Life Together (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

[Ben Toh]

Respond to/comment on this book by hitting Reply. Here are my
summaries of 4 of the 5 chapters.

Tim Keller calls Life Together the "finest single volume I have ever
read on the character of Christian community."

COMMUNITY (Chap 1) (http://www.ubfriends.org/2012/05/community-life-
together-dietrich-bonhoeffer/?
PHPSESSID=bb78d587bf74af4d2a00747ff03033ba). This is my favorite
chapter. What destroys Christian community is the "wish dream" of the
strong person, usually the leader. Though noble and well intentioned
no Christian, however able or gifted, can create a true Christian
community. Only the Holy Spirit can. Community is "not an ideal which
we must realize; it is rather a reality created by God in Christ in
which we may participate.” True community does not happen by human
means or by human love. It happens only in Christ and through Christ.
This is crucial for growth and maturity. When community in Christ does
not happen organically, egos take over, love weakens, relationships
are dysfunctional, we hurt each other, we do not mature or make
progress. We become a collegium pietatis, the assembly of the pious;
we become Pharisees.

The Day With Others (Chap 2).

SILENCE and SOLITUDE (Chap 3) (http://www.ubfriends.org/2012/05/
silence-and-solitude-bonhoeffer/). Enjoying being alone (with God)
enhances enjoyment in community and vice versa. We stifle ourselves
when we meet together too often without adequate time alone with God
and His Word. "Too many meetings" is not healthy spiritually. Being an
aloof recluse (like the Unabomber) leads to excessive self-
introspection and self-centeredness. Man needs both fully lived out:
time alone with God (to listen to God) and fellowship together with
others (to truly listen to their heart).

Christian MINISTRY (Chap 4) (http://www.ubfriends.org/2012/05/
listening-is-greater-than-speaking/). True Christian ministry does not
begin with teaching others with power and authority, but with holding
one's tongue so that we can humbly and truly and deeply listen to
others and attend to what they truly need (not what you think they
need). Who likes someone who does not truly listen to them, but only
wants to teach them?

CONFESSION (Chap 5) (http://www.ubfriends.org/2012/05/pious-fellowship-
permits-no-sinners/). For a truly meaningful authentic relationship,
both parties must confess sin to one another (James 5:16). If one
party acts holier or "higher," it creates a falsely pious fellowship
of Pharisees, because the one who thinks they are less holy or "lower"
begin to not deeply confess their sins. This happens because the
"lower" person wants to be accepted by the "higher" person. They "act"
in the way the "higher" person acts, so as to be accepted by them. But
when both parties confess sin to each other before God, depth of
relationship happens. Community happens.