It”s the theme for a whole semester”s chapel sessions, and I decided to make it the title for the sermon I”m preaching at that chapel today. But I made one small change.
“Connected” is the theme chosen by Bryan Sands, campus minister at Hope International University, Fullerton, California. I added a question mark for my one-word title, because some are saying our society is less connected now than ever.
Jacqueline Olds and Richard S. Schwartz, for example, have written a book called The Lonely American. The conclusion of these two Harvard Medical School psychiatry professors? “Our society is in the midst of a dramatic and progressive slide toward disconnection.”
They cite a 2004 Duke University study that found 25 percent of those surveyed had no one in their lives with whom they discussed important matters. This was three times more people than gave the same answer just 19 years earlier.
Then they pointed to the 2000 U.S. census that found one of four households consists of one person only. And this is a dramatic increase from the 1940 number, when only 7 percent were single-person households.
Steven Marche looked at social media, and Facebook in particular in an article published by The Atlantic. Bottom line: Facebook can make lonely people more lonely, but not everyone using Facebook is disconnected. Nevertheless, he looks at the vast networks of information instantaneously available to us and comes to this conclusion:
We live in an accelerating contradiction: the more connected we become, the lonelier we are. We were promised a global village; instead we inhabit the drab cul-de-sacs and endless freeways of a vast suburb of information.
The obvious sermon application is that Christians don”t have to face life alone. In fact, according to 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4, Christians are connected whether they realize it or not. We”re all a part of Christ”s body; he”s the head, and we each have our function to fulfill. Christians who feel alone are like an atrophied arm or a lazy eye””they don”t experience life and health and connection because they”re not exercising their gifts and doing their job.
But sometimes the local church doesn”t help. In fact, some commentators would say that the rise of the megachurch is its appeal to a disconnected population. As one wrote, some megachurch attendees “want to go to church, but do not want the social accountability that the small community requires of them.” Is it possible that the anonymity available inside a thousand-seat auditorium enables isolation?
I”m not sure. I do know plenty of churches, large and small, investing a great deal to help Christians connect. But that connection can”t be forced on someone; the individual must take the initiative. That”s one point I hope to drive home in that chapel sermon this morning.
Great insights, Mark, though some might take issue with the research you presented that we’re more disconnected socially. First of all a 2004 study is the SAME year that Facebook emerged on college campuses and the social media giant didn’t see a cultural tipping point until 2007. Second, who participated? Loneliness could be more reflective of generational attitudes. Every generation has a sociological affinity and some, like Boomers and G.I. Generations are more connected while others, like Gen X, have always been culturally and institutionally isolated. I would expect a cohort of Xers to say they feel lonelier.
I have long proposed that we have to redefine what community looks like in a cyber culture and if the Church won’t do it, the greater non-Christian culture will and has. The rise of social media created a global village where every person voluntarily journeys, as you well noted. Does Facebook make people more lonely? As compared to what? People were lonely 2000 years ago, 200 years ago and 20 years ago. If anything I think Facebook and other cyber-social media gives lonely people (who are lonely by circumstance, age and disability, not choice) a place to connect and find/rediscover relationship.
The problem with many congregations (small or mega) is they force community rather than let it happen naturally. I’m working with a Christian church here in Boise as a Connections leader. My only job on Sunday (and really every day) is to connect people and develop deeper friendships. I like to say I’m a “Sticky Pastor” because that’s all I do: stick people together, whether it’s fantasy sports leagues, Toastmaster Clubs, men’s fraternities or knitting clubs. Every situation is a spiritual community group, built on Grace, rich in enjoyable relationships that empower, affirm and create security. Some happen at the building while many do not. Some are deep Bible studies while others are affinity groups that mentor spiritual lifestyles. Some happen online and some do not.
Connection and community happens. It’s just happening differently in 21C.
Thanks for your comments, Rick. I encourage you and all readers to follow the link above to the article written by Steven Marche. His research affirms that Facebook may not MAKE us lonely, but it definitely CAN increase the loneliness of those who, already feeling isolated, retreat to Facebook for extended periods of time. His piece is much more nuanced (and much longer!) than mine, and I found it compellingly full of implications for the church.