Originally Posted by Tom
I personally know that when I am not involved in a local body, my spiritual life is hindered. Yet, I also know that how often I have been grieved when what is being preached isn't in keeping with what I believe.
I wanted to focus a bit on what you wrote above looking at what God has written on this subject, albeit briefly.

When one is not provided a solid biblical church;

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The marks by which the true Church is known are these: If the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein; if it maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ; if church discipline is exercised in chastening [1] of sin; in short, if all things are managed according to the pure Word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected, and Jesus Christ acknowledged as the only Head of the Church. Hereby the true Church may certainly be known, from which no man has a right to separate himself. [Belgic Confession, Article XXIX]
the spiritual life of the true believer wanes, albeit it is possible due to the present availability of resources to augment what is lacking and thus grow in grace at a slower rate. But what is more detrimental is to deliberately choose to put oneself under the administration of a false church. Scripture clearly shows that a professing believer's spiritual life not only exponentially suffers degradation but the possibility of one's faith dying is a real possibility.

Scripture is clear on what is the proper action one should take when faced with such circumstances, which, by the way are ordained by God. Psalm 1 provides both the positive and the negative in this regard:

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Psalms 1:1 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers:

2 But his delight is in the law of Jehovah; And on his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That bringeth forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also doth not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The wicked are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For Jehovah knoweth the way of the righteous; But the way of the wicked shall perish."
No professing believer is to voluntarily sit under the preaching/teaching of one who does not deliver the truth; the faith once delivered unto the saints.

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Galatians 1:6-9 (ASV) "I marvel that ye are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another [gospel] only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach unto you any gospel other than that which we preached unto you, let him be anathema. As we have said before, so say I now again, if any man preacheth unto you any gospel other than that which ye received, let him be anathema."
Paul is even more direct in the above passage and chastises those who turn their back on the truth and then anathematizes those who preach/teach a false gospel. As you well know, and as C.H. Spurgeon rightly taught, Calvinism is the gospel and thus all who spurn this teaching are guilty of promoting a false gospel from which no true faith can come.

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2 Peter 2:1-2 (ASV) "But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of."
Peter is quite explicit in his condemnation of false teachers and even reminds his readers of that which awaits them and all who follow their heresies, comparing them to the judgment God brought upon Sodom and Gomorrah. And on the positive side, Peter makes mention of Lot where he wrote:

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2 Peter 2:7-9 (ASV) "and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed [his] righteous soul from day to day with [their] lawless deeds): the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment;"
Lot had no affinity to the abominations that were being taught and practiced in those cities. In fact it is written that he was "sore distressed" and his very soul was "vexed from day to day". Righteous Lot was thus delivered from that place. He did not choose to remain there because of the problems that he might have faced which his wife might have brought upon him. No, there was no assimilation nor pragmatic reasoning with Lot. And should he have remained there (theoretically) he would have surely perished with the wicked, (cf. Ps 1).

And lastly, although MUCH more could be brought forth from God's Word, Paul's words to the Corinthian church I think sums it up succinctly in that he uses his own life and those who labored in like manner for the gospel and then in wisdom speaks of what is required of those who professed Christ there.

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2 Corinthians 6:1 "And working together [with him] we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain

2 (for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation):

3 giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed;

4 but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;

6 in pureness, in knowledge, in long suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned,

7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and [yet] true;

9 as unknown, and [yet] well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and [yet] possessing all things.

11 Our mouth is open unto you, O Corinthians, our heart is enlarged.

12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own affections.

13 Now for a recompense in like kind (I speak as unto [my] children), be ye also enlarged.

14 Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever?

16 And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you,

18 And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

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simul iustus et peccator

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