Can you make it on your own?

Being a Christian can be a lonely road. We all have our own personal battles to fight and to overcome, although the victories are often the result of a team effort. But the resolve and the effort and the fortitude has to be your own. I often wonder if we can make it on our own. If there wasn't someone out there praying for us, or advising us or guiding us, could we make it? I'm sure we could, as God makes provisions for all His children, and I'm sure there are people we don't even know who make regular prayers for all the saints.

So, ultimately, although we may be alone in person, we are never really alone. And what's more, God said He would never leave or forsake us.

That said, should Christians seek to fellowship with others professing to be Christians as a matter of great importance? And if so should this be in the context of "church"? I ask this because I know many churches today have issues that some believers feel they can do without, and prefer to avoid, whether they be doctrinal or otherwise. In such circumstances should Christians still try to join in fellowship and solve perceived problems from within, or are we justified in separating ourselves from particular fellowships under such circumstances?

Personally, I can accept that churches have their problems as they are inhabited by people who are subject to human weaknesses just as I am, but my concern is whether the spirit of God is operating in that place, and whether the people that I depend upon to pray for me and help me fight my battles are subject to the spirit of God, rather than to the flesh or worse still to some false spirit masquerading as God.

It's so very important, and being a "better safe than sorry", "if in doubt, leave it out" kind of person when it comes to spiritual matters, I've tended to shy away from congregations I'm not sure of. I've visited a few bracing myself against any rabbish and in the end grew tired of looking for that glowing city on a hill.

Well, after some encouragement from friends, I've decided that today I'm going to give it another try, I know it's citizens are out there somewhere :-)