Spiritually Lonely
During COVID, our church moved to live-streamed worship and Zoom calls for community groups. While I enjoyed the conversations, I sometimes felt tired and lonely after I closed my laptop. My bones felt hollow, like a bird in flight, and then I'd notice the ache in my chest. I missed hugs and handshakes. I felt bound by my conscience to stay at home and protect the vulnerable, but I knew why many of my fellow Christians couldn't help but meet in person, no matter the cost.
1 John 1:1-4
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we looked at and our hands touched, this we proclaim concerning the word of life: The life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us. What we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write these things so that our joy may be complete.
Heard, seen, looked at, touched. It's emphatic repetition. Thankfully, he didn't mention taste, but all the relevant senses are covered. John is emphasizing the physicality of Jesus because it had become a controversy. An increasing number of Greeks had joined the church, and they had brought a deep intuition with them: our bodies are bad and our spirits are good. While they liked Jesus, they couldn't make sense of God—ultimate Spirit—debasing himself by sweating and bleeding. So, they started to say that Jesus "seemed" to have a body. His body was like a costume he wore, but not part of his identity. Their influence is resurgent. Now, we experience life as infinitely malleable. We search YouTube to find our preferred worship service, listen to customized Spotify playlists for a spiritual vibe, and talk to Jesus AI to get comforting inspiration. It's how I feel that's real. I'm spiritual, but not religious. Even our bodies can be molded like plastic or injected with supplements to manufacture any shape we want. But in both John's day and ours, a spiritual Jesus costs you friendships. The recipients of 1 John knew the heartbreak of former friends who walked out when the apostles insisted they'd met Jesus, and he was truly, fully human. His body got hungry and tired, it hung on the cross, and he walked out of the tomb. Today, we know the heartbreak of never meeting each other at all. Few draw the connection between a vague spirituality and disposable relationships. But this is why John writes. He's clarifying that God revealed life to his disciples by showing up in the flesh. So, he gives the same message to his friends. When we have fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, then we have fellowship with each other. Jesus came all the way to be with us. When we receive that gift, we will be with each other, too.
In this passage, how does John connect our fellowship with God and our fellowship with each other?
Which of your habits reflect a spiritual Jesus? Which ones reveal your trust in a God who became living flesh?
What response to this passage would bring you more joy?
Reach out to a friend to ask them if they'd be willing to get together and study this passage with you.