“While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.”
Luke 24:15
Quite a few studies now out, revealing the reality of social isolation. It seems more and more people are veering away from social contact. A Duke University study found that Americans are choosing to become more solitary than ever. Many are eschewing all relations all together. This is a problem.
I’ve seen some of the statistics– fully 25% of people have no relationships at all, and something like 50% have no relationships outside of their spouse and children. This disturbing trend is building momentum. In 1985 the figure was just 15%.
I think that a lot of pressure may be coming from the internet, although Facebook and Twitter have reconfigured social connections. Longer work hours, the iPod and Blackberry, chat rooms and cable TV contribute to the move away from human contact.
The commute time is also a factor. For every 10 minutes stuck in traffic there is roughly a 10% drop in social relationships. So if you have a bad commute on I-80 you are more likely not to want to have a friend over.
Hundred years ago our society was far more geared for personal contact. People would regularly visit each other. Neighbors knew each other. There were parlor games and dinners. Music recitations and skits. Card parties. Television and radio had not yet grabbed the countries psyche. Sociologists and anthropologists confirm that our history was deep in contact with each other. We were not built for solitary living.
With community life disappearing people are turning to online relationships. Our churches are trying to adapt, as even Christians are not connecting like they should. I have been out in the Alaskan bush villages, and the older generation is frustrated because the younger generation seems to be in trouble. “They don’t pick berries, or hunt; all they do is sit in front of the TV playing Nintendo, or their laptops.”
We need fellowship with others, and God as well. There are very few solitary believers.
I guess the biggest issue of all is mental illness. Social isolation is a direct antagonist of depression and other disorders. In order to get better, people must reach out and connect. There is no substitute, no other option.
I see the shift in my own life. I have dropped back about 80% of my Dish Network. I am seeking to back off of being online 6-8 hours a day. I am trying to be around flesh & blood as often as possible. I am personally trying to consciously maximize that time. It keeps me healthier.
To be healthier, we think its physical. We have our gym memberships and we run on the treadmill. That is good. But I’m thinking we are losing out if we don’t workout socially (and spiritually) as well. Christians are a special species; we need fellowship with others, and God as well. There are no solitary believers.
“This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.”
1 John 3:11, NLT
Related articles
- Your Facebook Friends Are Mainly From High School (businessinsider.com)
- A Portrait Of Who Uses Social Networks In The U.S. (And How Social Media Affects Our Lives) (searchengineland.com)
- Report: Facebook users more trusting, engaged (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
- Loneliness and Depression Are Best Friends, https://brokenbelievers.com/2010/01/26/when-loneliness-meets-depression/ (Broken Believers.com)
Broken Believers 