Claire-Marie Scott | LTVN Executive Producer
Within the past couple of years, there has been a shift in the amount of young people attending church. But even amongst this surge, it is important for churchgoers to know, going to church alone is an important task, one that a lot of young people should participate in.
In Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 it says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.”
I am not saying that we as Christians should completely isolate ourselves and not have a Christian community that we do life with. Instead, I am afraid that young Christians have made church to be a social activity, taking the weight of the Sabbath day out of church.
According to an article by Barna, “over half of Gen Z teens feel motivated to learn more about Jesus.”
Social media is packed with teens and young adults making content about Jesus and going to church. Christian music from young artists is even making its way into pop radio, with hits by artists like Forrest Frank, Brandon Lake and Lauren Daigle.
Most weeks, I will admit, I sit with friends at church. But when I first came to college, my schedule didn’t align with my friends and I ended up sitting alone. Sitting alone in that season, and from time to time now, has been extremely beneficial to me.
Church should not be about how many friends you have with you, what meal your group is going to get after the service or about taking photos to post on social media. It’s is about honoring and showing love to our Lord who made the ultimate sacrifice for us. Through praise, worship, scripture and meditation, we go to church to learn more and apply the lessons that Christ taught us in our everyday lives.
I feel like much of our society has the belief that if they are alone in a large group of people, they look awkward or weird. And while I used to feel that way, I realized that is not the case. When I sit alone, I find that I can concentrate more on the message and the beauty of the service instead of being distracted by other things pulling at my attention.
I often hear from young people that if their friends can’t make a service, they won’t go out of fear of being alone. I want to encourage everyone reading to not take this approach. God sees your efforts and if no one is physically there with you, just know that He is, sitting right next to you, aware of the sacrifice you are making.
He will be your ultimate comforter if you feel anxious being alone, so take refuge in knowing that He will be with you. There truly is something beautiful about taking in the beauty of the church service in solitude because it allows for greater time in reflection and gratitude.
So, don’t feel like you have to drop your church community and sit alone every week, but occasionally, try it out. I think everyone would be surprised at how peaceful and reflective a time at church alone could be, and we know that God likes to meet us in the little moments “Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10.
