Session 3: Relationships and Truth

Who is my Neighbour? 

Some of our neighbours and community partners from Banff Community House. 

 

 

Chapter 3 – Relationships

Eric Law talks about 3 degrees of influence, as opposed to 6 degrees of separation (Christakis and Fowler)

            Do you think we can influence people in this way?   

            Have you ever witnessed it at work?
Which influences are more powerful, positive or negative? Why?

He also talks about applying that theory to our relationship with Jesus, and through Jesus, God. 

However, centuries of theology and tradition sometimes put many more layers, or distance, between us and Jesus, unless we are attentive and developing a sense of a personal relationship. 

 If we look at the images of Jesus we find in our hymns – which do you think are most direct? 

            (In Voices United, the section on Jesus is found at 325-366.)

 

Pick out some that you think are many degrees away from “real” Jesus

Pick out some that you think are three or less degrees away from “real” Jesus

 

Try to imagine that everyone we meet is only 3 degrees away from us – how would it affect the way we treat people?  Would you intervene more quickly?  Would we say:  “It’s none of my business…”

Who is my Neighbour? 

We looked at Ottawa Neighbourhood study sheet for Alta Vista and Greenboro areas.
http://neighbourhoodstudy.ca

What kinds of ministries would build relationships with these neighbourhoods? (the point is not to not get them into church, but to BUILD RELATIONSHIPS!)

Internal Relationships:  Think of someone in the church – how has your contact been with them in the last few months?  Think of someone with whom you’ve had the opposite experience…

We also worked through the relationship exercises in the chapter as well.

Chapter 4 – The story about Homeboys –

Note how the strength of a relationship can change people’s lives – communicates the message that they are worth the attention.

If one person’s all-encompassing passion can change so many, how much of our time does it take to change one or two??

 

Chapter 5 – The Currency of Truth 

What is Truth?  Law has some interesting perspectives on “truth”.

His social analysis proposes that the dominant truth writes the history books, subversive truth (or truths) are often voiceless, but not unimportant.

Compiling “Divine” truth requires some work  Process p. 48/workbook

1)      Raise the self-esteem of the powerless
2)      Listen to the truth of the powerless first
3)      Divine truth is global truth
4)      Exposes system of oppression
5)      Divine truth= divine judgement
6)      Ultimately, restores the community

2 languages:  bring more, deeper perspective

Hebrew – aleph – mem – tav – truth needs beginning, middle and conclusion
            (Like Jesus:  The Way, Truth and Life)
Chinese – 10 eyes on the table – many different perspectives are needed to have truth.

What is truth in the church?  Take a look at the table on p. 49.

 Truth “currency” – a truth that is in motion, taking us to places that aren’t always comfortable – hearing truths that may hurt, and not debating them, or getting defensive, waiting until it is appropriate to speak (if it is.)

 It also takes courage to offer truths that might hurt, and not watering them down. 

Where do we see this in the church? 

            Residential schools

            GLBTQ
            Palestine and Israel
            Mining in Guatemala and Philippines
Locally? 

Closing Scripture:  we read John 18:33-38, the dialogue between Jesus and Pilate – Jesus’ truth collides with Pilate’s, and leaves him wondering:  “What is truth?”