What dictates the difference between being an acquaintance, friend, or a best friend to somebody in your life? When does someone you simply acknowledge by name become more than just someone you say hello to while crossing paths? Why is it that we are so afraid to be revealed as the person we truly are to the people around us? These are all questions we should ask ourselves when it comes to truly being a part of the body of Christ; but more importantly, these are questions we should ask ourselves when evaluating our own personal walks with God. In this particular series, I will be focusing on how the level of vulnerability in our relationships is directly correlated with the intensity of love that is revealed in returned through the law of reciprocation; but most importantly, I will articulate how this very concept applies to our own relationship with God so that we can really challenge ourselves to beg the question: 'What am I to God and what is He to me?'
Acquaintances
On the outermost fringe of the walls we've created in order to maintain distance from the greater population around us, lies our generalized circle of acquaintances. These are the people we run into in the hallways of our lives and simply call out their names in order to acknowledge their existence with a simple greeting. Opportunities may arise from time to time so that we can exchange a few moments of light conversation and maintain the status quo between these pre-established affiliations; but for the most part, depth is hardly ever an attribute in these casual affairs. However, there is absolutely no harm in being nothing more than acquaintances; because ultimately, it is better to be acquainted with someone who is clearly a part of your world than to continue coexisting as complete strangers. Essentially, it is only okay in the sense that it is better to be acquainted than to be nothing at all.
Acknowledgment is one of the first steps in regard to forging a relationship with someone that is a part of the world in which you live. Logistically, it is almost impossible to take everyone of these acquainted relationships to the next level because, humans are confined by the boundaries of time and there is only so much of it that we can give. However, in the very least, we as integral parts of the body of Christ, should invest the time to become acquainted with other parts of the body as well. What good is it to the body of Christ if the left hand does not have a general understanding of the right? 1 Corinthians 12:12-20 does a great job of articulating the reality that though there are many different parts to the body of Christ, they are all still unified through Christ by saying:
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many
parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all
baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews
or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not
belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being
part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not
an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that
reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye,
where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an
ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed
the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them
to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?
As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The key concept to grasp onto, in regard to this passage and how it relates to our relationships with acquaintances, is the realization that any given individual is not necessarily meant to naturally connect with everyone else around him/her. Realistically, there will usually be certain people in your life that you quickly harmonize with, more so than everyone else. However, just because there are certain people in your life that you are naturally more comfortable connecting with, it does not mean you should discount the necessity to at least nurture a familiarity with other parts of the body as well.
Musicians will naturally mingle with other musicians and people with similar interests or circumstances will make quicker connections with others that are essentially on the same page. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this reality; however, it is when we as Christians begin to build up walls in order to enclose these comfort zones from everyone else that it becomes a problem. This is when many of us Christians prevent ourselves from establishing even the most basic relationships with other brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. Therefore, there is a crucial necessity for all of us to do our parts by breaking down those walls between certain "clicks" at church and instead work on bridging together the many different islands of social circles within the body of Christ. In saying this, I do not mean we should prevent ourselves from getting closer with our close friends so that we can try to diversify our loyalties; however, what I am saying, is that we should not restrict ourselves with comfort zones and instead, be willing to explore other areas within the body of Christ as well. How much more efficient would a body be if the eyes could coordinate seamlessly with the hands in order to execute even the most simple tasks? Because of this elementary principle that we all are so familiar with, it is important that the lowest common denominator in your relationships with the people in the world around you should be as an acquaintance rather than as a stranger.
Now that we have addressed the tip of the iceberg in regards to our understanding of acquaintances, let's take a deeper look and see how this concept is applied to the dynamic relationship between a Christian and his/her relationship with God. In our relationship with God, once we have made the conscious decision to accept the Lord as our personal savior, we are establishing the notion that the lowest common denominator in our relationship between us and God is an acquainted relationship. At this stage, we have established the fact that we acknowledge His existence and He is no longer a stranger to us. This type of relationship is very common amongst new believers that have just begun to familiarize themselves with the idea of establishing a relationship with God. However, don't you think it's sad that there are so many of us Christians, that no longer have the same excuse a new believer has; and yet, still find ourselves in the same type of relationship with God as a mere acquaintance?
This type of relationship with God is extremely dangerous for Christians that have a clear understanding of the Bible; and yet, are still satisfied with becoming complacent with this level of intimacy with God, regardless of how much time has passed. This is so because, though they may acknowledge God, and God acknowledges them, they will never be able to establish the level of intimacy needed in order for God to begin revealing deeper parts of His heart and love. Christians that have been comfortable with simply being acquainted with God will miss out on many aspects of God's Love that is just itching to be revealed to them if only they would be willing to take the next step of intimacy. The simplest things, such as nurturing a genuine curiosity, can make the difference between simply being acquainted with God and taking one step further into His love by becoming a friend instead: figuratively speaking. The question you have to ask yourself now, is 'Are you happy being just an acquaintance with God? Or are you hungry for more?' If the answer is the latter, then the solution is simple, be willing to become just a little more vulnerable and just a little more willing to surrender yourself in your relationship with God. It is then, you can move on from being just an acquaintance with God to actually being His Friend. Friendship and all the complexities associated with it will be discussed in my next entry; but until then, let this entry be food for thought and something we genuinely meditate on when it comes to our own personal walks with God.
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