The communities we need cannot be built by strangers

The current social conditions facing the United States, and specifically the Lowcountry, include political polarization, economic anxiety, housing affordability concerns, declining civic engagement, attacks on public trust, racial tension, loneliness, and the growing disconnect between neighbors. This uncomfortable social reality, I think, polemically contributes to the conditions that make life more complicated than it should be.

When we weigh the many possible solutions regarding our present situation in both the country and the Lowcountry, the answers often vary based upon one-sided views concerning who is at fault and who bears responsibility for fixing them. Yet, I believe what is needed more than anything else is an understanding that the communities we need cannot be built by strangers.

Growing up in North Carolina, I benefited greatly from PBS, which provided educational and socially nurturing television that helped children develop a sense of somebody-ness while cultivating moral and ethical responsibility toward others. One such program was Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which modeled what it meant to care for people whose backgrounds and experiences differed from our own. The theme song spoke volumes: “It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor; would you be mine? Could you be mine? Please won’t you be my neighbor?”

Objectively, and without the interference of warring or fragmented opinions, life has become increasingly difficult for many people. America is experiencing a crisis that is deeper than politics—we are witnessing the erosion of community. We have become increasingly connected digitally while simultaneously becoming disconnected relationally. The social divide continues to grow because of a communal lack of understanding—something that cannot be gained through text alone.

The truth is that the answers we are looking for are not found solely in Washington, D.C., Columbia, or local government. Rather, they are found when neighbors, congregations, civic organizations, and families rediscover their responsibility to one another. Communities flourish when people are willing to listen, share concerns, and work together toward solutions that benefit the common good rather than a select few.

As a resident of Bluffton, housing affordability and development concerns remain pressing issues. The constant expansion of housing communities and resorts has, in some cases, infringed upon ancestral lands, depriving families of property bequeathed to them by their ancestors – and placing those lands at risk through eminent domain. One must honestly ask: do we really need another high-end and expensive community?

Still, there are other issues germane to this conversation, including isolation among seniors, young people searching for purpose, and Churches reclaiming their role as community anchors. Historically, the Church has served as an epicenter for education, advocacy, fellowship, and community transformation. Therefore, if communities are to heal, congregations must return to being active participants in the civic and social life of their neighborhoods.

I often wonder: what happens when people stop seeing each other as neighbors and begin seeing each other only as opponents? As long as we continue down our current path, bridging the gap between our social, political, cultural, and spiritual divisions will become increasingly difficult. With the passage of time, social conditions that persist without meaningful intervention will become the sordid reality people simply accept, without remorse or any heartfelt desire to change them.

The temptation of every generation is to believe that louder voices produce better solutions. Yet Scripture teaches the opposite. In 1 Kings 19:11–12, the Prophet Elijah witnesses the power of God displayed throughout creation. Yet Elijah learns that amid the wind, the earthquake, and the fire, God was present in a still, small voice. What voice do we hear in the midst of our stormy present?

Beloved, being a neighbor requires more than living beside someone; it requires listening, empathy, accountability, and a willingness to invest in the well-being of others. The future of our communities will not be determined solely by the policies we pass, the elections we win, or the buildings we construct. The future of our communities will be determined by whether we are willing to see one another as neighbors again. Communities are not sustained by proximity. They are sustained by responsibility. And ministry, like community, happens when people choose to do it together.

Dr. Brandon A. A. J. Davis is the 30th Senior Pastor of Historic Campbell Chapel AME Church, Bluffton, and an adjunct professor in the Department of Religion at Simmons College, Louisville, KY. He is married, a lover of books, and enjoys a great conversation.