| How's your social capital?Huh?, you | | | | in knowledge of the Lord through Bible study, |
| ask.That's the term the academics use for | | | | prayer and application.For most, application |
| friends. Or how connected you are to other | | | | means reaching out and helping others, beyond |
| people. the sad fact of the matter is that | | | | their immediate circule of friends. Many |
| most of us have very few people who we can | | | | groups have regular outreach projects during |
| count on to lend a helping hand or a shoulder | | | | the year. There is no shortage of needs. |
| to cry on when we need them.You were not made | | | | Working at a food pantry, babysitting for |
| to go it alone.God created us for | | | | single Moms, mentoring school kids and |
| relationships with others.Have you ever | | | | visiting the sick in hospitals are just a few |
| realized that four of the Ten Commandments | | | | ideas.Interpersonal relationships bring |
| deal with our relationship to God while the | | | | balance to life. And the best such |
| remaining six deal with our relationship to | | | | relationships are when we make connect with |
| each other. All 10 are about | | | | others in a basic Christian community.That's |
| relationships.The most important relationship | | | | the small group.If you were to count them all |
| is a personal relationship with our heavenly | | | | up, the New Testament has over 50 references |
| Father through His Son Jesus Christ . But we | | | | to how Christians are to be connected in |
| are also supposed to be connected to | | | | friendship and fellowship. Bible scholars |
| others."Bowling Alone "is the title of a | | | | call them the "one another" passages. For |
| popular book from a few years ago that talked | | | | example, we're commanded to "love one |
| about how we in the United States have become | | | | another", to "pray for one another" and to |
| a nation of loners.This is not good. Doctors | | | | "build up one another".It's clear from the |
| tell us that loneliness is a major health | | | | Bible that God wants us to be in regular, |
| problem. A Boston Globe story on the issue | | | | close fellowship with each other. But such |
| reported recently that people who are | | | | relationships are often the first to be |
| socially isolated like this but otherwise | | | | sacrificed to our busy schedules.This doesn't |
| healthy are twice as likely to die as those | | | | make sense. For relationships, not wealth or |
| who have friends. A similar study fund that | | | | prestige or the accumulation of material |
| isolated men are up to 25% more likely to die | | | | things, are what matters most in life. |
| of all causes at any age versus non -isolated | | | | |
| men. The odds for women are 33%.George | | | | Now listen. That is just plain wrong. That |
| Callup's organization says Americans are | | | | is sinful. And I say this on the authority of |
| among the loneliest people on earth, with | | | | the Bible.In Matthew 22:36-40. "Jesus said, |
| more than a third saying they fell isolated | | | | 'Love the Lord your God with all your |
| and alone.But George Gallup tells us | | | | heart...soul...and mind. This is the first |
| something else, something he personally | | | | and greatest commandment. And the second is |
| discovered that he says is "profoundly good | | | | like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All |
| news." Let me quote him:"I want to report to | | | | the Law and Prophets hang on these two |
| you now on a trend that may be contributing | | | | commandments.' "That's called the Great |
| to a transformation of America. You will not | | | | Commandment.In Matthew 28:19-20. "Jesus said, |
| read about this trend in our daily newspapers | | | | 'Go and make disciples of all nations, |
| or on television, yet it is a powerful | | | | baptizing them in the name of the Father and |
| undercurrent in our society that, I believe, | | | | of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and |
| gives us cause for encouragement about the | | | | teaching them to obey everything I have |
| future! This trend could be described as a | | | | commanded you.' "That's called the Great |
| sociological and spiritual phenomenon: | | | | Commission.Both of those commandments |
| Americans on a massive scale are | | | | emphasize relationships.Here's the bottom |
| rediscovering each other, and coming together | | | | line: You cannot be the mature believer God |
| regularly in small nourishing support groups, | | | | intend unless you get involved with people. |
| many with a spiritual dimension."The news | | | | You will stagnate. It is unbiblical not to be |
| Gallup discovered is so profound that he has | | | | connected with others. Pastor Rick Warren in |
| now basically retired from his survey | | | | big Purpose Driven Life Book said it this |
| company's day-to-day leadership and has | | | | way: "If you are too busy to be connected you |
| devoted the remaining part of his life to the | | | | are too busy."Clearly, we must make friends a |
| development and encouragement of small | | | | priority if we are going to be obedient to |
| groups. George Gallup, in case you didn't | | | | God.it's a matter of friendship. We all need |
| know, is a devout Christian.Small groups are | | | | to have friends and we need to be a friend to |
| all about relationships. And that's something | | | | others. It's a Biblical imperative.Are you |
| that Jesus teaches in the Bible that we are | | | | connected in a small group? If not, join one. |
| to develop and nurture. | | | | Just contact your church office to find out |
| | | | how. And if they don;t have a small group |
| Jesus said our love for each other is to be | | | | ministry, why not volunteer to start one?The |
| our witness to the world.There is nothing | | | | author is the publisher of the Online |
| intimidating about a Christian small group. | | | | Christian Shopper ( a shopping site |
| They're a lot like families. Think of them as | | | | specializing in Christian T-Shirts and |
| a group of friends who meet regularly to | | | | Christian jewelry. |
| support and encourage one another and to grow | | | | |