Christian friendship is not merely a bond, it’s a unique and captivating connection. It’s defined by mutual love and respect, honesty and transparency, accountability and encouragement, and shared values and beliefs. Unlike other friendships, Christian friendship is deeply rooted in a commitment to God and His love. It’s not just about two people sharing affection and loyalty, but about building a relationship that honors God, brings joy, and provides support.
In today’s society, friendships are often depicted as superficial connections that are shared on social media. However, beneath this surface, our society is grappling with a significant issue-loneliness. This widespread loneliness, affecting about one-third of the population in industrialized countries, is leaving people increasingly isolated. This is where Christian friendship steps in, offering genuine connections that can effectively combat this loneliness.
As Christians, we must view friendship as more than just a social construct. It is a theological issue. Friendship is integral to the proper functioning of the world as God designed it. Adam was alone at first, but God created Eve to enjoy friendship through marriage. In Eden, Adam and Eve enjoyed fellowship with God horizontally and vertically. And then, sin entered the world. Centuries later, Jesus arrived to save and befriend sinners and establish a new covenant. And now, through Jesus, anyone can enjoy a personal relationship with God. This New Testament covenant is based on mutual friendship and love.
Augustine, the early church father, and theologian wrote about friendship, highlighting the joys and benefits of this beautiful bond. He described how true friends delight in talking and laughing together, sharing jokes, and honoring each other with kindness. Such signs of friendship spring from the hearts of friends who love and know they are loved in return, signs to be read in smiles, words, glances, and a thousand gracious gestures. These sparks kindle a blaze to melt our hearts and fuse them into one.
Christian friendship has many benefits, including emotional support and companionship, spiritual growth and maturity, encouragement and motivation, and fun and enjoyment. These benefits are essential for living a fulfilling and joyful life, and they help us overcome the challenges we face daily. Christian friends can help us grow in our faith, hold us accountable, and provide comfort during difficult times.
We can study passages from the Bible, including Phil 2:1-5, and Ephes 4:15-16, to learn more about Christian friendship. Additionally, we should consider how to cultivate friendships, including being intentional in building relationships, practicing active listening and empathy, investing time and effort in maintaining the friendship, and praying for each other and seeking God’s guidance.
By God’s grace, we cultivate Christian friendships with one another to experience the joys of life and overcome its challenges. As Christian friends, we are honest yet cautious and draw each other closer to Him. We show constancy and sincerity and are careful in our words and actions, knowing that our friendship is a precious gift from God.
For further study:
Made for Friendship by Drew Hunter
Friendship with Jesus, Friend of Sinners by Jared Wilson
7 Questions to Deepen any Relationship by Brad Hambrick
An Everyday Theologian 