I don’t think a week goes by that I’m shown the power of relationships. In phone calls, visits with friends, chance meetings with people, I see how Holy Spirit is able to reach into the lives of those folks without even trying. I was recently re-exposed as to how the IC doesn’t rely on relationship to bring change, but by the blunt force trauma of positional leadership, and the ramrod of scriptural precedent. It’s no wonder Christian believers inside the walls of traditional church lap up the intoxicating brew of worship, programs and events. Anything to distract us from the glaring gaps of real relationship, the spiritual abuse in the name of conforming to the homogenized existence of the parishioners. Their becoming faith a mere shadow of the reality Christ in their lives.
I saw a movie last night that unintentionally proved this point. The main character was dealing with crisis in his business, finances and relationships at home and beyond. One of the scenes showed the main character and his family exiting a church building after a Sunday morning service. It showed them walking past the silent, lifeless large gray brick traditional church building while they were discussing their dilemma. I’m sure the director was just wanting to show that the family were ‘Christians’. But it spoke volumes that they passed by the ‘symbol’ of their faith oblivious to it, and it to them. Their faith was a non-factor in their lives. Oddly enough, they crossed the difficulties of their lives through the resolve of their relationships.
bob humphrey
