Infringing On Our Individuality is Good For Us
Why Commitment to Church Is How We Thrive
This week on The Shock Absorber podcast,
and I explore why commitment to a local church community is more than just a good habit — it’s how God designed us to thrive.Starting with Dr. ’ reflections on how technology fuels isolation (read Imes’ excellent piece in the link below), we explore how our hyper-individualistic culture often leaves us lonely, disconnected, and searching for meaning.
What’s the antidote, I hear you ask? Same thing we talked about last week: becoming deeply entangled in a Christian community where people notice when you’re missing, celebrate when you return, and help shape you into who God made you to be.
This leads us to also discuss how commitment and community aren’t restrictive, but actually liberating. The more we embed ourselves in church life, the healthier and more grounded we become — spiritually, emotionally, and even socially. Drawing from sociology, psychology, and theology, we discuss why high-commitment environments like Soul Revival’s long Saturday gatherings build stronger disciples and deeper relationships.
Drawing from other readings I’ve been doing, Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory helps us to understand how environment and repetition form identity, especially in young people. Knowing this can help us establish in our churches the kinds of faith-formative environments that will foster commitment in the children and youth in our local context.
And as always, listen along to The Shock Absorber podcast on your regular podcasting platform, or click through on one of the links below.