Recently, I have seen a wide range of articles and heard reports on what some have called an “epidemic of loneliness” in our society, especially among the elderly, youth, and young adults. So many theories about the causes of this widespread problem can be found; however, regardless of the causes (and I believe there are many contributing factors), the reality is that many people live too much in isolation from others and find it difficult to risk building new relationships of depth and caring. Fear and distrust cause some people to live in self-protecting silos. Previous wounds, rejections, and insecurities inhibit some from “putting themselves out there” with new acquaintances. It becomes easier for some people to settle for virtual relationships that can be kept at a safer, less vulnerable level and superficial interactions that cannot move to a point of true friendship.

Too often in my ministry I met people who had been wounded in churches, who had not found the support they needed in times of grief or personal failure or heartache. That is not what Jesus meant His church to be. If, as Jesus insisted, the most important commandments are to love God and to love neighbor as self, then churches that follow Jesus are to be places where wounded spirits find healing, lonely souls find true fellowship (what scripture calls koinonia), and lonely people discover caring spirits.

One reality I have discovered is that persons who consistently practice generosity with their financial resources also tend to be caring and generous-hearted in their relationships, practicing true hospitality and empathy for others. I have read some commentators who actually demean the idea of empathy; but if we cannot be sensitive to the hurts and needs of others, how can we take on the spirit of Jesus and become more Christlike in our relationships?

The attractive power of the first Christians is described in Acts 2:42-47. When you read those verses, it is obvious that they followed Jesus in how they cared for one another, how they used their resources to help one another, and to live out Jesus’ teachings about relationships and true koinonia. They were generous, loving, and supportive. The result was a movement that changed the world in remarkable ways.

As we move further into a time of widespread loneliness, anxiety, and distrust, let us resolve to be more like those early Jerusalem Christians and reflect the command to love, to live lives of generosity and kindness, to care for the most vulnerable around us, and to offer true relationships that combat the epidemics of loneliness, isolation, and fear.

Serving you, serving with you,