The Four Relationships
Essential Theology for Understanding the Good News
Jesus came to bring us life: “life in all its fullness” (John 10:10) This full life is all about relationships, much more than things or achievements, skills or experiences.
We are all involved in four different kinds of relationships – with God, with our Self, with Each other, and with our World. These can be placed at the four points of a cross with God at the head, Self at the base, and Each Other and World horizontally across.
The four relationships placed around the cross - Courtesy South West Baptist Church
The Cross - Christ is at the Centre
The cross reminds us that Jesus, who loves us and all people to the point of death on the cross, is our centre. All of these four relationships are held together by the work he did on the cross. Jesus died and rose again to redeem and transform them.
“Relationships are more important to God than anything else. They are his very nature.”
Following Jesus in our world means something revolutionary. We move from being the centre of our own lives to obeying Jesus and making him the centre of our life’s journey. Relationships are more important to God than anything else. They are his very nature. Following Jesus really is about a God who welcomes us – and all people – with arms wide open.
“Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
- Luke 4:14-19 (NIV)
Relationship with God - “God is God and I am not”
We start with this relationship. God created us to be in relationship with God and until we are, nothing in our world seems quite right. Our souls are restless. The good news of the Bible is that there is a God who loves us and wants to have a relationship with us.
Relationship with Self - “I am the beloved Child of God”
Our relationship with our Self is rooted in our identity as the beloved child of God. We are disciples of Christ, beloved but broken and with a deep need to continually grow to be more like him.
“Together, we are committed to Christ and, through that, make a promise to one another to commit to grow in these four relationships. Together we shape our lives around our devotion to God, forming our Selves, relating to Each Other and going together into the world on mission.”
Relationship with Each Other - “God’s Children are called together”
As we encounter God and claim our identity as His beloved children, we come into a new relationship with His other children. This relationship is rooted in the 'communal nature of God' - the Trinity communing together as three in one. God unites us so that God can dwell with God’s people.
Relationship with the World - “We are called to participate in the mission of God”
Our orientation to the world is framed forever by the sure knowledge that God is the Creator, and all God created was good. As the children of God join together, rooted in God and secure in their identity, there power comes to transform the world. God is at work through his people. The world will see that there is hope and redemption.
We grow in the four relationships by going together.
We ground these relationships in a place and alongside a people. We need others to walk alongside in this journey. It’s not a solo sport.
Together, we are committed to Christ and, through that, make a promise to one another to commit to grow in these four relationships. Together we shape our lives around our devotion to God, forming our Selves, relating to Each Other and going together into the world on mission. We can do this because God is Spirit working within each of us, and Jesus’ life, death and resurrection are the centre of our each of the four aspects of our life together.
“We ground these relationships in a place and alongside a people. We need others to walk alongside in this journey. It’s not a solo sport. ”
Devotional
Our love for God needs to be expressed through life together. We need to ensure there are spaces in which to grow and express this devotion – to be loved by God and to love God back, remembering that we are only able to love because God first loved us. As we get to know God, we get to know who we are in God.
Formational
We are Disciples of Christ, beloved but broken and with a deep need to continually grow to be more like him. Our communities need to be places which grow us as humans - made in the image of God. To become more our truer selves - comfortable in our own skins, passionate, unique, contributing, vulnerable and wholehearted - and able to help others do the same.
Relational
God unites His children so that God can dwell with God’s people. In these communities, we belong together in a common space. Working this out together takes patience and persistence. We are God’s people – that's plural. Not singular. Whanaungatanga.
Missional
We want our communities to be reflective of the coming kingdom – that when people look around they see transformation and a place fit for a king.