<\/div><\/div>[vc_custom_heading text=”Loneliness is Poverty” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:100%25|text_align:left|color:%23000000|line_height:1.1″ google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” el_class=”uppercase” css=”.vc_custom_1584728251292{margin-bottom: 10px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”How The Gospel Welcomes All” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:260%25|text_align:left|color:%23000000|line_height:1.2″ google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1584728260777{margin-bottom: -10px !important;}”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” text_align=”left” el_id=”un”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Early Death” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:125%25|text_align:left|color:%23000000|line_height:1.2″ google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1584728270744{margin-bottom: -10px !important;}”][vc_column_text]In 2010, Holt-Lunstad published a study on social relationships and mortality rates. The team\u2019s research verified \u201cthat people with fewer social relationships die earlier on average than those with more social relationships.\u201d They measured the influence of social isolation\u2019s risk for mortality and found it \u201ccomparable with well-established risk factors\u201d such as \u201csmoking and alcohol consumption,\u201d and found it an even better predictor of early death than air pollution and physical inactivity.<\/p>\n
People poor in community are at risk; they are in a dimension of poverty, and unlike material poverty, loneliness does not discriminate.<\/strong> Loneliness strikes both the poor and the wealthy, the seasoned and the young, the successful and the unemployed, the social media influencer and the follower-less. Loneliness haunts humanity.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” top_padding=”40″ text_align=”left” el_id=”deux”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Around the Table” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:125%25|text_align:left|color:%23000000|line_height:1.2″ google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1584728309962{margin-bottom: -10px !important;}”][vc_column_text]The good news is that Jesus has established the Church\u2013the global community of God\u2019s kingdom. The Church is sent as a family of missionary servants to proclaim the true, good news of Jesus\u2019 sacrifice and resurrection. Because of Jesus, humans of any ethnicity, background, age, level of hurt, amount of sin, shameful reputation, or loneliness are welcome through faith in him. The power of his sacrifice tore the barrier of separation, and all are welcome into his eternal presence, his kingdom, his community, his family, his church.<\/p>\nOn earth, Jesus modeled community for us, the church. He was a man mighty in word and deed, proclaiming good news to the poor, healing the sick, and casting out demons. Yet, between these accounts of signs and wonders are simple stories of Jesus found eating at tables with friends and with eyebrow-raisers.[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Because of Jesus, humans of any ethnicity, background, age, level of hurt, amount of sin, shameful reputation, or loneliness are welcome through faith in him.<\/em>” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:125%25|text_align:left|color:%2338559b|line_height:1.5″ google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]Consider this story in Matthew 9:9-11 (NIV).<\/p>\n\u201cWhile Jesus was having dinner at Matthew\u2019s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, \u201cWhy does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?\u201d<\/p>\n
In the context of the New Testament, the tax collectors and sinners were undoubtedly those \u201cwith fewer social relationships.\u201d These people were not the type to be invited over for dinner as they carried deserved reputations of political enmity and moral failure. And as a result, the Jewish community ostracized them for their behavior and sin. For this reason, the Pharisees\u2019 eyebrows raised. Why would the man preaching God\u2019s Kingdom spend time with the rejects? The Kingdom isn\u2019t for them; they don\u2019t deserve community. They deserve their poverty; they deserve their loneliness.<\/p>\n
However, Jesus sits at the table, spending time with these lonely people. The truth is that all humans have sinned and deserve rejection from the Kingdom, even those who, like the Pharisees, may outwardly appear worthy. Because of his steadfast love and faithfulness to his promises and to his mission, God made a way for people of all nations to be blessed. Through Jesus\u2019s sacrifice, sinners are brought \u201caround the table\u201d so to speak.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” top_padding=”40″ text_align=”left” el_id=”trois”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Don\u2019t Go at It Alone” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:125%25|text_align:left|color:%23000000|line_height:1.2″ google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1584728437706{margin-bottom: -10px !important;}”][vc_column_text]As the church, we cannot forget the lonely. Loneliness is not just a feeling; it\u2019s a very real and dangerous form of poverty from which all of us have suffered or will suffer at some point. And as followers of Jesus, we are blessed with the community of the church. We are blessed with a table to join around with each other and with Jesus. We are meant to invite others around the table with us\u2014to eat with the tax collectors and sinners, to commune with the others in need of a savior.<\/p>\nContinue to be like Jesus and spend time with those who are rejected. Bring these people into your homes and hang out, celebrate, rest, and eat with them. And don\u2019t go at it alone. Do as Jesus did, and invite your friends. We are collectively the church.<\/strong><\/p>\nIf you do not already spend time with the lonely, pray that God\u2019s Spirit would open your eyes to them. Respond to Jesus\u2019 invitation and invite others, even if eyebrows raise and even if you are uncomfortable. Put your faith in Jesus, follow the written word, walk with the Spirit, and join God in his mission. Serve those in poverty by serving the lonely.<\/strong><\/p>\nHolt-Lunstad; Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_custom_heading text=”This article was previously published on the Saturate blog. Used with permission. \u00a9 SATURATE 2019.” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:80%25|text_align:left|color:%23848484|line_height:1.2″ google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1584728514546{margin-top: 60px !important;margin-bottom: -30px !important;}” link=”|||”]<\/div><\/div>[vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” top_padding=”0″ text_align=”left” el_id=”trois”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”]
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Daniel Maqueda<\/strong> is a church planter in Venice Beach in Los Angeles. He is fluent in Spanish, loves punk rock, and he loves sharing his life with his wife.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner]<\/div><\/div>[vc_custom_heading text=”How can you take a step toward those in your community who are lonely this week?” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:200%25|text_align:left|color:%2338559b|line_height:1.2″ google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1584728547913{margin-top: 60px !important;margin-bottom: -30px !important;}” link=”|||”][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/6″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” full_screen_row_position=”middle” equal_height=”yes” content_placement=”middle” bg_image=”7353″ bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” parallax_bg=”true” parallax_bg_speed=”medium” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”left-right” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/4″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][\/vc_column][vc_column centered_text=”true” column_padding=”padding-8-percent” column_padding_position=”top-bottom” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/2″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”GIVE FINANCIALLY TO CREATE A MISSIONAL MOVEMENT IN QU\u00c9BEC” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23ffe933″ google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:700%20bold%20regular%3A700%3Anormal” link=”|||” css=”.vc_custom_1584728609957{padding-top: 10% !important;}”]
<\/div><\/div>[nectar_btn size=”jumbo” open_new_tab=”true” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” el_class=”center” text=”CLICK HERE TO START” url=”https:\/\/www.simplyk.io\/donation\/5c9c375304df6a0017a1df7e”][\/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/4″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
En 2011, un groupe de chr\u00e9tiens a d\u00e9cid\u00e9 de donner une banni\u00e8re publique \u00e0 son d\u00e9sir d\u2019aimer son prochain. \u00c0 ce jour, plus d\u2019une douzaine d\u2019\u00c9glises qu\u00e9b\u00e9coises ont d\u00e9j\u00e0 exp\u00e9riment\u00e9 l’int\u00e9gration de cette approche pour atteindre leur propre micro-champ missionnaire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":8090,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-8084","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-shining-forth"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8084","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8084"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8084\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8099,"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8084\/revisions\/8099"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8090"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8084"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8084"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8084"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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