Relational Christianity

Romans 12:18 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

There is a buzz phase going around in the Christian community, that “they don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” Meaning, you have to build a caring and loving relationship with a person before they’ll listen to the Gospel of Jesus Christ for their salvation. Obviously, being in the bond and intimate connection as friends are required in order have the permission to witness to a lost and lying world as Ambassadors for Christ. Do we forget the the Holy Spirit prepares the other’s heart in advance to hear the “good news”? We are to influence the secular world for Christ, not the world influencing the Christian towards the secular world.

Proverbs 29:25 It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe.

The danger, I see, is that “the cart gets before the horse” as the commandment to love your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength takes a back seat to love your neighbor. The result is that many churches have turned to relational “come and see) evangelism and the Great Commission of the Lord becomes the great omission in the church; that Relational Sermons replaces preaching the Gospel message and worshiping the Lord; that relational small groups discussion how they feel supplants true Bible Study; that service to Christ replaces love for Christ. As Dallas Willard writes: Goals occupy the place of the vision of God in the inward life, and we find ourselves caught up in a visionless pursuit of various goals. The inward reality of love for God, and absorption in what He is doing, is no longer the center of life. Practically, the love of others becoming more important than the love of God and the church's mission gets hijacked.

Galatians 1:10 “Am I now trying to win the favor and approval of men, or of God? Or am I seeking to please someone? If I were still trying to be popular with men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”

Christine Caine wrote, “Until we care more about what God thinks than what other people think we are never truly free.” The greatest prison people live in is the fear of what other people think. There is a real danger that evangelism and discipleship become non-existent, as developing interpersonal relationship becomes the main focus, and insulting people becomes more intolerant than insulting God. That is committing spiritual adultery. You’ve forgotten your first love and exchanged “making disciples” to “making friends”.

In James 4:4, the Apostle explains, “You adulteresses [disloyal sinners—flirting with the world and breaking your vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend [that is, loving the things of the God-rejecting world system around us in society] is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

What is the chief end of man? Answer. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. The Bible is clear that we were created by God in order to bring Him glory. The ultimate purpose of man (humanity), therefore, is to glorify God (Isaiah 43:7). Let’s keep the Main Thing the main thing. Our relationship with God (and their relationship with God) is what ultimately matters friend.

Glory be to God!

In Christ, Brian