A Snapshot of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I have just recently read an excellent biography on Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas: Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. I will hopefully get around to writing a review on the book soon. I would also like to write a post about Bonhoeffer as well, but alas that shall have to wait for a later date. Until then, I will leave you with a great quote from Bonhoeffer about the Christian community. Bonhoeffer did his doctoral thesis, Sanctorum Communio, on the sociology of the church, and later wrote a book called Life Together, which was about the community life within the church. Both of which I hope to read someday soon, as I feel like the institution of the church and the church community are things I am currently evaluating in my own life. And, in general, I would just love to know more about those subjects. Anyway, here is his quote:

"Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than they love the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their personal intentions may be ever so honest, earnest and sacrificial. God hates this wishful dreaming because it makes the dreamer proud and pretentious. Those who dream of this idolized community demand that it be fulfilled by God, by others and by themselves. They enter the community of Christians with their demands set up by their own law, and judge one another and God accordingly. It is not we who build. Christ builds the church. Whoever is mindful to build the church is surely well on the way to destroying it, for he will build a temple to idols without wishing or knowing it. We must confess he builds. We must proclaim, he builds. We must pray to him, and he will build. We do not know his plan. We cannot see whether he is building or pulling down. It may be that the times which by human standards are the times of collapse are for him the great times of construction. It may be that the times which from a human point are great times for the church are times when it's pulled down. It is a great comfort which Jesus gives to his church. You confess, preach, bear witness to me, and I alone will build where it pleases me. Do not meddle in what is not your providence. Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough.... Live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive each other every day from the bottom of your hearts."

Les Écrivains

I came across this quote while studying French today. I thought it was beautiful and wanted to share it with you all. Enjoy!

« Une langue ne vit et ne prospère que par des écrivains, des conteurs, des poètes  - tous ouvriers du mot -  la plient à leur volonté créatrice, la montrent dans tous ses états, la font penser, rire, rêver, agir.»

 

It looks and sounds way better in French, but here is rough translation: "A language lives and prospers only by writers, storytellers, and poets - all workers of the word - the bend of their creative will, they show in all their states, suggest, laugh, dream, act."