Age of Loneliness
By Lexi Cole Ellis
“…but if we
walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one
another…”
1 John 1:7a (NIV)
I read an intriguing article about
addiction yesterday. It was thought-provoking, and I found myself wrestling
with my own perceived notions and presumptions. But the point the article made was
aligned with Scripture beautifully.
The article talked about how we approach
addiction in our society, particularly in how we choose to address it based on
our understanding of it. The article claims that addiction is not just the
result of an exclusive need for a particular substance or a chemical hook,
though that can be a factor. Instead, it noted that the lack of, or the perceived
lack of, human connection is also a factor that feeds and fuels
addiction…and this may have even more of an impact than the chemical
composition of the substance. Johann
Hari writes:
“Human beings are bonding animals.
We need to connect and love. The wisest sentence of the twentieth century was
E.M. Forster’s - - ‘only connect.’ But we have created an environment and a
culture that cut us off from connection, or offer only the parody of it offered
by the Internet. The rise of addiction is a symptom of a deeper sickness in the
way we live - - constantly directing our gaze towards the next shiny object we
should buy, rather than the human beings all around us. The writer George
Monbiot has called this ‘the age of loneliness.' We have created human societies
where it is easier for people to become cut off from all human connections than
ever before.” [1]
We see this in story after story in Scripture.
God created Adam for relationship with Him, and then additionally created
another human because it was not good for Adam to “be alone.” David and
Jonathan were friends who sacrificed for each other and cared deeply for one
another. We see Paul’s deep relationships with each of the churches he wrote to
as he greeted them in his letters and wrote that he missed them.
While on earth, Jesus built relationships with
His disciples and followers, and He continually commanded us to love each
other. We are called to enter the vulnerability and messiness that comes with
intentional community. Loving is hard and certainly not always glamorous or
conflict-free. There is a cost.
But there is incredible joy that comes with
coming alongside each other and “doing life together.” It allows us to
experience and to be the tangible work of the Church. It also taps into our
specific design that God created. Today and every day, let’s be people that
reject the appeal of this “age of loneliness.”
GOING DEEPER:
1.
Take some time to reflect on your “community.” Is
your fellowship loving, healthy and life-giving? What needs to change?
FURTHER READING:
Lexi and her husband, Andrew, have
an adorable dog named Calvin and are expecting their first child in June 2018.
She teaches sixth grade Reading & Writing, serves with Children’s
Ministries, and is the Fresh Start Coordinator.
