Can anyone really say this sister did not love Jesus.......

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A  brother on SI recently made the following statements below on another thread.
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If a person is not part of local Church but claims to be part of an imaginary universal church then he is deceived. Truth is not in him

Now does he really belong to the Body Of Christ? Even though he is not part of a local Church? Absolutely not. Calling him a body of Christ means he is an organ in Christ. How can an organ exist alone? Can an eye or ear or even heart exist alone? Not At ALL. Then how is there a concept of a believer being part of a body remain alone? 

I believe people who are not part of local Church are those who do NOT LOVE JESUS at all.
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Please read the following testimony below of a dear sister martyred in Saudi Arabia.
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A Martyr’s Final PoemBy: John Ankerberg Show

By: Tom Doyle; ©2013Jesus is awakening the Muslim world through dreams and visions. Tom Doyle, shares with us how Muslims are coming to faith in Christ and are being killed because of their profession of faith. He shares the story of Fatima, a woman in Saudi Arabia and her final words before she died as a martyr.

In Program 2 of How is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World?, special guest Tom Doyle shares the story or Fatima, a woman in Saudi Arabia who came to faith in Christ and was killed by her brother (a member of the secret police) as a result of her profession. Just before she dies she writes a poem to share with the world.

Doyle: You know Fatima, when we look back over the course of her life, she really looks like someone that you would read about in Hebrews 11, the hall of faith. What a woman of God! She grew up in the religion of Islam, was not satisfied, could not connect with God. And in her 20s she has a job; she’s finished college; and she starts to search on the Internet and she comes across some Christian sites and starts to hear more about Jesus. She’s fascinated about this phenomenon of Muslims having dreams about Jesus. She’s even praying that she would have one, but she’s dialoguing on the Internet back and forth with people that have experienced Jesus, that have fallen in love with Him, have committed their lives to Him and are willing to die for Him. And over time she realizes the truth as she reads the Word of God, pieces of it, on the Internet: "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.” It was powerful in Fatima’s life. She comes to faith in Christ and is being discipled on the Internet.

Now, John, she was never able to attend a local church, but yet she grew in her faith with her spiritual family that she connected with around the world. She even sent out blogs under different names.

Meanwhile she has a brother that works for the secret police. She lives in a very, very strong fundamental city in Saudi Arabia. And often times, as happens with Muslims that come to faith in Christ, something tips off their family. Something gives them away. And it was her countenance. See, the fruit of the Spirit comes in. Paul says in Ephesians that the Spirit comes in at salvation, and that love, joy and peace was seen on her expression. Her brother didn’t like it, started to investigate in her computer when she was gone at work one day, and found out several Christian sites. And when she came home for dinner that night he confronted her, and he said, "Are you a Christian?” And she said, "I’m following Jesus if that’s what you mean.” And he said, "Because you’ve said that, you have two hours. Give me your cell phone. You’re not allowed to call anyone. Go to your room and in two hours I’m going to kill you, and the family will be present.”

She gives the cell phone. She goes to her room. But he didn’t take her computer and she wrote a final poem and sent it out over the Internet. It’s a martyr’s final poem. And what amazes me, John, is this is a woman that had not walked with Jesus that long, but looked at death square in the face and said, "I’m not afraid.” She said, "Your swords, they do not concern me. I’m not afraid because Jesus, my Messiah, is my protector. He’s the Lord of the world.” Two hours later her brother came in, took her out in the street, did terrible things to her, killed her in public view.

And, you know, you look at that life, that short life that she lived for Jesus, and what an impact she made as that poem went literally around the world. And this young little sweet girl that grew up in Islam, that found Jesus, within months of her faith in Christ was ready to die for Him. And she did. This is a hero of our faith. With all that was around her, all the threat, all that she knew would probably eventually take her life, but she walked with Jesus with a passion. She never looked back. That’s what God can do in the life of a Muslim once they’re willing to take the risk to follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior and make the break. And she did; she’s one of these women that you just one day in heaven want to meet, and really hear the full story.

A Martyr’s Final Poem
by Fatima

May the Lord Jesus guide you, 0 Muslims, and enlighten your hearts that you might love others. We do not worship the cross, and we are not insane. We worship the Lord Jesus, the light of the world.We left Muhammad, and we are no longer on his path. We follow Jesus the Messiah, the clear truth. And truly we love our homeland, and we are not traitors. We take pride that we are Saudi citizens. How could we betray our homeland and our dear people?? How could we, when for death for Saudi, we are ready???The homeland of my grandfathers and their glories are for which I am writing these odes. And we say, "Proud, proud, proud we are to be Saudis.” We chose our way, the way of the guided. And every man is free to choose which religion.Be content to leave us alone to be believers in Jesus. Leave us to live in grace until our time comes. My tears are on my cheek and, oh! The heart is sad for those who became Christians, how you are so cruel!And the Messiah says: "Blessed are the persecuted.” And we for the sake of Christ all things bear. What is it to you that we are infidels?Enough-your swords do not concern me, nor evil, nor disgrace. Your threats do not trouble me, and we are not afraid. And by God, I am unto death a Christian-verily I cry "for what passed by of a sad life. I was far from the Lord Jesus for many years.Oh History, record and bear witness, Oh witnesses! We are, Christians-in the path of Christ we tread.Take from me this word, and note it well. You see Jesus is my Lord, and He is the Best of Protectors.I advise you to pity yourself, to clap your hands in mourning. See your ugly hatred look.Where is the humanity, the love, where are you?As to my last words, I pray, to the Lord of the worlds.Jesus is the Messiah, the Light of clear Guidance. That He changes notions, and sets the scales of justice aright.And that He spread Love among you, Oh Muslims.
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This dear sister was not a member of a local church. It was impossible for her to be a member of a local church because of the nation and the hostile environment she lived in. Her fellowship came from the internet through online Christian forums with other Arab believers.

