Looking at the World, The Surgeon General Sees a Truth from the Bible

 This will be quick and quite inadequate in dealing with a very important topic. My main purpose is to point to something that is undeniably a big deal, a huge problem in our world today--loneliness and disconnectedness. Hopefully, it will whet your interest to do some more study.

Unless you are on the extreme end of disconnection, in which case you probably aren't reading this, you are aware that isolation, strained social interactions, or even an almost total lack of meaningful social interaction, and the resulting loneliness, and doubts about the meaning of one's life are big problems. The fact is, even though we recognize the problem we likely don't see how wide and deep it is. I didn't.

Al Mohler's daily "Briefing" for May 3, 2023 tipped me off to an advisory by US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation. Mohler gives a good summary of the report and points to its implications for those of us who see the world through a Biblical lens. The page that contains the recording of the "Briefing" also includes a link to the Surgeon General's report.
I quickly read/skimmed the advisory report this morning. It is full of disturbing statistics and trends. Not only the prose, but the artfully done charts and illustrations point strongly to an issue that is a growing problem in America, and beyond. More and more people are disconnected from meaningful relationships. The result is loneliness and a host of other issues. These problems are not only seen on an individual level. This "epidemic" threatens the fabric of our society. I plan to read the publication more carefully.

Most of us are aware of COVID's negative impact on social interaction. The advisory points out that the problem did not originate with the pandemic. It did, however, make it worse. The last portion of the Surgeon General's publication wisely points to the future. Unless corrective action is taken (I haven't read the report closely enough to know whether I agree with Dr. Murthy's prescriptions or not) the problem will continue. The problem, and the questions as to what we should do about it, are matters that should be of great interest to Christians.

Here is one of the charts that illustrates the growing problem:

(Page 25)

Often, we see the Bible as standing in opposition to the conclusions of science, and I am not downplaying that tension. However, if we are right in believing that the Creator of the world and the ultimate author of the Bible are the same Person, then we should expect that science, honestly done, and Bible understanding, based on sound hermeneutics, should be aligned, not in conflict. As I read the Surgeon General's words of concern and warning, I was struck again and again with this alignment.

The Triune God, out of His marvelous existence of sublime relationship between Spirit, Son, and Father, created humans as creatures of relationship, with one another and with Him. In the Old Testament God chose to work through a nation. In the New Testament we meet the transnational body, the Church. An intensely relational entity through which God moves His grand plan forward. While there is far more that we don't about Heaven than we do know, it is clear that the eternal abode of God's children is a place of unhindered relationships, "now I know in part, but then I will know fully" (I Cor. 13:12), we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2).

While God has supremely communicated to us through His word, the Bible. He also communicates through His world, and since we are created in His image, through our hearts. You can see this in Psalm 19, Romans 1-2, and the Book of Ecclesiastes. In taking a look at our world, focusing on human interactions, and the lack thereof, Dr. Murthy and his team have exposed a truth that is clear in Scripture.

It is not good for man to be alone.

I encourage you to listen to, or read the transcript of Mohler's "Briefing, read or at least look through the Surgeon General's advisory, and--and this is most important--plug into a community of people who take the Word of God seriously, a place where soul-nourishing relationships are encouraged. That would be a good, Bible-believing/teaching/living church. Let me know if I can help.

The Briefing, May 3, 2023

Our Epidemic of  Loneliness and Isolation, US Surgeon General

Is Perception Reality? A Question for our current situation:

I have been following the reports of demonstrations, riots, emotional distress, etc. that has come an aftermath of the recent election of Donald Trump and Mike Pence.  I've also read and heard a good bit of reaction to these events.  For any who don't know me, I need to let you know that I'm in the heart of the demographic that is being talked about in many of these stories.  I'm White, conservative, Christian, straight, and from the Bible belt.  I'll try to not be scary.

Some of those who live in my cultural neighborhood have responded to the post-election reports with a combination of law-and-order rhetoric, and counsel that basically amounts to "just grow up."  I haven't been without my opinions, especially about looting and/or destruction of property, but I have tried to do something that I think all of us need to do more of--I'm trying to listen.
Sitting in my warm and comfortable living room this morning it occurs to me that a mantra that I have been reciting concerning a ministry I'm involved in probably has some relevance in the current situation in my world:

PERCEPTION IS REALITY.

Now I'm not getting all New Age-y here.  For one thing the "New Age" is old enough to be on Medicare (and since it is sick it needs to be).  I have railed against concepts like, "If you can dream it you can do it."  I know there is a certain motivational factor to this kind of statement, but I have been around long enough to also see the truth behind this cynical view from Despair.com.

What I mean when I say "Perception is Reality," is if I am going to build any kind of positive relationship with people who have a different view of what is going on around us than I do, I need to grant their view a measure of legitimacy.  Say I'm having a pretty good day.  My caffeine intake is about right.  I haven't gotten any audit notices from the IRS, and the sun is shining.  In my bliss, perhaps ignorant bliss, I greet my friend, "Hi.  How are you?"  My friend clearly doesn't get that my question was a courtesy, a greeting more than a request for information, and proceeds to spew forth a stream of that witch is dark and painful.  At this point let's assume that I really do care about my friend.  I really would like to have a relationship with him going forward.  How will that best be achieved?

• By immediately pointing out why I think his view of reality is utterly wrong?
• By questioning his maturity, intelligence, and/or spirituality?
• By uttering some feel-good platitude?  (The cartoon is offered tongue in cheek, but it make a point.)  Or,
• Taking a moment to listen to my friend.

In the end I may conclude that my friend is utterly wrong, or I may totally understand why my friend has such a dark view on such a sunny day.  Either way, if I start by listening, I have laid a foundation that could lead to productive conversation.  I can tell you by experience--experience in which I am the bad-guy--that the other three responses don't lead to that opportunity.  At least they aren't likely to.

The way others perceive reality, is the reality that has to be dealt with in getting along with those

others.  When others see reality in the same way I do, that appears to be non-problematic.  I say "appears" because our world is becoming more and more a series of echo-chambers, side by side, each surrounded by totally sound proof walls.  We hear only those who say the same thing we say.  Too often, when we venture out of the realm where all is agreeable, all we do is shout what is constantly said in our group.  We are like kids throwing at rocks at each other.  Most miss, or hit us somewhere that causes little pain, but there is a scar, somewhere under the little hair I have left, that bears witness to the reality that they don't all miss.  Some draw blood.  My Granny was right to discipline my cousin and me, not just because she hit me--boy that girl could throw--but because throwing rocks at each other is not something civilized people do.  Neither is a lot of what I see on the news, or read on Facebook.
Don't get me wrong.  I'm not saying that we should surrender our intellect and act as if things that matter don't.  What I am saying is that out of the things that matter it is difficult to find anything that matters any more than another human being.  Listen to James, again.

. . . the tongue [I think we can extend this other forms  of communication].
It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.
Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father,
and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. . .
blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth.
Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!(James 3:8–10, NLT)

So, I've been working hard to stay out of the mudslinging business.

It doesn't help.  It just muddies things up.  I'm trying to hear.  I've read articles that forced me to my dictionary, and compelled me to go back and read paragraphs again.  I've read stuff that took pages to say, "I don't like this!"--the election, the demonstrations, etc..  I often don't agree with either--at least not completely.  I am, however, working to hear those on all sides.  I'm not saying that each of us

can create our own reality, but in the realm of, to quote that great philosopher Rodney King, just getting along, I have to start with the reality that at this moment what my friend is saying is reality as he sees it.
Like Frasier, I'm listening.  Or, at least I'm trying.