What Does it Mean to be a Friend?

One of the most important yet forgotten issues that we know in our Christian life is this: friendship. It’s almost as if we think it’s so easy that we don’t really talk about it or emphasize it when we preach the Word. The reality is, friendship is crucial. In fact, it’s the only relationship that continues when we get to heaven. To help us understand what biblical friendship is (not just superficial relationships), we chat with pastor and counsellor at Parkside Church in Ohio, Jonathan Holmes. Our conversation hones in on how we’re relational beings, what biblical friendship is, and how to grow in friendships that glorify God.

 

Who’s Our Guest?

Jonathan Holmes is a campus pastor at Parkside Church (where Alistair Begg preaches), and oversees all of their counselling as well. Jonathan has graduated with degrees in Biblical Counseling and History from The Master’s College and has a master’s degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Jonathan and his wife, Jennifer, are parents of four daughters. Jonathan enjoys traveling, reading, politics and spending time with his wife.

Episode Links

Jonathan’s book is called The Company We Keep: In Search for Biblical Friendship. Check it out!

Read It

*Below is an edited transcription of the audio conversation.

Introduction

With me today is Jonathan Holmes. Jonathan is a campus pastor at Parkside Church and oversees counselling under all the churches under Parkside Church in Ohio. And Parkside Church is actually where Alistair Begg teaches – you might have heard that name before. Jonathan is also the author of The Company We Keep: In Search of Biblical Friendship.

Anyways, thanks for coming on the show today Jonathan.

Thank you Isaac.

Why don’t you just first tell us a bit about yourself. So, for myself and listeners, we can know who you are – your family, hobbies, etc. And also the work you do at Parkside Church.

Well thanks so much for having me on, it’s an honour and a privilege anytime I can talk and share about Christ and specifically about friendship.

My name’s Jonathan, I serve at Parkside Church as the pastor of counselling. We have four campuses here in the Cleveland area. And I oversee our counselling and our counselling ministries as well as serve at one of our campuses in the southern part of the city.

I’m married, I’ve been married for about eleven years to my wonderful wife Jen. We have four children, all girls. I have girls going from age eight all the way to two. And it is an exciting time in the Holmes’ home. So, I love having all girls, I love having daughters, it’s been a wonderful adventure.

I don’t know if you have free time, but if you did, what are some things that you enjoy to do?

Right, well when we’re not changing diapers and we’re not doing math homework, my wife and I love to travel, we love to share a good meal together. I like to read, I like to be outside and do gardening and things around the yard. And I just love being with other people too.

Let’s just head straight into it because I really want to have a lot of this time to get into friendship.

Let’s start here: you mention in your book that we are relational beings – that, as a human, part of our ontology is that we’re relational. I guess the first question is, what does that mean and where do we find that in Scripture?

Right, great question. Well, when you look at the Genesis narratives there in Genesis 1 and 2, you see in Genesis 1:26 that God makes us in His image, and a lot has been written and said about that plural pronoun the...