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

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Spiritual Friendship

Discussion Questions

In 2.40−41 Aelred explains that someone who supports their friend in sin is not a true friend. Aelred provides biblical examples as well as

one from his own time. Can you think of current examples of friends who rationalized supporting a Christian leader despite significant ongoing sin? Would you have the courage to oppose a friend who is making a sinful choice?

Aelred describes a “childish friendship” that is entered into “without reason, without weight, without moderation, without any consideration

of whether the friendship will be spiritually beneficial or not” (2.57). Have you ever experienced a “childish friendship.” How can we tell the difference between a childish friendship and a spiritual friendship (2.57−59)?

Aelred states that prioritizing spiritual friendship is costly (2.45−49). He points to the Apostle Paul and to King David’s friend, Hushai the

Arkite, as examples of friends who suffered because of their commitment to true friendship (2.50−53). How do you feel about paying the price spiritual friendship requires? Is it an easy or difficult price to pay? In your experience, has the pain been worth the gain?