Friendships Of Meaning (An excerpt from Partners In Grace)

That sinking feeling which Peter felt becomes our own, and so instinctively we reach out for help. It is for these times that we are encouraged to find strength in agreement with others.

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 18:19

Our faith, joined with that of others who believe, offers an irresistible strength. However, many are reluctant to seek out a partner who might join with them in prayerful agreement if such an occasion would require the admission of a fault.

So great can be the fear that they will now be regarded in light of their challenge and defined by their weakness that they recoil from the very act which promises liberty.

Yes, for many, the risk associated with revealing a nagging sin is simply too great. Fearing that they will now be perceived in light of their sin, branded by it, they turn from the very promise (James 5:16) that offers help.

This hostility toward the weakness endemic to us all, this refusal to acknowledge the very real problems of the human condition, has left the Church withdrawing with one hand the help we offer with the other. It is little wonder we struggle as we do. However, if the confession of our faults to partners in grace is a consistent spiritual practice, such agreement would be normal.

What is a partner is grace? It is a fellow Christian who carefully acknowledges that God alone enjoys the privilege of defining you. A friend who chooses to believe what God’s Word declares about you . . . despite the very real presence of behaviors which suggest otherwise.

A partner in grace chooses to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7), believing the absolute truth about you and encouraging you in that image; encouraging you to join him in viewing yourself from God’s perspective. These Friendships of Meaning are essential to a life lived well, to a life of progressive liberty.

Our hearts yearn for such intimate friendships; relationships which welcome and thrive on authenticity, and which spawn life-giving humility and acceptance. Trust occurs easily and remains intact among such friends. This sort of friendship is love-in-action and was an important feature of the early church.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved

Acts 2:41-47

The word fellowship as it occurs in this passage is translated from the Greek word “koinōnia” meaning fellowship, intimacy, community, communion and joint participation. The ensuing text reveals a people fully alive to Jesus and fully engaged in each other’s lives - not as busy bodies but as devoted and caring partners, as intimate and valued friends. They were, in short, a family.

These friendships of meaning provide the context and locus within which grace enjoys its fullest expression in our lives. It appears that such relationships are essential to our complete growth as a believer. They are also wellsprings of deep fulfillment - we crave such friendships. We were created not only with a capacity for such rich, lifelong friendships - we require them. We are incomplete and wanting in their absence.

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An Excerpt From Partners In Grace

The following is an excerpt from Partners In Grace

... Jesus’ response is both revealing and instructive. Remarkably, rather than respond to their question, He chose instead to stoop and begin writing in the sand. His silent indifference spoke eloquently and powerfully to those gathered. “I’ve no time for your accusations,” Jesus seemed to say. Though He was always alert to those in need, toward those seeking Him, Jesus now fell suddenly deaf to those eager to reveal another’s sin. Finally rising, He silenced the accusers, undoing their scheme by merely exposing their own humanity; their own human frailty. “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”.

Challenging them to self-examination, Jesus confronted them with their hypocrisy. Now urged to publicly acknowledge their own fallen and conflicted states, forced to confront the reality of their own humanity, the woman’s accusers began to vanish one by one, leaving her at last alone with Jesus.

The manner in which He deals with the woman speaks volumes to us today. Jesus said simply, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?” Imagine her stunned surprise; the relief and gratefulness which must have washed over her as Jesus spoke. This unexpected turn of events appeared to offer her a reprieve and hope.

As Jesus spoke, shame - that haunting specter of her sin - began to lose its hold. No longer able to define her by her sin (and forge stronger still the chains binding her to her faults), shame gave way to a powerful new reality and context within which her life could be redefined.

The effort to define her by her behavior had lost its sway. In its place, Jesus offered a new narrative; one centered in a reality shaped by redemption, and by His love and compassion. Jesus offered more than a stay of execution. He offered freedom from her sin; liberation from her weakness. “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin nor more”.

The One whose opinion mattered most signaled His power over sin. Was He merely admonishing her to abandon the practice of adultery? Or was He offering strength to resist and forsake the practice. Was He offering a new identity? I fear we often read in this remark only a reproving command; however, much more was at work here than is at first apparent.

The words of Jesus expressed more than meaning; they conveyed power. When He spoke to those demonically tormented, they were freed. When He addressed disease, healing came. Even the elements obeyed His word. Consequently, His words “Go and sin no more” were more than an admonition. Though, to be certain, they offered correction, they were also life.

He announced emancipation. As He spoke, a liberating dynamic infused her life. She undoubtedly experienced what Paul, the Apostle, would later describe as, “God . . . working in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Phil 2:13). What had once defined her, no longer held her captive.

In the space of a single encounter, Jesus revolutionized our understanding of sin, the human condition, and redemption. He not only laid bare the hypocrisy of self-righteousness but lovingly embraced human frailty and offered with assurance, a way forward.

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Introduction to Partners In Grace

A revolution is underway. Quietly, but decidedly the Church is recovering a biblical perspective of the human condition … our humanity. Our humanity is a marvelous gift. It allows us to linger in wonder as we watch a setting sun bathe the landscape in brilliant reds and oranges, drinking in its beauty.

Appreciating the joys of friendship and love, the simple pleasures of food or song are all possible because of our humanity . . . our humanness. From the simple to the sublime, our humanity allows us to not simply survive but to really live – to revel in God, each other and life itself with passion and delight. To savor its wonders and joys as no other living creature can.

