The Disappearing Neighborhood: A Call to Rebuild Community

As I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect the views of The Banner.

We live in a time of constant connection—texts, feeds, livestreams. And yet so many people are quietly, painfully alone.

According to a 2020 Cigna study, three out of five Americans report feeling lonely, a number that’s only grown since the pandemic. Isolation has crept in slowly—first through busyness, then through screens, and now through habits we don’t even question. People work from home, attend church online, and go weeks without a real conversation. It’s not just sad—it’s spiritually dangerous.

Jesus tells us in Mark 12:31, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But what happens when you don’t even know your neighbor’s name?

This isn’t just a cultural shift. It’s a rupture in how we were made to live. The early church in Acts 2 gathered often, shared meals, prayed together, and looked out for one another. Their community wasn’t perfect, but it was real. Today, many churches are filled with people who greet each other weekly, yet carry their burdens alone. The coffee is good, the service runs on time, but something vital is missing.

What’s missing is the hard work of life together.

Discipleship was never meant to be an individual pursuit. Romans 12:4–5 reminds us that we are one body with many parts. We can’t grow spiritually without being part of something bigger than ourselves. But modern faith often looks more like spiritual consumption—listening to sermons online, reading books alone, following Christian influencers—than shared obedience.

Add to that the divisiveness of our time. Conversations have become battlegrounds. We don’t ask questions to understand. We ask to win. We don’t talk to each other—we argue with each other. All of this feeds the growing fragmentation and mistrust.

Even simple interactions show signs of decay. How often does someone ask, “How are you?” and not really want the answer? We’ve learned to keep it surface-level. Honest sharing feels risky. Asking for help feels like weakness. But Galatians 6:2 tells us to “carry each other’s burdens,” not hide them.

This culture of isolation is hurting us—emotionally, spiritually, and even economically. But it doesn’t have to stay this way.

We can rebuild: slowly, locally, faithfully.

If we’re serious about following Jesus, we need to get serious about being in community. And that starts with simple, intentional steps:

• Show up consistently. Whether it’s Sunday worship, a weekly group, or just dinner with someone from church, presence matters.
• Ask questions that go below the surface. “What’s bringing you joy this week?” “Where do you feel stuck?” “How can I pray for you right now?”
• Be interruptible. Make space for people. Let your schedule bend for the sake of relationship.
• Practice confession and forgiveness. Community is hard. People will disappoint you. You’ll disappoint others. Stick with it anyway.
• Pray for your neighbors by name. And when you don’t know their names, learn them.
• Model vulnerability. You go first. Share something real. That’s how safety grows.

As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:26, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.” We belong to each other, and that belonging requires more than proximity. It takes practice. It takes grace. It takes patience.

But it’s worth it.

Because when we build communities that reflect the love of Christ—slowly, imperfectly, but intentionally—we offer the world something it can’t find anywhere else.

Not just connection.

Belonging.