{"id":876,"date":"2024-03-14T20:28:30","date_gmt":"2024-03-15T03:28:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandilangston.com\/?p=876"},"modified":"2024-07-25T14:36:57","modified_gmt":"2024-07-25T21:36:57","slug":"cure-for-loneliness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandilangston.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/14\/cure-for-loneliness\/","title":{"rendered":"The Cure for Loneliness"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019d think that in 2024 – when we are are connected to one another than ever – loneliness would be a thing of the past. Yet it is one of the top complaints of our society, even amongst Christians. According to a Meta-Gallup survey, last year 27% of young adults 19 to 29 years old across 142 countries reported feeling \u201cvery lonely\u201d or \u201cfairly lonely.\u201d<\/p>\n

We are relational beings<\/b><\/h2>\n

As humans we are primarily relational beings. We exist in relationship to God, ourselves, and one another, but the fall of humanity disrupted everything, including these relationships. Yes, God is with us all the time, but we also need one another.<\/p>\n

Simply put, loneliness is due to a lack of fellowship. Not just any companionship or friendship, but specifically Christian (or Biblical) fellowship (Greek, koinonia)<\/i>.<\/p>\n

Just because we hang out with people all the time does not mean that we have rich fellowship. I can think of several times I, as a Christian, have hung out with other Christians and walked away feeling empty. This is because we did not experience Christian fellowship during our time together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at Christian fellowship before we consider loneliness regarding our bodies, souls, and spirits.<\/p>\n

Christian Fellowship\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

The fellowship described in the Bible goes beyond simply gathering together or \u201ca friendly feeling between those who share an interest.\u201d Christian fellowship is a unity in relationship that comes from the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14). We belong to one another because of the grace of God.<\/p>\n

To have Christian fellowship we must be\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. In right relationship with God, i.e. we trust in Jesus for our salvation, and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. \u201cWalking in the light\u201d i.e. confessing our sin. John reminds us that \u201cif we claim to have fellowship with [God] and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.\u00a0<\/b>But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin\u201d (1 John 1:6-7).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Beyond those two requirements, Christian fellowship may include several facets:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n