Experiencing God Through Human Relationships
2009 March 17
From an article written by Wesley Hill, a Christian man struggling with his sexuality and the loneliness that arises from celibacy:
I know well-meaning Christians who often remind me, “God’s love for you is better than any love you might find in a human relationship.” While I believe this is true in an ultimate and profound sense, putting it this way seems to set up a false dichotomy. A statement more in sync with the drift of the New Testament might go something like this: “God’s love for us is expressed and experienced mainly through the medium of human relationships.”
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Except for those who have a mystical connection with God, most feel God’s love come alive best through human relationships. That’s why God sent Jesus, after all–so we’d have a way to experience that profound love in its fullest fleshly expression.
That said, many find that taking communion is a time of experiencing God’s love. (Which is why I say “God’s love made real for you,” when I offer the bread and cup to folks.) And as the daughter of a Forest Ranger, nothing says “I love you, Karen,” more than an hour at the Grand Canyon or a day spent along the bluffs of the Ohio.
I completely agree. And therefore, I nurture a secret crush on Brian! :D I think!
@ Karen: I also feel the closest to God when I’m outside enjoying his handiwork, but there aren’t many things that can surpass feeling cherished by another human being.
@Amrutha: Aww! You’re so sweet.
Did you like the article? I haven’t finished reading it yet, but this kind of honesty is rare in Christian writing, I think.
@ Wei Hsien: I really enjoyed it, even though I disagreed with the authors perspective that homosexuals are required to live celibate lives. Sounds like he is beginning to question that himself.
Thanks for sharing this on Google Reader. I probably would have never seen it otherwise.