To be called “The New Black” means something’s newly popular and – often – in the news. Not only have pink (the Barbie movie) and orange (the TV show about women in prison) been called The New Black, you don’t have to be a color to be considered. Coding, Physics, and Cronuts have each been “The New Black” in their own contexts.
I wonder if Anxiety is (and has been for a while) The New Black.
On Sabbatical, I’ve had time to read multiple newspapers and listen to several podcasts each day. And every single day there are multiple pieces about anxiety to the point that it increases my own personal levels of anxiety. (i.e. worrying about worrying)
- Young people are experiencing more anxiety than ever according to the American Academy of Pediatrics as reported by CNN.
- Parents are also overwhelmed with anxiety according to this article.
- Anxiety is good for business, says The Wall Street Journal.
- Anxiety is good for giving us a kick in the pants, again from the WSJ.
Current mental health statistics reveal an increase in anxiety globally.
And have you noticed how the retail industry has literally banked on anxiety since the beginning of time? The wrong deodorant = social disaster. The wrong tires = unsafe driving. The wrong college = future limitations. The wrong disinfectant = disease. The wrong face cream = aging. The wrong pharmaceuticals = more anxiety.
The koine Greek work for anxious is μεριμνάω (merimnaō) and it shows up over 20 times in the New Testament. Obviously anxiety is not a new issue.
But as we Church People consider what breaks God’s heart in our post-pandemic, politically divided, gun-saturated, individualistic culture, addressing anxiety seems to be a place to start. Are we adding to the anxiety or relieving it? Are we offering a community where sharing anxiety is safe? Are we offering a message of resilience – not because of who we are but because of who God is?
The Future Church will truly be a sanctuary and by that I don’t mean that we will avoid conflict or the realities of a broken world. We will face our conflicts and address this broken world with the Truth that there is a different way.
Image of the mega-sized lotion I use to relieve stress. Frankly, it’s going to take more than lotion.
*I’m increasingly cognizant that using the word “Black” is fraught in that it impacts people with dark skin. I’m using the word here to quote a familiar saying.
A Church for Starving Artists 