Relationship

-

As I’ve heard from one of my favorite Christian apologists Dr. Ravi Zacharias, God lives as a relational and communal being within the trinity.  It is through God’s example of the trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) that we come to understand we are not meant to live in solitude or apart from relationships or community.

A relationship is the more intimate of these two pillars and as a result, there are more intricacies involved with it.  It is through relationship that those that talked with Jesus grew the most and realized the Truth.  It is the personal relationship with God that allows Him to work in and through our lives today.  As this relationship with Him matures we are lead and urged by the Holy Spirit to seek relationships with others that we encounter.  It is not forced however.  A Godly and loving relationship can never be coerced; rather, we choose to step into the lives of others through compassion and commitment.  This is important in the way we do personal evangelism today since people tend to see each other as means to an end rather than unique and amazing bearers of God’s image.   Relationships require love, understanding, trust, and commitment.  When people realize this and see that we are investing in their lives they tend to take what we say more to heart.  Through our actions we are even greater tools for it is written that, “…all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35).

Bringing relationships together we come to our understanding of community, which is the convergence of many relationships into a group with common interests.  It is within a community that we gain knowledge from different viewpoints and a sense of belonging.  The catholic Church is the community of Christians that make up the world and body of Christ.  As we build and invest in relationships with others we invite them to the larger body or community to reinforce the values that are present in the relationship.  It is for this reason that community is so important in today’s society.  Through encounters within a solid Christian community, new believers or those that are searching can see that there is loving support. 

So now what?  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pray, Do Not Be Anxious

-
Image
Do not be anxious, rather pray.   Jesus made it possible for us to do so.   There was a giant chasm between God and us because of sin.   He is so holy, that sin cannot be in his presence, but Jesus has covered this sin, this stain, making us able to once again have communion with God.   Jesus is our mediator, our advocate.   When preparing this post and looking at what prayer is, it reminded me of a book I read called, The Necessity of Prayer by Edward Bounds.   His largest section and most influential was his work on prayer and faith.   As it should be, faith is the Christian anchor in prayer and touches every other aspect of our life.   Faith is obedient, trusting, and every other positive aspect.   Not only influential but also instructive in his writing, Bounds shows how Christians should pray by stating that, “faith must be definite, specific; an unqualified unmistakable request for the things asked for.” [1]   How true it is that we all too often pray for the grandio
Read more

Oh LORD, You're So Great

-
Image
It just amazes me how God answers prayers in ways we never expect. We almost tend to lower our expectations because we don't think God can handle what we actually want. But He always comes through, in His timing of course. So, a few weeks ago I went through my ordination board, which is a pretty big deal. Twelve pastors/elders/scholars that went through my twenty page ordination paper with a fine tooth comb and pretty much grilled me on my theology. Anyway, I received this card and little Bible from two wonderful people that have just been a joy in my life from 9th grade to present. This is what the card said, "I'm returning your little Bible to you. The last time you were at our house before you went overseas to serve our country, you handed me this Bible and told me you 'wouldn't be needing this.' I carried it in my purse as a prayer prompt. I was not sure if you meant you had another Bible? You did not need the Lord, you did not have faith - I just pray
Read more

Discipleship

-
Image
As Christians we are called to continually and progressively strive to become more like Jesus in word, thought, and deed. [1] In a way then, discipleship is similar to the process of sanctification in that the goal is to become more holy and righteous until the final state of glorification. Both, I might add, require relationship, the former with God and the latter with fellow believers. Relationship within the context of discipleship is not merely a superficial one; rather, it requires complete dedication. In fact, Jesus asked that his disciples deny themselves and bear their own cross (Luke 14:27). This means that a disciple must embrace the will of God in spite of personal comforts or wants and despite the suffering, just as Jesus did. He also asks that we hate our family (v. 26). This implies a love so great for Him that love for family pales in comparison to the point of looking like hate. In all of these requirements then, the disciple must
Read more