Life Together (Bonhoeffer)
01/02/2006 15:25 Filed in: Books & Literature
Life Together
by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Current edition: © 1979, Harper Collins Publishers
Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer is only 128 pages. It took me about three weeks to read it. Yes, I know I probably could have made my way through it in one sitting. However, you really can't read Bonhoeffer quickly--at least I can't. I've learned that if you read Bonhoeffer too fast, you get nothing from him. According to the introduction, this book was written in 1938 while Bonhoeffer was living in community in an underground seminary of Germany's Confessing Church. However, if you read that on the back of the book and expect a story of Christian communal life behind the scenes of Nazi Germany, you'll be disappointed. In Life Together Bonhoeffer has written a guide to Christian community, including it's theological foundations, methods, and practical implications.
As noted, the book is fairly short--only 128 pages. It's divided into five sections:
1. Community
2. The Day with Others
3. The Day Alone
4. Ministry
5. Confession and Communion
In the first section, Bonhoeffer lays out a theological foundation for Christian community beginning with a quotation from Psalm 133: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unit!" (v. 1). And although starting from an Old Testament reference, the source for Christian community is demonstrated to be in the person and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In the second section on the day with others, Bonhoeffer describes how the day should be started when living in community--what he calls common devotions. These common devotions are broken down into Scripture reading, singing together and prayer. Bonhoeffer creates a guide as to how each of these components can be facilitated allowing them to work together. Further, such common devotions should be done before breakfast, what he calls "the Fellowship of the Table." Bonhoeffer goes on to describe how this benefits the days work, and his assumption is that the community or family will be able to join together again for a meal at noon and the end of the day.
Lest anyone should become dependent upon the community as the sole avenue of the spiritual life, Bonhoeffer also has a chapter on individual disciplines, "The Day Alone." See my previous post for a quotation from this chapter where he points out the danger of neglecting community or spending too much time in community. As with all things, there must be a certain amount of balance or moderation. Bonhoeffer goes on to discuss the importance of the individual believer's need for meditation on the scriptures, prayer and intercession.
I was especially intrigued by Bonhoeffer's chapter on ministry. This is without a doubt a chapter that every pastor and Christian counselor should pay close attention. Bonhoeffer was probably writing primarily with the pastor of a church in mind, but I believe his message applies to anyone in a position of spiritual leadership. He has a section entitled "the Ministry of Holding One's Tongue" and another on "The Ministry of Meekness." These sections serve to remind the person in spiritual responsibility of the privilege that it is to work in service to the Christian community. He follows these with a section on "the Ministry of Listening." Here, Bonhoeffer states the following:
I was also touched by Bonhoeffer's words in his section, "The Ministry of Bearing": "It is only when he is a burden that another person is really a brother and not merely an object to be manipulated" (p. 100).
In the final section on confession, Bonhoeffer seemed to be way ahead of his time on this subject. Way before Promise Keepers or related accountability groups, Bonhoeffer wrote, "He who is alone with his sin is utterly alone" (p. 110) and "If a Christian is in the fellowship of confession with a brother he will never be alone again, anywhere" (p. 115). Of course, he really wasn't introducing anything new at all, but rather reintroducing the value of confession (perhaps lost in reaction to the Catholic Church after the Reformation) and the reality that the average person in sin needs only forgiveness from on high and the firm and loving support of close friends.
If you've ever read The Cost of Discipleship, this books seems to be a natural follow-up, although it is very different in both tone and scope. According to the introduction, Bonhoeffer wrote both books during the same period in his life, so the one naturally flows into the other.
The book was especially meaningful to me because the two areas of concern I have for the church today--and the two areas where I feel I can most contribute--are discipleship and community. These are not something the church has always done well, but something we are called to do, and when done well can be a dramatic foretaste of eternity to come. From conversations I have had over the last year, and from ongoing conversations, community seems to be one of the most sought after, and yet the most elusive gifts the church has to offer. However, if made a priority, community can be a steadfast offering from the church to an ever-changing world. I will be writing more on this subject, including my own journey, in this new year.