But our humanity also reflects a darker side; that less appealing edition of ourselves from which we yearn to be free, or at least keep under wraps. The human condition assures that each of us is flawed; each of us is in need of fixing, each in need of grace, and each craving freedom. Those faults and the weaknesses which spawn them can diminish our joy, intrude upon our relationships and leave us feeling distant from God … and those we yearn to be near.

We long for authenticity. We long for real, enduring and intimate friendships. And we long for the presence of a living Jesus with the freedom He brings. But our faults appear to stubbornly block the way. Ironically, it may be those very weaknesses which hold the key to making our dreams of freedom, intimacy and authenticity a reality; which when approached properly begin freeing us from bondage and isolation.

In this book, I deal candidly with the subject of our weaknesses . . . our human frailty. I also paint a vivid picture of enduring freedom and the robust, authentic friendships and perspectives which make that freedom ours. We explore the virtue of wholesome, genuine humility and the relief it yields as well as the ancient spiritual (and decidedly biblical) practices which encourage it.

This is a book for people who’ve grown weary of pretending, weary of reaching for a prize which seems to remain, frustratingly, just beyond our reach. This book is written for people who are prepared to demand more from their Christianity than vapid excuses and empty consolation. This is a book for people who want change. Wholesale, transformational change and a life full of the joy, victory and breathless adventure scripture offers. In short, I’ve written this book for people, just like you, who are ready to really begin living; ready to leave behind the dreary routine that a listless Christianity can leave us captive to.

This book has been written to address our response to the reality of the human condition. It has been written in as few pages as possible in order to appeal to as many as possible, because its message is so important . . . so revolutionizing. While it’s intended for anyone who’ll take the time to read it, I’ve written it especially for believers who yearn for more: more freedom, more contentment, more authenticity, more intimacy in friendships and more joy in their walk with Jesus Christ.

I’m hopeful that as you read this book you’ll begin to discover God’s extraordinary and simple plan for experiencing this life of more that He’s intended. Jesus said simply,

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10)

I pray that you find this little book helpful, that you’ll discover the “Partners in Grace” which God has brought into your life and begin enjoying more freedom, more power and more joy than you’ve ever imagined possible.

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Read the Book ... Join the Conversation

The ebook Partners In Grace is now available for immediate download. While I'm encouraged by the response of those who've read the book I'm urging everyone who has downloaded and read the book to join in the conversation about its subject.

A movement is underway around the globe ... in church after church people are awakening to God's call to authenticity, enduring and joyful friendships of meaning, and awakening to a practical and powerful living grace and transformational change.

This ebook is a part of that movement ... by engaging in this conversation we are more likely to integrate these truths into our lives, and experience personally their power. Its exciting actually, together we''ll share our insights and experiences and grow into a community who are experiencing the extraordinary outcomes we've read about.

Friendships of meaning are certain to grow out of this conversation, our perspectives will increasingly reflect the reality of God and His kingdom and the change we've yearned for will begin to emerge as a part of our real life experience. Wow!

I'll be posting video's this week on our Youtube Channel and posting a 15 minute talk on our Blogtalk Radio broadcast as well. Soon, I'll host a live call in program on that same outlet so that we can all hear your experiences as you process and practice these concepts. I can't wait ...

So, again, read the book ... then, join the conversation!

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Launched!

Well, after more than a year of work, numerous revisions and lots of feedback Partners In Grace has at last been released as an eBook. I wanted to keep the book smallish (less than 100 pages)in order to encourage as many as possible to read it and involve as many as possible in a robust and engaging conversation about the ideas I've written about.

One of the country's largest Christian publishing houses requested a copy of the manuscript from a pastor who was reviewing it, however, we have decided to self publish Partners In Grace. I'm not sure if they were going to choose to publish it (though it was nice to have attracted at least their interest!) but we wished to maintain control over the book because of the larger effort we are launching with Partners In Grace.

Drafts of Partners In Grace were given over the last twelve months to a fairly diverse cross section of people. The response has been consistent ... the book was a refreshing and exciting approach to resolving the conflict which every objective believer knows ... the struggle between the "New Man" and that older edition of ourselves.

The powerlessness and frustration so many have felt because of this internal conflict began to yield to a wonderful sense of empowerment and comradery as they read Partners In Grace. New, biblically informed perspectives have fostered openness, authenticity, liberty and real community. Enduring, life giving friendships are replacing the pseudo-community which, sadly, has often been the experience of so many.

Struggling against any problem alone can foster a sense of isolation ... grappling alone with nagging sin can yield brooding hopelessness and crippling shame. And though the Church is uniquely equipped to combat such self-sabotage, it often fails to.

Not because it intends to, but because it has lost sight of its singular ability to bridge our falleness with redemption. To chart a path forward which promises not only liberty but authenticity and genuine, enduring friendships ... community on a level we dare only dream of.

The early Church enjoyed just such an approach to this dilemma, one which spoke powerfully to God's very present reality and love. Deeply personal, life giving relationships, vibrant community and real freedom offered an irresistible witness of the Living Jesus Christ.

The book Partners in Grace reintroduces readers to that dynamic by not only presenting those ideas to its readers but also by engaging them in a conversation ... a global conversation!

The discussion forums as well as the Live Call In Internet Radio Broadcast will help join people in this important discussion. We'll share insights and experiences together as we work to integrate these truths into our lives and churches.

Please take the time to follow us on Facebook and Twitter. As soon as video posts on our YouTube channel we'll let you know.

Well, that's all for now ... looking forward to the Conversation! Oh yeah ... read The Book!

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