The Intimacy God Gives Us
Quick Take: Intimacy with God is our greatest need. We think that intimacy is what we experience in a deeper relationship. But there is an intimacy we are given from God that we can know from the very beginning of our relationship with him.But there is an intimacy we are given from God that we can know from the very beginning of our relationship with Him. This truth is the forgotten Gospel.
We already felt alone. Already had struggled with the feelings of disconnection and isolation, the dark emotional residue of an information technology that – like a python – is slowly squeezing the life out of us. Then the pandemic rocked us, then the tectonic plates of our politics abruptly shifted, erupting into divisiveness and rancor rarely in our society.
The world that emerges from this will be different, and here in America, will be increasingly hostile to The Church. Even hostile to Christ, who many think is irrelevant, even dangerous to their secular agenda.
So, as Christ followers, how do we prepare for this? I have been struck by how rattled so many church people have been over the last year. I get it. But, if we’ve been rattled by 2020, are we anywhere near prepared for what’s to come?
I suggest the place to start is learning the ways of intimacy with God. “Oh, more worship, more prayer!” Yes, but an intimacy that goes deeper than that. “Oh, obedience, learning more of God’s character, hearing His voice.” Still, an intimacy that goes deeper than this.
When most people hear the word ‘intimacy’ they think of romance, or sexual intimacy. Our culture has a hard time understanding intimacy because the word is used almost entirely to describe a sexual relationship. Look at most on-line definitions of the word and it’s almost always used in connection with sex.
But intimacy is a lot more than sex. It can be experienced in a deep friendship as well… But there is a Spirit-to-spirit intimacy with God that goes deeper still.
Those of us who are Christ-followers do understand spiritual intimacy with God, but often associate it with worship, prayer, obedience. Alone times with Him listening to His still small voice. And certainly, that’s a part of what intimacy is.
But what if intimacy was more than this? What if it was more profound than even worship?
Most of us would see intimacy as something we develop with another. We establish a relationship, and then get closer over time as we build rapport and trust. Intimacy is something we grow in, something we develop after we start a relationship.
But what if it was the other way around? What if relationship grew out of intimacy? What if intimacy was given to us even before it was developed?
What if there is a received intimacy that we don’t have to work for?
Intimacy is our greatest need. It is that most profound relational dynamic of ‘seeing another, and being seen by that other. There’s a moment in the James Cameron’s classic film Avatar, when Neytiri, the tribal princess, looks at Jake Sully, the research scientist and simply says ‘I see you.’
Intimacy is the deep contentment of being seen as you really are, and being totally accepted for who you really are. Being known by and knowing another that is so blissful and freeing, that we can feel secure enough to be vulnerable, safe enough to be honest, and free enough to be transparent.
We want to fully see and be seen by another, loved for exactly who we are! That’s the intimacy we’re designed for.
If that’s our greatest need, why do we experience it so rarely? And why would it be something we had to wait for until we had grown deep enough in a relationship?
The good news is that you don’t! There’s an intimacy we can know before we even grow! I know this seems counterintuitive, because if intimacy is all about vulnerability, honesty, transparency, who’s just going to jump into that in a relationship? Lots of trust has to be built before we relate to someone at this level.
But there is an intimacy with God that is ours from the start. An intimacy we receive from Him before we even develop relationship with Him. An intimacy not based on worship, prayer, or obedience.
And if there IS such an intimacy to be known, it makes perfect sense! If intimacy is our greatest need, yet can only we experienced to the degree we worship, pray or obey; only felt when we do certain things, only grasped after we take time and build relationship with God… why would God withhold from us our greatest need?
Unless, we’ve misunderstood intimacy.
That’s what I want to explore with you in these next several blogs. The intimacy that comes before relationship. The intimacy not based in worship, prayer, or obedience – but that when rightly understood, empowers us to want to worship, pray and obey for a lifetime!
This is what I call the forgotten Gospel. Part of the Good News that for many has lain hidden for a long time. The intimacy you don’t have to wait for. The intimacy you don’t have to develop. The intimacy that you can know immediately with God, from which all things become new!
Intimacy with God must be our core focus, especially in this season of division, disconnect and discontent. Because everything else will flow from that. For those grieving over The Church’s divisions, relational healing will flow from intimacy. For those disturbed over our nation’s drift from God, faith for restoration will flow from intimacy. For those agitated about injustices, hopeful activism will flow from intimacy.
If intimacy is our deepest need, it is also the greatest solution! How we can be totally transformed by this ‘received intimacy’ is what we want to explore in subsequent blogs.