Our nation is experiencing a crisis of loneliness that the US Surgeon General has declared an epidemic. He’s written an extensive paper on the topic. Mental illness and substance abuse are also on the rise.
You know what’s on the decline?
Church attendance. It’s been declining for decades.
However, in a study conducted in December 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Gallup noted only one group of people noted an improvement in their mental health. It was those who attended church regularly!
One argument from those who are no longer affiliated with a house of worship will argue church is unnecessary for being a Christian, and I won’t debate it. I don’t believe there’s a chapter in the Book of Life that’s recorded your attendance record at worship services.
HOWEVER, the Apostle Paul exhorts us to be the Body of Christ, and it’s hard to be part of the body when you’ve amputated yourself. In 1 Cor 12:12-14, Paul beautifully describes the body and our role as individual members.
For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. (WEB).
Joining a church family has many benefits. Corporate teaching, worship, evangelism, and service are ways the body functions and blesses the church body, local community, and world. Simply put, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. You, as part of the body, have a contribution to make.
“But Kim, the church is full of hypocrites.”
I can’t argue this point. Broken, sinful, mean people fill the church.
So are the grocery store, sports stadiums, and movie theaters, but we keep going back for more. There is at least hope for those attending church that spiritual progress is possible.
I extend my heartfelt sympathy to those who have been hurt by a church, and I pray that you find a church home capable of healing those wounds and restoring your soul and spirit.
To anyone suffering from loneliness, isolation, or depression who is not actively part of a healthy church body, I implore you to find a church home. I can attest, from personal experience with a failed church plant, that going to a new church feels more awkward than a blind date. View services online, connect with potential attendees, or familiarize yourself with their website before entering.
Give the church an opportunity to put its best foot forward by calling ahead to introduce yourself and let them know you’re coming! Be prepared to visit multiple places until your spirit finds a home that can not only bless you, but will you allow you to bless others.
Finding a spiritual home that connects you to a family that supersedes DNA can be one of the greatest blessings you will ever receive and is a proven cure for feelings of isolation and loneliness.
We’ll discuss that more next week!
It’s not too late to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of my new book, “Made for Community: A Biblical Model to Activate Your Purpose.”
Get your copy here!