Half of Us Are Lonely and Church Isn’t Helping
We are more connected than ever and yet strangely unknown. Many churches offer smiles, handshakes and crowded lobbies, but still leave people carrying private ache into empty homes. Jesus envisioned something deeper than polite acquaintance — a people who bear burdens, share meals, tell the truth and stay when life gets hard. The loneliness epidemic may be one of the clearest opportunities the church has to recover what it was always meant to be: a family where no one disappears unnoticed.
Bible Study And Church Attendance May Stem Loneliness
A new study highlights the power of Scripture and church attendance in combating loneliness, an epidemic likened to smoking 15 cigarettes a day in its toll on health. Those engaged with the Bible or attending church weekly report dramatically lower loneliness rates. With forgiveness and meaningful connections at its core, faith offers a tangible antidote to isolation, inviting a deeper sense of belonging and community in a disconnected world.
The Ground Beneath is Holy
The birds are too quiet for me to hear, with the nearby rush of traffic ... But I feel their song, the declaration of all creation: I am here; we are all here; all that is here belongs.
Why Don’t We Talk More About Loneliness?
Loneliness is not necessarily a state of depravity that requires a cure. Loneliness is not a sin or a weakness, even if the surgeon general calls it a disease. The eradication of loneliness is not always necessary or possible — or even desirable. Indeed, there is much to be learned from loneliness: companionship, prophecy, solidarity, fun and freedom — even creativity.