Expert: Dr. Ronald E. Shultz - 7/3/2006

Question
And where in the Bible or orthodox Christian history (e.g. not Pentecostalism) is your wild interpretation to be found? The Bible, in a few verses, talks about a closer relationship (friend and parent/child rather than master/slave) between man and God. Nowhere does it elucidate or define that. You basically just expanded on what my definition of relationship was- to grow in love for God and to become more like Him in our actions. You didn't define "manifesting". Does Jesus physically appear to you? Isn't this whole excessive emphasis on "relationship" a perfect vehicle for the ethereal, esoteric, and exotic experiences you condemn? Isn't it all just emotionalism run amuck? Shouldn't a person's fruits (actions) be the thing that is measured, rather than some amorphous "relationship"?
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Followup To

Question -
I've been hearing a lot lately about having a "relationship" with Jesus. My first reaction was that that concept is a very new and nebulous kind of touchy-feely American term that could mean anything. It's enough that we have faith (through grace) in Jesus' words and obey His commandments (good works) so that we are saved. My "relationship" with Him consists of worship through prayer and the tendency of my heart to do His will rather than my own. However, a few verses were pointed out to me which do seem to indicate a new kind of relationship to God than that enjoyed under the Old Covenant. They talk about a relationship between friends or between a parent and child rather than one between a master a slave. OK, but what exactly do these mean? John 15:15 (I know longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.)
1 Cor 1:9 (God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord).
Rom 8:14 (For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, "Abba, Father!" The Spirit itself bears witness that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him)

Answer -
What do you call that interaction between a Father and a Son/Daughter if not a relationship?

John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.  (KJV)

If someone manifests Himself to you it is a bit more than prayer and a tendency to do their will.  Sadly, many who profess to be Christians never have much of a manifestation because frankly many who profess do not possess and the rest are just disobedient or unbelieving children.

Now He is a God that sometimes hides Himself but through the Holy Spirit bringing the Word to life for us and in us we start to develop a true relationship with Christ that is more profound and intimate than the best earthly one imaginable.  We have the mind of Christ, access to the Father through Him and a personal tutor in the Holy Spirit to bring us into a vibrant relationship with all three.  

The struggle in Christianity has always been between "dry" Orthodoxy and "wildfire" Pietism.  The balance is vibrant Christianity.  One of the reasons that many of the main line denominations started dying outside of leaving the KJV/TR and their doctrinal moorings is that they became steeped in their traditions.  What true doctrine they may have had was overshadowed by manmade rituals so that while the door to salvation was there they had locked it with tradition and made the truth seem dry and moldy rather than fresh moist bread to satisfy the hunger of the seeker.  

To compensate for that seeming dryness of  

Answer
Hmmm, I don't see it as wild or unorthodox.   Manifest means to make visible though it need not be as a vision.  I don't see 900 foot Jesus images.

Strong's # 1718 emphanizo {em-fan-id'-zo}
from 1717; TDNT - 9:7,1244; v
AV - inform 3, be manifest 2, appear 2, signify 1, show 1, declare plainly 1; 10
1) to manifest, exhibit to view 2) to show one's self, come to view, appear, be manifest 3) to indicate, disclose, declare, make known  For Synonyms see entry 5831

When we are obedient, God does reveal Himself to us in various ways.  John Wesley was not a Pentecostal yet he felt his heart strangely warmed at his conversion and in his journal speaks of times when he was more aware of God's presence and direction than at other times.  D. L. Moody once felt the power of God on him so much that he had to beg God to back off for he feared he would die.  Not all manifestations are that strong.  I can remember clearly that I could literally sense God directing me to various passages or at least my attention to them and almost felt like He was saying, "Son, you need to get these down pat."  I have had peace that could only come from God at least twice in my life during my wife's MI and  while my wife was witnessing to her mother who was in a coma.  I had the Holy Spirit bring to mind a passage that I had not even remembered reading and wasn't even sure if it was scriptue until after I left the person I was talking to and looked it up.  That is a relationship thing as much as one might call it a mental/spiritual one.  He was there for me when I needed Him even though I didn't know I needed Him.

Yes, anything can be abused. Hence all emphasis on doctrinal   purity without seeking a relationship is as bad as all emotional experiences without sound doctrine.  Balance is always the key.  God gave us emotions and He expresses Himself as having emotion so why can't a person have an emotional and rational relationship with God at the same time?  

If I am born into a family and adopted those are relational terms.  We are exhorted all through Scripture to know God.
To know someone you have to develop a relationship with them.  You know your wife because of your relationship.  If you would have gotten married over the Internet you would have facts about your wife but you would not ever truly know her unless you met and lived together.     

The fruits of your marriage came from relationship.  Your children for sure but what about the being able to communicate just by gestures, eye movements or sighs?  Finishing each other's sentences because you have in a sense become one mind.  You didn't just exchange resumes or survey answers to know each other.  You interacted and that interaction affected both of you.  In a relationship with God you will do the changing but He will work with you in the way you grow best. YES, that should manifest itself in love and actions.

The Holy Spirit should be bringing you into a closer relationship with Christ as He leads you into all truth and reveals things about Christ to you.  Paul was was working on knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection but as with all healthy relationships he still had a ways to go until he died and stood before Him and then got to know Him as he was known by Christ.

The longer we interact in the relationship the more we should become like Him but it takes more than just head knowledge to do that.  I am not sure I can elucidate it any better.  The terms mean what they mean.  I don't see the complexity or problem.  

While I understand your concern about the dangers of unbalanced and unscriptural emotional experiences we can't just make Christianity a purely philosophical and grocery list thing.  He gives us joy and peace.  Those are emotions.   They may express themselves in various levels but they are a normal part of a relationship with God.  Do a concordance word study on emotional and relational terms.  You may find your opinion changed.

Blessings in your search!