Isolation?

I posted this on Facebook this morning and decided to share it here as well.

I’m chewing on something a pastor said from a teaching series on the early church (explaining in my words, not his) referencing Acts on the importance in Church (capitol C church) growth, daily meeting house to house beyond meeting in the temple. Current practice in some local churches is doing this with small groups. There is a need to truly be the family of God, where every person, not just one or two, participates in some way of communicating and teaching, seeing the healing and growth as God moves through His people.

Question I am chewing on:

Why do people isolate?

Answers offered that I am also chewing on:

1- Fear of being hurt, still recovering from hurt.

**What we need to acknowledge: Hurts will always happen in the church. People hurt people-everywhere. We need to navigate the impact of hurt by offering, and accepting forgiveness.

2- Hiding sin and hiding from confessing sin.

**caring about what others think above confessing to God and other believers.

3. Not wanting to help carry the weight, the burden others carry that weighs them down, stealing the fullness of the life God has for them.

**how can I help others when I deal with so much of my own issues?

Can we experience growth as the early church did? Will we truly connect with others to help carry the weight of our loads as we help carry theirs?

Galations 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Next steps? Personally, it is still to be determined by prayer and more study of God’s Word.

Things I look at as I continue how to fulfil my preparation for the harvest.

Blessings –Vicki