Friend, if you are struggling with loneliness and rejection, be not afraid. Jesus experienced deep loneliness and isolation, too. He walked the journey that you are now walking. Jesus was rejected and chased out of His own hometown (Luke 4:16-30) and abandoned by His closest friends. (Luke 22:54-62) “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3) But He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows! (Isaiah 53:4) By His blood, you have been saved! Yes, you! Regardless of what you have done or what you will do. When it seems like the world rejects you and is bleak, Jesus invites us to sit at His dinner table. Come on in, friend.
Jesus Saves Us Into A Community
The oft-repeated Lord’s Prayer begins like this: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.” (Matthew 6:9 KJV) Do you notice anything just absolutely remarkable about this line? There is so much to say here, but for now, I’d like to draw your attention to the first two words: “Our Father.” The Bible says that when you pray, go “into your room and shut the door” (Matthew 6:6) and then say … “Our Father.” But, if we are praying alone, where is this “Our” coming from? We are called to pray “Our Father” because Jesus saves us individually and into a community with other Christians. You are not alone. And with our increasing isolation and negativity in the social media age, this community may be the exact answer we need for our loneliness epidemic.
Encouraging, Vulnerable, Committed Community
The number of people experiencing mental health challenges is increasing. [1] Meanwhile, Americans are reporting having historically low numbers of close friends, and most do not receive emotional support from a friend during the average week. [2] The Bible has just the answer for these problems—Jesus saves us into an encouraging, vulnerable, committed community.
Three Components of Biblical Community
First, we are saved into a Christian community, a global church, that will help “restore” us with a “spirit of gentleness.” (Galatians 6:1) This is to encourage us so that we can build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Second, we need not be afraid to reveal our transgressions, our faults, and our iniquities. Rather, we are called to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) To bear one another’s burdens, we must know one another’s burdens. We must know what’s actually going on in each other’s lives. This is admittedly tough, and being vulnerable is hard. But, in doing so, we can take heart in discovering a community that actually understands the real us.
And finally, not just any community. A “household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). Generally, we don’t just abandon our households and our families. Despite the growing pains, our differences, and our conflicts, we stick with them. Jesus calls us into a heavenly community that will stick with us, too. Yes, despite our flaws, Yes, you.
Conclusion
Today, let’s radically reimagine what a Christian community can be. Perhaps the answer to our loneliness has been Jesus and His church all along. Are you ready to take the plunge, or are you still hesitant and unsure? Come and see for yourself. 🙂
I pray that this month the Lord would fill you with all joy and peace in believing, and that you would feel the gentle and loving embrace of an encouraging, vulnerable, and committed Christian community.
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References
[1] Gramlich, John. “Mental Health and the Pandemic: What U.S. Surveys Have Found.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 2 Mar. 2023, www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/03/02/mental-health-and-the-pandemic-what-u-s-surveys-have-found/.
[2] Cox, Daniel A. “The State of American Friendship: Change, Challenges, and Loss.” The Survey Center on American Life, 7 Apr. 2022, www.americansurveycenter.org/research/the-state-of-american-friendship-change-challenges-and-loss/.
