Friendship: A Key Part of Christianity

I didn't really choose to read this book, but ended up being so glad that I got the opportunity! I am currently enrolled in a political science class at my university, and this book was assigned as required reading. I expected to trudge my way through it, retaining as much material as possible through tedious notes. But I ended up loving this book and taking notes willingly! This short book, coauthored by Christopher L. Heuertz and Christine D. Pohl, is all about what it means to have Christian missions centered around friendship and genuine community with those that we are serving. Both of these authors share some of their anecdotes from years of work in mission organizations, specifically one called Word Made Flesh (WMF), and all that they have learned about being genuine relationship builders as they share the Word with our marginalized and poor brothers and sisters. What sticks with me the most about this book is the recurring theme that we must love others the way that Jesus loved others: by genuinely taking the time to be relational and building friendships of trust, patience, and hope in spite of terrible circumstances of poverty and abuse. It repeatedly makes a point of portraying the logical fallacies of goal-oriented organizations that do not seek those they are trying to convert as people worthy of being in relationship with. How, after all, are we supposed to tell people about the God who loves all people if we are not expressing that same kind of love to the people around us? All in all, I liked how I was able to make political as well as personal spiritual connections to the concepts and themes in this book. I would highly recommend it as a short but thought-provoking read!

Two of my favorite quotes from Friendships at the Margins:

"In drawing closer to Jesus, we discover that we cannot love him without loving others."

"Friendship with the source of love guarantees that we will have sufficient supply (of love)."

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