Indy Bikehiker: "I CALL YOU FRIENDS."

Move beyond worship and servitude to friendship in a maturing spiritual relationship

I?ve been thinking about the nature of spiritual relationships.? If we/as we claim faith in and relationship to Jesus, what is the nature of that ongoing relationship?

I?m struck by the fixation on worship in many Christian settings and songs.? Discussions and events?leave me with the impression that being a Christian is about groveling dependency and some persistent demand of God to be submitted unto and worshiped.

Yet, near the end of their apprenticeship, Jesus pointedly moved his disciples to a relationship of friendship.? ?I no longer call you servants?I call you friends.?

The trajectory of a grace-based spiritual relationship arcs to friendship with Jesus, fellowship with God.??

Imagine someone who was your rescuer--one who risked his or her life to save and restore yours, one to whom you will forever be grateful.? But now,?that same person is your friend?listening, attending to, tuning in, walking with, abiding, guiding, counseling.? The relationship develops, grows, matures.

Grateful, yielding friendship more than commanded servitude describes the maturing relationship of faith. ?I will ever be aware of and confess my dependence on Jesus' salvific work for me and for all, but ?he has invited--indeed called--me and all who respond to him to friendship.?

After journaling about this, I happened onto comments by theologian Jurgen Moltmann, quoted by Brian McLaren, regarding spiritual friendship. To the traditionally understood titles of Jesus as prophet, priest and king, Moltmann suggests another:

"But the fellowship which Jesus brings people, and the fellowship of people with one another to which he calls, would be described in one-sided terms if another 'title' were not added, a title to describe the inner relationship between the divine and the human fellowship: the name of friend."

"Friendship is a human relationship which springs from freedom, exists in mutual freedom and preserves that freedom... The many-faceted work of Christ...can be taken to its highest point in his friendship," for friendship is "the highest form of love." (in The Church in the Power of the Spirit, quoted by McLaren in Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammad Cross the Road?)

Next time you hear or sing along with a Christian song that goes no further than worshiping God and thanking Jesus for his rescue, remind yourself: that's where it starts, but that's not where it points. We aren't merely servants of Jesus; we're friends. ?The difference is pretty significant.

Source: http://www.indybikehiker.com/2012/11/i-call-you-friends.html

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