Evendays

I was surprised by the chapter in Tippens’ book, Pilgrim Heart, that he considered friendship a “walking” spiritual discipline. Then I glanced at a book on disciplines that a colleague gave me a few years ago entitled: The disciplines of a Godly Man (Hughes) and in the first section there was a chapter on friendship. Tippens’ book is worth reading. Don’t worry about the other one.

Both authors use the example of friendship from the lives of Jonathan and David.

1 Sam 18.1: Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.

Differences? You bet. Things to learn about each other? Of course. But there was a unity of spirits and a solid friendship that declared: I will put you before me. I will love you first, even if it costs me my life.

Jonathan is not girly boy. In chapter 14 of 1 Samuel King Saul’s son routs an entire army. David is not a wimp. He took on Goliath, but he also took on lion and bear, willing to sacrifice his own life for the sake of his father’s flocks. And he did that when he was only a kid (no pun intended).

1 Sam 19.2: Jonathan warned David, My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there.

Friendship is a place of security. It’s knowing that your life is in good hands. It is said that troops on the battlefield risk their lives during battle not for country or for values nor to save society from greater ills. Soldiers risk their lives to save their brothers in arms.

Jonathan risked the murdering wrath of his father and hid his friend. Tippens writes that in Heller’s book, Good as Gold, Ralph and Bruce (a Jew) are talking about if they are truly friends. Bruce, the Jew says:

The important thing is not our social worlds but our friendship. There’s a definition of a friend I once heard expressed by my Swedish publisher. He’s Jewish, Ralph, and he lived in Germany under Hitler as a child until his family escaped. He has only one test of a friend now, he told me: “Would he hide me?” is the question he asks. It’s pretty much my test of a friend too, when I come down to it. Ralph, if Hitler returns, would you hide me?

When David asked Jonathan a similar question, his buddy answered: Sure, I’ll hide you. I will not betray you.

Friendships are risky. They put life on the line.