John Armstrong's new book, Your Church Is Too Small published by Zondervan has drawn my interest for at least a couple of reasons. First, John and I go back a ways. I attended his church when he was in the sectarian stage of his faith journey during the 80's. Both of us left sectarianism but we traveled separate paths to arrive where we are today. Second, is my deep-rooted interest in friendship. Jesus called his disciples friends. Friendship in the Christian story is at the heart of marriage, community, mission, and reconciliation--not just with the world outside our Christian communities but also within. If we don't trivialize or sentimentalize friendship as Protestants are often tempted to do, a robust vision of friendship as communion summons us to deep oneness in community and solidarity. Friends who love each other deeply don't treat each other as projects, "causes," or stepping-stones to something more important. Friendship challenges "impersonal" community. Friendships are nurtured not just for the sake of the church or community. Friendships are nurtured for the sake of the particular other, for Christ, and for the kingdom. I see friendship as a metaphor describing complex social bonds that compel us to move beyond parochialism, sexism, sectarianism, and many other walls that separate "friends of Christ."
This leads me to John's driving vision for what he calls "missional-ecumenism." He dives into Jesus' prayer, "I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you" (John 17: 20-21). John believes Jesus prays for relational unity. That resonates with me. As a matter of fact, my own book was motivated by understanding Jesus' prayer for relational unity and the deep repercussions for nurturing and cultivating relational oneness between men and women as friends within our communities. So John did not have to convince me that Jesus prays for relational unity. We've come a long way, John!
In fact, one of the interesting facts in my own journey was the warm support and encouragement I have received from Catholics--theologians, nuns, and priests--to write a book on cross-gender friendship.
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