Reflection: Digital Connection vs. Real Community

Broadcast on Nevis Radio:

According to recent reports, loneliness is a public health crisis. It seems We have more ways to connect than ever – Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Facetime – yet 61% of young adults report feeling seriously lonely. 

Something’s missing in our digital connections. How many of your Facebook friends would you call in a crisis?

The early Christian church thrived because it offered genuine community in a dangerous, distressing and fragmented world. These were people on the fringes of society, under constant threat, ridiculed for their views. The Bible describes people praying together, sharing meals, supporting each other practically and emotionally. This wasn’t just individual spirituality but communal experience.

Consider how different this is from social media. We scroll through algorithmically curated highlights of others’ lives, most of whom seem to be having a wonderful time. But when did we start confusing ‘likes’ with love? Prayer invites us to be vulnerable. When we pray with others, whether in person or over Zoom or Facetime, we’re practicing real presence – something Instagram can’t replicate.

Christian prayer communities have been coming together for centuries, creating spaces where people can be fully known and fully loved. In a world of superficial connections, this kind of authentic community isn’t just nice – it’s absolutely necessary. We’re blessed with a number of churches and Christian fellowships across our area; they’re real communities, living together for Jesus and trying to make a difference. Stepping over the doorstep can be very hard – I speak from personal experience, but I can say for certain – you would be very welcome.