In his classic exposition on community entitled “Life Together,” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor who was executed under Hitler’s regime, warned Christians and pastors about the danger of falling in love with their “ideal” or “dream” church. He writes, “He who loves his dream of a community more than the community itself, becomes a destroyer of the latter, even though his personal intentions may be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial (Life Together, 27).” According to Bonhoeffer those who live in the dream world of what a Christian community should be end up bringing harm to the real community. When we are disillusioned with the church community, Bonhoeffer calls us to see it as an opportunity for personal growth tells us that we should be disillusioned (read – “disappointed”) with ourselves first.
One of the problems with “dreamers” is that THEY have arrogantly determined what the community should look like and thereby measure everyone else and everything accordingly. As Bonhoeffer notes, “Visionary dreaming makes the dreamer proud and pretentious. The man who fashions a visionary idea (read “perfect church”) of a community demands that it be realized. He enters the community of Christians with his demands, sets up his own law, and judges the brethren accordingly. When things do not go his way, he calls the effort a failure (Life Together, 29).” Bonhoeffer urges people to examine their own lives first, before leaving a Christian community.
After 39 years in the church – and 18 of those years as a pastor – I have been disappointed with the community on many occasions. I have also been disappointed with myself. Yet I have also been inspired, encouraged, moved, challenged, and changed by “Life Together” with the REAL church. Someday we will be perfect and God will turn our dreams into a reality. Until then, may we follow Christ by truly and deeply loving the community God has given us. And may all of us endeavor to make our churches better places for His glory.
3 comments:
well said, lionel.
i seems that man is always trying to come up with something totally new--something never thought of...something to offer the world that might change it. we know from scripture that "there's nothing new under the sun" (ecl.) and yet, we lose sight of our desperate need for total dependence on God, and we fight for our own honor and recognition. when not kept in check, this rooted pride seeps into the church...i think this is what Bonhoeffer is getting at--when man begins to fight for his own glory instead of God's.
Bonhoeffer has it right...we must remember Who is ultimately in control of His bride, Who has the perfect plan in place for her operation, and Who will get the glory.
This aspect of community has been something i have enjoyed digging a bit deeper into. On a recent read by Donald Miller he stated something that rang true with me, and my journey to better understand community: "The Christian faith offers a relational dynamic with God (and others), why are we cloaking this relational dynamic in formulas...formulas aren't able to change a person's heart." I supppose this is just a different way of saying what Bonhoeffer was...don't get caught up in ideals (or formulas), but concentrate on the relationship, both with God and with others. True there will be dissillusionment and let downs, but there is a joy in the journey to redeemed community. I echo Lionel in looking forward to that "one day" when we will live in perfect community, and striving to "follow Christ by truly and deeply loving the community God has given us."
In her book Brokenness, Nancy Leigh DeMoss contrasts characteristics of proud, unbroken people, who are resistant to the call of God on their lives, with the qualities of broken, humble people who have experienced God's revival. One of those characterisitcs from her list hit me over the head the first time I read it. I hope the connection to your message will be obvious.
"The proud person has a subconscious feeling; "This ministry/church is privileged to have me and my gifts"; this person thinks of what they can do for God."
"The broken person has a heart attitude that says, "I don't deservice to have a part in any ministry"; this person knows that he/she has nothing to offer God except the life of Jesus flowing through their broken lives."
I hope we all take a minute to example our own areas of pride in our lives.
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