I recently read an interview with the outgoing surgeon general of the United States, and he noted in that discussion the ongoing epidemic of loneliness in the US. In fact, he wrote in a 2023 health advisory, “Loneliness is far more than just a bad feeling—it harms both individual and societal health. It is associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death.”[i]
While I appreciate the government’s efforts to address this issue, it seems to me that the church has a primary role to play here. Of all organizations, the local body of Christ ought to be central in helping lonely people find relationships, belonging, and meaning. I am concerned, though, that most congregations probably are not thinking much about that responsibility.
Instead, we go through our routines and motions, loving the people who attend church with us but not often considering those
