Spiritual Friendship: Learning to Be Friends with God and One Another

34

Spiritual Friendship

Discussion Questions

In an age where “friends” on social media often number in the hundreds or even thousands, do you agree with Cicero that true “friends”

are extremely rare? What about in the church? Do you think Aelred’s claim that true friendship is much more common in the church still rings true today? Is Aelred’s claim true in your church?

What do you think about Aelred’s claim that Christian friendship is eternal? He suggests that a friendship that does not last was actually

not a true Christian friendship because a friendship rooted in Christ will be never-ending. Have you experienced a friendship like this? Do you think the covenant friendship of Christian marriage might be an example of eternal friendship? Why or why not?

Aelred quotes a definition of a spiritual friend as one who is a “guardian of your soul.” Have you experienced someone who you would

describe as a “guardian of your soul”? What does it feel like to be in a relationship with someone you can trust completely with an unguarded heart? If you were to sort your friendships into categories, how many would be “soul guardians”? How many would be “eternal friends”? How many would be simply acquaintances or just known names?