And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42Nine of the thirteen New Testament books the Apostle Paul wrote were instructions to local, visible gatherings of God's people or churches. Three others were to pastors of local churches making twelve of thirteen letters directed to local, visible gatherings of God's people. Local churches are God's idea and He expects His people to immerse themselves in its body life. To simply attend, without sacrificial participation is to weaken the Gospel witness in our communities and contribute to the removing of salt and light from our culture. Such privatized and individualistic form of Christianity is foreign to the Bible and reveals a lack of understanding of God's intent for His people living in a fallen world.