Once again, Tim Keller opens the lid on friendship from a biblical perspective. A couple of highlights...gospel friendships are marked by:
1) Constancy. That is, friends are available to each other and support each other in every kind of life circumstance. This is not the same as being inseparable. In fact, Keller points out the proverb that says you can wear out your welcome with a friend.
2) Carefulness. Here, you know a person well enough that you know what they are feeling and don't say or do things that unnecessarily hurt them. You would seldom accidentally hurt them because you know them well and a careful (full of care) for them.
3) Candor. Sometimes you will hurt them. But you do this for their good. And they know it.
4) Counsel. This is blurry to me now, but I am sure it was good! (I actually think it was tied fairly closely with candor.
Furthermore, friendships are both discovered and forged. Friendships start with the discovery. When talking to someone you find that you share similar convictions or affinities. You think or say to the other "you too?" Do this enough times and you may have someone with the potential to be a good friend. But while friendships start here with discovery, they also must be forged. That is, they take some deliberate effort but this effort is not contrived; rather, there is a seemingly instinctual desire to seek the growth of the other. I am not doing justice to what Keller explains. You should simply listen.
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