Loneliness is a universal human experience, and it is getting worse as technology fills our lives with noise and "ease" devoid of relational interaction. Britain has recently recognized that their country is experiencing an epidemic of loneliness and has appointed a Minister for Loneliness, finding that loneliness can be deadlier than 15 cigarettes a day!
Our experiences of "church" often don't help our loneliness unless the vision and practices of the church are intentionally geared toward fostering relational connection - removing obstacles and nurturing genuine connection with others who share our trust in Christ. For many of us, engaging with church activities often makes loneliness worse, not better, because they fail to be intentional in such ways. How can we set a different course?
This past weekend I preached a message entitled, "Living in Trinitarian Community." My text for the morning was Ephesians 4:1-16.
My main point was that we need to have a broader vision for "church" (doing church, being the church, etc) if God's purpose for the church is to be realized. The vision of the life and work of the Trinity (Father, Son, Spirit) as they expand their giving/receiving love into the broken and sinful rubble of fallen humanity through Jesus Christ is what provides us sufficient experiences, resources and categories to find and cultivate life together. Though this "Trinitarian overflow of life" re-defines every sphere and activity of human life, here I only focused on some ways it can redefine church.
I hope that those who have been hurt by the church and wonder whether or not it's a "thing worth doing" might find hope here.
