The Church’s Soul-Care Moment
The past year has been filled with challenges and difficulties, from the risk of COVID-19 to its various lockdowns and restrictions; from the protests of the summer to the election to the events of January 6.
But underneath the headlines and debates, underneath the health-department orders and tweet storms, has been a steady stream of human suffering.
Wounded People Require Soul Care
This year has left a trail of hurting, struggling, confused, and isolated image-bearers in its wake. Anxiety, depression, suicide (considered or attempted), financial hardships, anger, marital discord, and relational tensions are seemingly at all-time highs.
Beyond all the disputes that catch our attention and pump us full of adrenaline, beyond all the cultural and political moments we keep hearing about, the spring of 2021 is the church’s soul-care moment. And if this is the church’s soul-care moment, this is your soul-care moment.
Never before in my lifetime has there been a comprehensive, widespread need like this. But the love of Christ compels us to see the realities of this moment with open eyes and compassionate hearts, ready to step into the lives of those around us who desperately need to experience the hope of Christ again, even as those who need reminders of that hope ourselves.
I’m not going to belabor my point with statistics about mental health or examples about the toll the past year has taken; I’m sure you’re plenty familiar with both. Instead, I’m just going to offer a few practical steps we can all take to meet this moment. You see, this moment can’t simply be met by pastors, counselors, or therapists. There aren’t enough professionals in the world to address the magnitude of pain and suffering 2020 left behind.
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