It is in our homes that others see us—and Christ in us—in our marriages, our families, our hobbies, our entertainment, our food, our ability to include outsiders without [ More ... ]
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 I discovered an extremely interesting dynamic in Ephesians 4 as I prepared for Lenten services a couple of months ago. This may be the key to understanding how the New Testament writers reflect on the role of relationships in spiritual growth. Image by katja kodba Consider this paragraph (Ephesians 4:14-16 NIV): 14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that [ More ... ]  photo by furryscaly A quick look through the book catalog (not to speak of an Internet search) suggests that I need to clarify what I mean by “relational theology.” “Open” theologians claim the label, as do members of the “Emergent” Church. Then there are psychologists who use the title, as well as some who appear to think of “relational” theology as opposed to “traditional” theology. Note that the words “open,” “emergent” (or “emerging),” and “traditional” have no fixed meaning. I welcome readers’ responses to the following paragraphs. My Biblical frame of reference is Jesus’ parable of the vine and branches in John 15. The image that Jesus used was that of [ More ... ] This story comes to me from my oldest son, who teaches the adult Sunday school class involved. Names have been changed) Wilber and Lucy had attended other churches in town, but no one knew that when they started attending Sunday school. From the first Sunday they (especially Lucy) were a problem. She insisted on dominating the entire class with an apparently endless litany of woes about finances, health (she was in a wheelchair), and injustice. The members of the class tried to be sympathetic, but lots of irritation began to show. Subsequent Sundays were repeats. What to do with Lucy? Several members of the class talked privately, and decided to take the [ More ... ]  A friend e-mailed me a sophisticated electronic picture this week. As I moved the cursor from face to face in the painting, a sidebar opened explaining who that individual was and why he or she was in the scene. The theme was patriotic, and I won’t take time to describe the varied characters, not all of whom were “patriots.” The center of the picture was a regal Jesus holding in his hand a copy of the Constitution of the United States. What constitutes a Christian heritage is bitterly disputed today, but I believe that we are heirs of a thousand years of choices by mostly ordinary people [ More ... ]  The past president of Toyko Christian University explained to me the fundamental difference between the Japanese and Americans (and this applies to all eastern civilizations and all Westerners). The Japanese believe that individual identity lies in the group to which one belongs. Any individual will have as many identities as groups. He (or she—and so throughout) is a member of a family, an employee of a corporation, and a member of a bowling team (and likely others). He identifies with the values and practices of the group in which he is engaged at a given moment. He assumes for a time the values, conduct, and relationships that characterize that group. [ More ... ]  I have spent the last 30 years thinking about, observing, participating in, and developing small groups. I realized very early that relationships are enormously diverse. I have a wide circle of friends on five continents. With many of these friends, we were once in circumstances where we could be very close. One is my college roommate who married by college biology lab partner (who shepherded me through the course!). Another is a Bible college classmate with whom my family and I later had an interesting camping experience. Another is a fellow pastor who has spent years in Africa as a church planter. Another group is a Bible study and prayer [ More ... ]  Image By: kevindooley I have spent years trying to help people understand the importance of face-to-face relationships in spiritual formation, and here I find myself starting a blog in the decidedly not face-to-face world of the Internet! Here is what FormativeFriendships.org is all about. I want to invite you to think about, and share, the roles that formative friends have played in your Christian growth. I have a couple of mentors, a college roommate, a British congregation, my best man, and several colleagues at work whom have modeled for me, and inspired me to imitate, Christ-like behavior. I’ll also post short articles that result from experiences and insights that have made me [ More ... ] |
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