One final note. I obtained my copy of Life Together used. There is a personal note written in it, not inside the cover where you might expect it, but on the page facing the first chapter. It is dated September 3, 1998. It reads, "With the prayerful hope that you will find and join and build Christian community. Love Dad." What does it mean that a little over seven years ago a father placed this book in his son's hands and now his son doesn't have it anymore? I don't know. It somehow seems a bit sad. But maybe it can be encouragement for all of us concerned about such things to help fulfill this anonymous father's wish.
by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Current edition: © 1979, Harper Collins Publishers
As noted, the book is fairly short--only 128 pages. It's divided into five sections:
1. Community
2. The Day with Others
3. The Day Alone
4. Ministry
5. Confession and Communion
In the first section, Bonhoeffer lays out a theological foundation for Christian community beginning with a quotation from Psalm 133: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unit!" (v. 1). And although starting from an Old Testament reference, the source for Christian community is demonstrated to be in the person and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Christian brotherhood is not an ideal which we must realize; it is rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate. The more clearly we learn to recognize that the ground and strength and promise of our fellowship is in Jesus Christ alone, the more serenely shall we think of our fellowship and pray and hope for it. (p. 30).
In the second section on the day with others, Bonhoeffer describes how the day should be started when living in community--what he calls common devotions. These common devotions are broken down into Scripture reading, singing together and prayer. Bonhoeffer creates a guide as to how each of these components can be facilitated allowing them to work together. Further, such common devotions should be done before breakfast, what he calls "the Fellowship of the Table." Bonhoeffer goes on to describe how this benefits the days work, and his assumption is that the community or family will be able to join together again for a meal at noon and the end of the day.
Lest anyone should become dependent upon the community as the sole avenue of the spiritual life, Bonhoeffer also has a chapter on individual disciplines, "The Day Alone." See my previous post for a quotation from this chapter where he points out the danger of neglecting community or spending too much time in community. As with all things, there must be a certain amount of balance or moderation. Bonhoeffer goes on to discuss the importance of the individual believer's need for meditation on the scriptures, prayer and intercession.
I was especially intrigued by Bonhoeffer's chapter on ministry. This is without a doubt a chapter that every pastor and Christian counselor should pay close attention. Bonhoeffer was probably writing primarily with the pastor of a church in mind, but I believe his message applies to anyone in a position of spiritual leadership. He has a section entitled "the Ministry of Holding One's Tongue" and another on "The Ministry of Meekness." These sections serve to remind the person in spiritual responsibility of the privilege that it is to work in service to the Christian community. He follows these with a section on "the Ministry of Listening." Here, Bonhoeffer states the following:
The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love to God begins with listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them. It is God's love for us that He not only gives us His Word but also lends us His ear. So it is His work that we do for our brother when we learn to listen to him. Christians, especially ministers, so often think they must always contribute something when they are in the company of others, that this is the one service they have to render. They forget that listening can be a greater service than speakingl (p. 97, emphasis added).
I was also touched by Bonhoeffer's words in his section, "The Ministry of Bearing": "It is only when he is a burden that another person is really a brother and not merely an object to be manipulated" (p. 100).
In the final section on confession, Bonhoeffer seemed to be way ahead of his time on this subject. Way before Promise Keepers or related accountability groups, Bonhoeffer wrote, "He who is alone with his sin is utterly alone" (p. 110) and "If a Christian is in the fellowship of confession with a brother he will never be alone again, anywhere" (p. 115). Of course, he really wasn't introducing anything new at all, but rather reintroducing the value of confession (perhaps lost in reaction to the Catholic Church after the Reformation) and the reality that the average person in sin needs only forgiveness from on high and the firm and loving support of close friends.
If you've ever read The Cost of Discipleship, this books seems to be a natural follow-up, although it is very different in both tone and scope. According to the introduction, Bonhoeffer wrote both books during the same period in his life, so the one naturally flows into the other.
The book was especially meaningful to me because the two areas of concern I have for the church today--and the two areas where I feel I can most contribute--are discipleship and community. These are not something the church has always done well, but something we are called to do, and when done well can be a dramatic foretaste of eternity to come. From conversations I have had over the last year, and from ongoing conversations, community seems to be one of the most sought after, and yet the most elusive gifts the church has to offer. However, if made a priority, community can be a steadfast offering from the church to an ever-changing world. I will be writing more on this subject, including my own journey, in this new year.
One final note. I obtained my copy of Life Together used. There is a personal note written in it, not inside the cover where you might expect it, but on the page facing the first chapter. It is dated September 3, 1998. It reads, "With the prayerful hope that you will find and join and build Christian community. Love Dad." What does it mean that a little over seven years ago a father placed this book in his son's hands and now his son doesn't have it anymore? I don't know. It somehow seems a bit sad. But maybe it can be encouragement for all of us concerned about such things to help fulfill this anonymous father's wish.