Connection in the Bible

Without connection, even people with great spiritual insight can still be turned from God. James 5: 13-20 emphasizes the importance of connection to God and to other Christians. In this passage, connection specifically through prayer stands out as the way in which “a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.”

The importance of connection shows up in a lot of other places in the Bible, too.

  • In his many letters, Paul continually expressed longing to be with those he knew would encourage him and who he knew supported him.
  • Members of the early church met daily because they needed the encouragement to endure persecution that only connection with each other could bring.

Conversely, an avoidance of connection often indicates a larger problem.

  • Jonah did his very best to avoid responsibility by running away and disconnecting.
  • Moses also ran away and disconnected in order to avoid the consequences of his mistakes.

Fortunately, God still used them. Notably though, one got reconnected and went on to be used even more by God, and the other didn’t and was never heard from him again.

Connection for Physical Health

Not only does the importance of connection evidence itself in a person’s spiritual life, connection with others on a regular basis is crucial to a person’s physical health, too.

In Connect to Thrive, experts at Psychology Today say the following regarding the importance of connection.

  • Social connection improves physical health and psychological well-being.
  • Lack of social connection is a greater detriment to health than obesity, smoking, and high blood pressure.
  • Strong social connection leads to a 50% increased chance of longevity.
  • Social connection strengthens our immune system, helps us recover from disease faster, and may even lengthen our life.
  • People who feel more connected to others have lower rates of anxiety and depression.
  • People who feel more connected also have higher self-esteem, are more empathic to others, more trusting and cooperative, and, as a consequence, others are more open to trusting and cooperating with them.

Extensive research on our world’s Blue Zones not only verifies but adds tremendous proof to these truths.

Connection to Strengthen the Church

As Christians, we are called to fellowship (i.e., connect) with one another regularly.

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)

Just as Christianity grew out of connection among its individual members as they connected to Christ (1 Corinthians 1:9) and fellowshipped with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14), so too will the church be strengthened and grow through connection and fellowship. Connection creates a strong base that allows for greater effectiveness that is significant, long-term, and sustainable.