Churches Stepping into the Void
Written by Rev. Dr. Scott Paczkowski
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
Social media is not interested in you as a person. Social media is interested in you as a “like” or a consumer of products and viewership. Facebook, Tic Toc, or Instagram are not interested in whether you are emotionally healthy, spiritually engaged, or intellectually stimulated. More than not simply being helpful, social media is willing to warp the very marrow of your being and leave you dried up like a banana in a food dehydrator. Perhaps this helps explain why 30% of all elementary and middle school students have emotional issues so troubling that regular counseling is required.
In his book, Permission to Feel, Marc Brackett, Ph.D., brings to our consciousness that while the number for elementary and middle school students in serious need of therapy is 30%, those in “economically disadvantaged schools, this runs as high as 60%.” What is shocking to most of us, Brackett states, is, “American youths now rank in the bottom quarter among developed nations in well-being and life satisfaction.” With the decline in funding for mental health, the increase in social media, and the ongoing threats of living in poverty, Barrett informs us, “over the last two decades, there has been a 28 percent increase in our suicide rate.” These horrific numbers were before the isolation created by the lockdown and instability created by the pandemic.
Rather than sit in despair, there are opportunities for hope and renewal. One, we need to come together and fight for mental health funding. Two, rather than focusing on reducing Public Education Funding and being forced to share tax dollars with private schools for already privileged families, our society needs to reclaim its commitment to all God’s children, especially the least privileged. Third, the churches must embrace the call to reaffirm their commitment to remain a caring community. With so many impersonal, uncaring options for young and old to experience, churches can be the answer for those in desperate need of community, family, and care.
Today, take time to determine your level of emotional pain. We all struggle at some level with emotional pain. Don’t shy away from the discomfort. Instead, evaluate where you are spending your emotional energy. Is it in places where you are being nurtured or diminished? As followers of Christ, we are called to find ways to care for our children and youth. We can spend the time and financial resources now or pay even more later. We can ignore the issue, hoping it will go away, or create opportunities for children, youth, and adults to find care through supportive groups and activities. The Church is uniquely qualified to provide the emotional and spiritual support to change the negative narrative that is so prevalent. Prayer plus action makes a lasting difference in people’s lives. Invite the Holy Spirit into our process of societal transformation and watch our society become a healthier place.
