the New Testament; fine, then I must meet you where you are at. There was John alone on the Isle of Patmos, Paul alone in prison, Luther alone as he came out of Rome, or John Bunyan who spent 15 years in prison at the hands of the Church of England and countless others for ecclesiastical oppression. Needless to say, genuine Christianity has more often than not found itself alone separated from the visible church. In fact, if you do a bit more searching you will find that in times of apostasy, believers ALWAYS found themselves alone, separated from the visible church. Since we are living in the time of the greatest apostasy, it means we ought to expect nothing other than to be alone with Christ.
To those whose religion is bound up in forms, leaving the visible church is akin to ensuring damnation, and yet the Bible commands separation from apostates, whether they are individuals (1 Cor 6:14-18), or a corporate body (Rev 18:4).
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Revelation 18:4?Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.