GERALD COWAN’S PERSONAL PERIODICALS
Number 605 • January 15, 2021
UNCOMFORTABLE PROBLEMS THE CHURCH NEEDS TO TALK ABOUT, 2 — LONELINESS
A visitor or member may walk into a church assembly alone and leave alone, without any real contact and nothing that could be called fellowship. Loneliness is not a one-sided problem, it is multifaceted and requires a balanced approach if any solution for it is to be found. Sometimes when one walks into a church assembly or meeting he feels the need to “put on a different face,” an “I belong here too” face, in order to appear to be or pretend to be something expected by others but which requires covering up or pretending not to be the person he really consciously is, an outsider, a misfit. One may really want to fit in, may feel the need to fit in and may try to appear to fit by joining in, mouthing the same words and doing the same as others do in worship but feeling like a pretender, a hypocrite. He knows that the God he cannot see is present and can look into him in ways no one else can, listening to his thoughts and reading even the intentions of his heart and mind, knowing he is pretending, ashamed and afraid to be known, afraid he will be found out exposed and rejected as a misfit. The same “put on a Christian face” happens at other times too. He visits or is visited by other Christians, he encounters the preacher or an elder or any member of the church on the street or in the market and must quickly deny himself and put on the mask of community, identity, or fellowship. He cannot allow himself to be seen without his “Christian face” firmly in place. He covers his imperfections, he hides his questions, doubts and uncertainties, insecurities and fears. He feels like a daffodil among orchids, fearing though not wanting exposure, rejection, and removal. In the midst of a crowd of others he feels alone. Continue reading →
#geraldcowan, #loneliness