Today we come to the fourth law of the scout-A scout is friendly.

The manual says, “A scout is friendly.  He is a friend to all and a brother to every scout.”  (p.15)

Usually when I ask someone what their church is like the number one answer is, “We are a friendly church!”  That statement creeps me out a little bit to be quite honest.  In my mind, and I realize it is a twisted one, when someone says, “We are a friendly church” the mental image I get is of people wanting to know all about you and are more than willing to tell you all about themselves on your very first visit.  The “friendly church” conjures up images a being swarmed by the “regulars” on your first visit with handshakes, hugs, and in some places-kisses.  “We are a friendly church” is oftentimes code for, “our worship isn’t so hot, our preacher is dry, our building is falling down, we really don’t have much going on, but we sure are a friendly bunch!”

            On the Individual level the idea of “friendly” people is equally wearisome to me.  When I hear someone describe themself as “friendly” I think, “Oh, No!  Mr. or Mrs. Obnoxious is going to try and get in my business any second now.”  Or the friendly type who just sort of oozes sweetness and charm all over you.  Some people might like that, me, I feel like taking a shower after being around someone like that.

I hope you realize that I am trying to be humorous here-the world needs genuine friendly people.  But, what is this notion of being friendly?  The English dictionary defines friendly like this:

FRIENDLY (adjective)

  The adjective FRIENDLY has 4 senses:

1.      Characteristic of or befitting a friend

2. Favorably disposed; not antagonistic or hostile

3. Easy to understand or use

4. of or belonging to your own country's forces or those of an ally

A Scripture safari will turn up many verses and guidelines concerning this idea of friendliness. 

1.      Characteristic of or befitting a friend.

“A friend loves at all times and a brother was born for adversity.”  Proverbs 17.17

2. Favorably disposed; not antagonistic or hostile.

And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ forgave you.”  Ephesians 4.32

3. Easy to understand or use

Jesus made the ultimate statement on being “user-friendly” in Matthew 11.30-“For My yoke is easy and my load is light.” 

4. Of or belonging to your own country's forces or those of an ally.

Paul captured the essence of this sense of being friendly when he wrote, “make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.”  Philippians 2.2

So putting this together it appears that friendliness is more than being welcoming and warm to other people.  Friendliness means having genuine love for others and a concern for their welfare.  It means that we take the chip off our shoulder and drop our defenses and stop being hostile to those around us.  It means we become approachable and simple in sharing Christ’s love with others.  It means we take seriously our role as part of the body of Christ and as His ambassadors to a lost and dying world. 

Which aspect of friendliness is easiest for you?  Which aspect is the most difficult for you?  In what practical ways can a Christian be friendly to non-Christians?  Christians?