I have talked with people who said that they believed in God but did not believe that a person had to become a member of an organized religion to be a Christian and/or a good person. Many who have that attitude feel a structured program, such as a church, is rigid and inflexible and tends to pressure their members into being something that they are not. They feel that a Christian attitude should be natural, that we should do good because we are good, and we don’t need anyone telling us what to do and how to do it.
That way of thinking reminds me of the oft-told story about the twigs, when alone, they break easily, but when a bunch is wrapped together they may be unbreakable in a human’s hand. Too, within a structured church setting there is mutual support, sharing of knowledge and testimony that strengthens not only the testifier, but all those who listen. The Apostle Paul taught that: “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:” (Ephesians 2:19-21) “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive…” (Ephesians 4:11-15)
Only within Christ’s church can we avoid being tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine. Only within the church can we be lead by Apostles and Prophets and the Priesthood of God and come to a unity of the faith. Only within the church may we become perfected men and women; that is why the Lord gave us the organization—for our perfection.
Alone, is one likely to go looking for the hungry, the ill, the poor widow? Not likely, but in the organization of the church we collectively know who they are. Whether assigned or on our own, a member will know who needs his help. That help is encouraged and blessed through the Priesthood or the Relief Society. Structure provides a unified, informed, dedicated front to assist those needing assistance. It is faith promoting to observe fellow saints engaged in good causes; it is motivating to be moving forward in knowledge and good works in the fellowship of the saints.
I am a self motivated person, and yet I feel that I could never, would never, have been involved in so many good causes as I feel I have been, if it were not for the organization of the church. I joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after having read the Book of Mormon. The book itself is a testament of Jesus Christ and the work that He was called to do as the Son of God. His church, as He established it, during the meridian of time has been restored to the earth in these last days with all of the original structure properly fit together to perfect the saints of the Latter Days.
Yes, some may spend the Sabbath in the woods admiring nature and observing God’s creations, yet, they are not testifying of Him. He organized His church for a reason. Will a person counsel the Lord by saying, “I Have no need of your church?” I am happy to say that I, an independent thinker, am a member of His church and will serve as I am called by the Priesthood leadership thereof. I, too, will hopefully do many things of my own free will in furthering His work here in the earth. I will testify of Him at every chance because I know that this is His work. We can come to the Father and gain Eternal Life, only through the Son. The one who atoned for us.
There is strength and accomplishment in numbers that is seldom seen in individual effort and causes.