Noreena Hertz is a compelling thinker/writer, and in the midst of the pandemic, she published her book The Lonely Century. I’m suspecting she did most of her work on this pre-COVID, and her published paused to let her adapt her prior research to incorporate learnings from lockdown.
Among the many compelling observations she makes, I appreciate the following quote where she discusses how community (conceivably the antidote of loneliness) can actually make people more isolated.
“It is important not to overly romanticize community. By definition communities are exclusive and as such can be both excessively insular and antagonistic toward outsiders. Often they don’t permit difference or nonconformity, whether we’re talking different interests, nontraditional family structures, or alternative beliefs or lifestyles . . . those who don’t adhere to the community’s norms can find that excommunication can be both brutal and brutally swift.”
It was tough to read this and not think of application to the church.
A popular talking point of many of my minister friends is whether people will return to the pews after the pandemic. While I believe they will, the more important question is this: are churches willing to make space for those who don’t quite fit in?
If a spiritual revival is to emerge from this pandemic, it will come from a search for authentic community. While the church has historically offered this, most recently, many American congregations have opted for isolation rather than inclusion.
You don’t need to lose your soul to open up your arms.