There is a steady migration of people to the cities, attracted by increased job/educational opportunities and better standards of living. The busy schedules in the life for some result in the lack of relationships. Slowly it develops into a kind of withdrawal from life and society. It means withdrawal from self, from others, from families and kinship clusters, from nature and from God. These in turn result in loneliness.
The word ‘loneliness’ is commonly used today -the meaning of the word is to ‘feel sad’. Psychiatrist Paul Tournier said that, ‘loneliness is the most devastating malady of this age.’ Loneliness affects people of every age, sex, social standing etc. Loneliness is a universal problem. It looks like a part of life. Those who are not in fellowship with each other, feel loneliness.
Loneliness can be caused due to variety of reasons, illustratively: Some times the person’s loneliness is linked with fear. Man fears one another; fears of being crushed in life, being misunderstood, etc. Some keep distance from people because of their irritability. Some are lonely because they have high expectation of others and when people disagree, they are nervous and become alienated. At times people lack knowledge of how to go about making friends. Some time people think that life is a ‘battle’ every one else is a rival and there is no place for friendship. They are not concerned about others or have no time to think about others. God does not want man to be alone God created man for fellowship with Him and with one another. ‘It is not good that the man should be alone: I will make him a helper fit for him’ (Gen.2:18). God has created us as social creatures.
As social creatures we naturally have the desire and capacity for fellowship and this is necessary to remove loneliness. God remind us through scripture that man should have good relationship with one another. What can the church do? The problem of loneliness often has two dimensions – divine and human. The problem arises because the person does not have or maintain a proper relationship with God, which in turn results in poor relationship with oneself and others. ‘Jesus came to this world to serve and not to be served’ (Mk.l0:45). In Christian ministry not only pastors but also all the Christians have responsibility to serve others. It is to touch the life of individuals and also of society, it is to give hope in a hopeless situation.
Awareness and acknowledgment of the problems of the people in cities is the starting point. Some ways to help are: Pray Prayer is very important. Pray for the people who suffer from loneliness. Prayer has power to change the lives of the people. Participate Know people those who are suffering with loneliness and identifying with them is necessary. Without knowing the person, the church cannot do any thing for them. Personally know the person and identifying with his problem that builds good relationship. Visiting the person helps to build good relationship and assists the person to open up their deep feelings.
Psychologist says that counseling means ‘listening to the people in pain’, ‘comforts the people in suffering’ or ‘enabling them to understand problems and helping them to reconcile within themselves. They need love and care from others Preach Share the Word of God with them. Through your sharing you are conveying the message of God. It brings comfort in their lives. The Church in doing this will build a new community with hope and relationship with God. It helps to liberate them from guilt feeling and provide psychological relief. The call is for the church to respond immediately and effectively.
Author: Rev. Joseph V. Miller is an M. Th. department of Missiology.
About the Author
