Comments on: Relationships and unity http://blogs.bu.edu/dscott/2011/09/09/relationships-and-unity/ Historical and missiological reflections on modernity, postmodernity, and what comes next Thu, 28 Mar 2013 19:19:58 -0400 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: marriage counsellors http://blogs.bu.edu/dscott/2011/09/09/relationships-and-unity/comment-page-1/#comment-142 marriage counsellors Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:08:54 +0000 http://blogs.bu.edu/dscott/?p=155#comment-142 It is nice to have read this today, I truly believe that unity can be fostered from different groups however unity is best fostered with people you have similarities with. In high school, I was active in being a scout (Rover Scouts), and the friends I made during that time who I share the many similarities with are still my friends until today. n It is nice to have read this today, I truly believe that unity can be fostered from different groups however unity is best fostered with people you have similarities with. In high school, I was active in being a scout (Rover Scouts), and the friends I made during that time who I share the many similarities with are still my friends until today.
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]]> By: David W. Scott http://blogs.bu.edu/dscott/2011/09/09/relationships-and-unity/comment-page-1/#comment-133 David W. Scott Mon, 12 Sep 2011 13:02:03 +0000 http://blogs.bu.edu/dscott/?p=155#comment-133 Thanks, David. I take your point that Jesus' atoning work which takes away sin is ultimately what allows us to be in real relationships, which otherwise get messed up because of sin. Thanks, David. I take your point that Jesus’ atoning work which takes away sin is ultimately what allows us to be in real relationships, which otherwise get messed up because of sin.

]]> By: David Shane http://blogs.bu.edu/dscott/2011/09/09/relationships-and-unity/comment-page-1/#comment-132 David Shane Sun, 11 Sep 2011 16:37:16 +0000 http://blogs.bu.edu/dscott/?p=155#comment-132 This may only be somewhat related, but your point that "merely having a characteristic in common with someone else is not always enough to foster some sense of togetherness or unity" reminds me of a sermon Mark Driscoll gave on loneliness and friendship: http://bit.ly/qf0kpn (Yes, I know he is probably not your cup of theological tea!) Driscoll's sermon is partly about how to develop real, deep, unifying, lasting relationships. He says that for many of us, even with our "friends" we have very shallow relationships, because those friendships are merely the result of proximity or affinity. Then we move, our interests change, and within a few years we can't even remember the names of our one-time "best friends". (I think you'd agree so far.) The answer, he says, real relationship, comes via a "gospel-centered partnership". "Jesus is the center of the relationship between you and someone else. This could be a friend, a parent. This could be a spouse. That Jesus is between the two of you because sin will come between the two of you and sin leads to spiritual death, disconnection from God, physical death. We actually die. And relational death. It separates people. And so, Jesus dies to forgive – take away sin. Now, we can have a reconciled relationship with God and with one another." Driscoll sees making Jesus the center of a relationship the only way to have real and permanent unity with another person. Not only does this give two Christians a common goal in life in addition to everything else they may share - to advance the gospel - but it also gives them a way to deal with the sin problem. We sin against each other, we let each other down - Christians know about forgiveness and grace, they know how to deal with that problem better than the world does. Unity is a relational quality. Fortunately for us, Jesus shows us how and enables us to have real relationships. (I realize your post is more about taking advantage of relational groups that have already formed than forming them in the first place, but it brought this sermon to mind!) This may only be somewhat related, but your point that “merely having a characteristic in common with someone else is not always enough to foster some sense of togetherness or unity” reminds me of a sermon Mark Driscoll gave on loneliness and friendship: http://bit.ly/qf0kpn (Yes, I know he is probably not your cup of theological tea!)

Driscoll’s sermon is partly about how to develop real, deep, unifying, lasting relationships. He says that for many of us, even with our “friends” we have very shallow relationships, because those friendships are merely the result of proximity or affinity. Then we move, our interests change, and within a few years we can’t even remember the names of our one-time “best friends”. (I think you’d agree so far.)

The answer, he says, real relationship, comes via a “gospel-centered partnership”.

“Jesus is the center of the relationship between you and someone else. This could be a friend, a parent. This could be a spouse. That Jesus is between the two of you because sin will come between the two of you and sin leads to spiritual death, disconnection from God, physical death. We actually die. And relational death. It separates people.

And so, Jesus dies to forgive – take away sin. Now, we can have a reconciled relationship with God and with one another.”

Driscoll sees making Jesus the center of a relationship the only way to have real and permanent unity with another person. Not only does this give two Christians a common goal in life in addition to everything else they may share – to advance the gospel – but it also gives them a way to deal with the sin problem. We sin against each other, we let each other down – Christians know about forgiveness and grace, they know how to deal with that problem better than the world does.

Unity is a relational quality. Fortunately for us, Jesus shows us how and enables us to have real relationships. (I realize your post is more about taking advantage of relational groups that have already formed than forming them in the first place, but it brought this sermon to mind!)

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