Character Development: Relational Living
I think this aspect of Christian living is difficult not just for me, but for many believers. So much of evangelical Christianity has a strong emphasis on the personal relationship one has with Christ, and clearly that is the main cog of Christian living. Yet I find myself continually challenged in knowing that being a true Christ follower means that our personal relationship with Christ pushes us toward community with others.
“This developing vertical relationship of loving the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will find its manifestations on the horizontal, since there is no act that begins with the love of God that does not end with love of neighbor” (Boa).
Relational living should really be viewed in 2 ways.
- We need to be interacting with fellow believers.
- We also need to be spending time with people who do not call themselves Christians.
Just as we can live in our own personal bubble by never interacting with other people outside of our workplaces and homes, we can also create a Christian bubble by never reaching out to nonbelievers. Here are some good questions to ask yourself when thinking about this:
- Have I integrated into a commununal relationship with other Christian believers?
- Am I observing and growing in my relationship with others?
- Am I relationally connecting with unbelievers in any way shape or form? If so, how can I be a positive influence for Christ in that relationship?
Is this as challenging for you as it is for me?
(PS, I’m an introvert so this whole notion is difficult for my personality that prefers time alone)
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Tyler Braun.
your quote is absolutely true and I trust that…hope in that….my tendencies are to isolate because of past experiences ….but the ‘vertical’ challenges that.
Hey Tyler,
Off topic: I wanted to thank you for your recommendation. I looked at your church online and I plan on visiting it when we move up there.
one reason it’s easier for me is b/c i’m immersed in the unbelieving world through my job and even when participating in hobbies. as of right now, tyler, you’re in seminary and you work at a church…not much going outside the “bubble” there. when i participated in an church internship in kansas city, it was essentially the same, i lived in church environment. it gets much easier when you work and play in an environment that is outside the bubble and that’s – 1- something you’ll have to choose to do once you’re out of the seminary and -2- how often you reach outside the bubble to make friends just on a day to day basis.
acutally i go back to the “under the overpass” book i’ve mentioned a few times– that was the basis for the story…one guy going to a christian school w/ christian friends and a church…well he felt deeply he needed to explore beyond that and that’s exactly what he did- to find out what his faith really meant to him by putting it into practice where he wouldn’t have the “guard of the church” so to speak.
it’s just a combo of choices and environment …
Yep, challenging for sure…but the whole great commission thing and what our purpose is on earth is challenging.
I just keep remembering a fave Rich Mullins song on James…
It’s about as useless as a screen door on a submarine
Faith without works, it just ain’t happenin’
As Ash noted, it can be “easier” when you’re working “in the world”…but only if you choose to reach out in that environment. It’s still our choice.