What If Jesus Wasn't Sent To Just Be Our Personal Friend? How A Half-Truth May Become A Heresy

Is this kind of world view increasingly
defining our theology?

"I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses.

Refrain:
And he walks with me and he talks with me, and he tells me I am his own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known."

- Lyrics by Paul Brandt

I still enjoy singing this kind of gospel song, one of many of its kind that continue to evoke good feelings  and warm memories. And I will always cherish the thought of experiencing intimate fellowship with one I claim as my Master and Redeemer.

Many Christians agree, as indicated by the popularity of Sarah Young's books in her 'Jesus Calling' series, which suggest that a primary work of Jesus today is to engage in daily conversations with each of us. 

I certainly don't want to take away from the benefit of exercising ones spiritual imagination in this way, picturing what Jesus might say were he to engage in such dialogue. Yet I'm finding it hard to find support for the kind of one-on-one alone time this assumes Jesus is simultaneously giving billions of believers who are presumably enjoying his undivided personal attention. Does this kind of "in the garden alone" theology really square with what Jesus himself, his early followers, or later church leaders and reformers taught?

I agree that Jesus, in his ministry here on earth, did call his disciples his friends, and that he certainly proved himself to be a friend to despised 'sinners' and other marginalized people as well. But what did Jesus mean when he repeatedly told his disciples it was good that he would be returning to his Father, and that they would be experiencing the indwelling of God's very own Spirit as their abiding, daily communicator, comforter and counselor in his physical absence?

And what if Jesus expected us to experience our most intimate fellowship with him in the presence of fellow believers gathered in his name, where the various gifts of the Spirit are being exercised for the mutual building up of everyone's faith, and where we celebrate the presence of Jesus in the bread and cup of the Lord's Supper? For me, this focus on the church as the living, Spirit-led embodiment of Christ in the world today is the glaring missing piece in Sarah Young's and Paul Brandt's world view.

In addition, what if Jesus would have us especially seek intimacy with him in the presence of the hungry, homeless, sick and in prison, always in the spirit of his promise that, "whatever you do for the least of these you are doing for me?"

I present this not as the definitive word on how Jesus relates to us today, nor to counter how others are experiencing him, but as an inquiry into how we can all more fully enjoy his abundant life--together.

And that of course means we will also want to individually reflect daily on God's Word, God's Spirit and on what it means to be God's people.

Your thoughts?

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(Jesus) ...is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.   Colossians 1:15-18 NIV