This impression was further emphasized this past weekend when I got to preach at my home church's 20th anniversary celebration. It was fun to see former ministers, mentors, and friends. Before the service started, Michelle asked if I was nervous. I said "not really, but I do feel a little awkward." As I looked out over the congregation, I realized that many of these people still knew me as the 16 year-year-old kid that wore baggy jeans and hung out too long in the parking lot on Wednesday nights. The relationships I had with them dated back to a time when I was a baby in the faith. At the same time, if it were not for these relationships, I very well may not have come to any kind of faith in Jesus.
It's easy to underestimate the value and impact of these kinds of relationships. In a world that is becoming more virtually connected, people are becoming less physically connected. That's a good thing when it comes to paying bills, ordering things through the mail, or booking a vacation. It's a bad thing when it leaves a relational gap in our spiritual lives. I remember having to read a book in college called Created for Community by Stanley Grenz. I can't recall much of what the book actually said (I need to re-read it!), but I do remember thinking that the title made an important point (even to an unmotivated college student!).
I could cite numerous verses in Scripture about how Jesus called 12 disciples, spent time with all kinds of people, and sent followers out to do ministry in groups. I could point you to the early church in Acts that met together often and shared all their possessions. Common sense, however, tells us that we need relationships. We don't like being lonely. It only makes sense that this truth would be amplified and have even greater significance for a Christian.
In the past, it seems that it was easier to form relationships. We did it out of necessity. With the functional necessity of relationships decreasing, the burden falls on us to pick up the slack. I think this is especially hard for most men and introverts, neither of which form relationships very easily or naturally (I happen to fall in to both of these categories!). Still, I can't deny the fact that I may not be a Christian if not for some of the special relationships in my home church. Whether it's through a Sunday School class, a small group, or a shared ministry or interest, Christian relationships are about more than simply having friends. As ordinary as they might seem, they serve a sacred function. Just ask the folks I interviewed.
How have relationships made a difference in your spiritual life? What are you doing to actively cultivate spiritual relationships today?
