Micheal Hurlbert
In an age of social isolation, the church can be a place of hope and deep connection. The creation account in the book of Genesis shows that people need relationships.
God said, "It is not good for man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18). Every person needs a connection with others in order to thrive.
Many in our society are struggling to find this connection. Our culture has increasingly become more isolated as technological advances make it easier to stay home.
Though convenient, this shift has increased loneliness, causing people to feel disconnected and resulting in a lack of meaning.
The connections found within the local church can provide a cure for social isolation and the loneliness that follows. Christians are not called to live in seclusion.
To be a Christian is to be part of a larger community of believers called together for one purpose. The Bible uses the imagery of a body to make this point.
Paul writes, "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it" (1 Corinthians 12:27). A characteristic of believers is that they belong to a larger community. It is one in which each member depends on the other to care for their spiritual and physical health. The social responsibility within the church causes Christians to consider what they can do for others.
Paul writes, "Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds" (Hebrews 10:24). Encouraging others is not an individual task but requires being alert to people's needs, which demands social inclusion.
The church can offer more than simply a connection to people. Through the church and the gospel, people are reconciled to God. In Christ, each member of the church is joined together to become a dwelling in which God lives.
To be part of it is to be connected to him. The church is not perfect. In fact, it is made up of people who recognize their sinfulness. But, if you let it, the church will be a place of inclusion where a person will find deep connection and meaning.
Micheal Hurlbert is associate pastor at First Christian Church in Carson City.