The Epidemic of Loneliness and What That Means for the Church
According to a 2023 report from the U.S. Surgeon General, there is an epidemic of loneliness in the United States.
Even before the COVID-10 pandemic, approximately 50% of adults in the United States reported experiencing significant levels of isolation and loneliness. Furthermore, studies have shockingly revealed that lacking connection, the root of loneliness, can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
This is absolutely stunning to me.
The Surgeon General further stated that across age groups, people are spending less time with each other in person than two decades ago and this is most pronounced in young people aged 15-24 who had 70% less social interaction with their friends. Apparently many of us, and in particular young people, now use social media as a replacement for in-person relationships, resulting in lower-quality connections.
Quality connections are being replaced by electronic pixels resulting in a significant increase in loneliness, isolation, and depression.
It is important to say that loneliness is more than a feeling of being alone or by yourself for a period of time.
It is a subjective feeling of social separation or estrangement from meaningful people. Loneliness often leads to distress resulting in a belief that if I somehow disappeared tomorrow no one would notice.
To me this is incredibly sad stuff. But because we are church wellness advocates, it goes without saying that there is a vital link between healthy churches and the loneliness epidemic. How can (and do!) healthy churches respond to this loneliness epidemic? How do we help people find a place in our churches where they belong and are loved?
What would happen if our churches cultivated a culture of connection as a way to reach and care for others? I’m not talking about a culture that says “We are glad you visited and hope you want to be a part of us” but rather a welcoming culture that takes a different posture and says “We are so thankful you honored us with your presence. We really want to get to know you and serve you. We hope you feel like this is a place you can belong.”
How does your church help members and guests to connect? To feel like they belong in this church family? Stay tuned as we discuss this vital topic in our upcoming podcast.
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