This dear sister showed her love for Jesus by paying the ultimate price. Can anyone really say this precios saint did not love Jesus because she was not a member of a local church?

Bro Blaine 

There are, of course, a thousand different circumstances around the world and for the last two thousand years why brothers and sisters were not or could not be part of a local gathering, but of course they were very much a part of the Body of Christ or the universal church, what a beautiful thing. It would be kinda like saying some one was not saved because they were not water baptized, despite circumstances, then of course we would have to consign the thief on the cross to hell.

Jesus saves. Not having membership in a local gathering. That has to do with sanctification not salvation(justification) Rigid statements like the one you quoted have no place in loving communications. When we discuss issues with each other, it is not a competition to win, it is family members discussing their thoughts with other family members.

"If a person is not part of local Church but claims to be part of an imaginary universal church then he is deceived. Truth is not in him." I wonder if he means "The Truth," as in Jesus or he simply means that he disagrees with them in which case it is a very unfortunate choice of words because when most saints refer to "The Truth," they are referring to Jesus..................bro Frank

/// If a person is not part of local Church but claims to be part of an imaginary universal church then he is deceived. Truth is not in him." I wonder if he means "The Truth," as in Jesus or he simply means that he disagrees with them in which case it is a very unfortunate choice of words because when most saints refer to "The Truth," they are referring to Jesus.///

Frank I do not know what our brother means or how he defines truth in the above statement. I suppose he will have to come on this thread and clarify what he meant.

But I do agree that making such rigid statements is not loving. And making such rigid statements does not do justice to preciius saints as in the case of the sister I posted about. Many of our brothers and sisters in restricted nations are not able to be members of a local body. Even a secret body that meets underground.

There are secret churches that meet in parts of Saudi Arabia. But they are not accessible to all followers of Jesus. Particular as would be the case of this sister. So spiritual fellowship is often derived through the internet. Presupposing the internet is available again to followers of Jesus. If no Fmfellowship is available. Then there is certainly the fellowship of Jesus dwelling in their hearts

It is easy for us on the west to sit in our arm chairs and behind our computer terminals or smart phones and pontificate that believers should be part of a local body to show their love for Jesus. But as in the case of this dear sister Fatima. She showed her love for Jesus by laying down her life for Him.

Our brothers and sisters in the shadow of the Cross have a far different reality of following Jesus then we in the west do.

But as usual my brother these are my thoughts. Do appreciate and agree with your comments period

Bro Blaine

Saints,

For believers to be seeking fellowship on an online website like SermonIndex shows a desire for fellowship that the Bible speaks of should be in the heart of any true believer. Of course as brethren have spoken of in this thread there are some times that we cannot find a local fellowship for a season.

I have met people who did not believe to go to any church and had fellowship only once every few years with a believer in "person" who he felt was a true brother. Though this sounds very spiritual, yet it is exclusiveness and pride, the problem was with the brother himself who felt he could only fellowship with someone he felt was good enough. There are millions of believers in Jesus Christ over the year rather near a billion, some are very weak in their faith yet they hold to Christ. When we start to narrow the field to the place where we are in any type of fellowship I believe this can be a very fiery trap of the enemy to keep us unfruitful and in bondage even to sins that we justify.

I would never encourage any new believer to not seek fellowship in a local church, though of course in our culture it is hard at times to find the right setting to be encouraged. Or where we fit in with our giftings into the body of Christ.

I fear even for myself at times the reasons why it is hard to have 100% fellowship in local settings can be my pride and not great love for others in the body of Christ, even Paul the Apostle had fellowship with very carnal churches and sought to be a loving help to them bearing-long.

I think the problem with anecdotal stories is that they are one in a million. I personally have never met anyone who thought they were too good to fellowship with others. I am not saying they are not out there, but it really has nothing to do with the case in hand. Fellowship, for a thousand reasons including the great falling away and apostacy and compromise can be exceedingly difficult to find. There are thousands of small towns all over America where there is just a handful of local churches and they are not welcoming to the saints.

The majority of people I have met who have withdrawn have so with great distress and anguish. The superiority argument simply becomes a straw man and a form of condemnation from many. God knows. Bottom line for me is that every genuine saint I have ever met, first and foremost loved Jesus, loved the Word and loved and desired fellowship. This I would same is normal Biblical Christianity. My own experience of over 20 years in local churches was that the vast majority of men had no fellowship at all with other men. They showed up on Sunday, maybe Wednesday, maybe Bible study, but this is not fellowship.

This is just coming together in a group. There is a vast difference between fellowship and coming together as a group. Women always seemed to fare much better in this department. I thank God that I myself have three wonderful Christian men that I spend several hours with every week. I dare say I am a very fortunate man. So many brothers I have met told me how delighted they would be if they only had one man to share with and be deep brothers in Christ with. Who they could confess to and confide in and speak to of their wonderful love for Jesus and His word.............bro Frank