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Life Together
Conversations about
Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book by that name
Session 1
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| Dietrich Boenhoffer was born in Germany in 1906. He grew
up there in the family of a psychiatrist. He had 8 siblings,
including a twin sister. He studied theology and became a Lutheran
pastor. He pastored in Spain, in England, and taught in the
U.S. at Union Theological Seminary. He returned to Germany.
He spoke out against Hitler soon after Hitler became chancellor
of Germany. Bonhoeffer was suppressed by Hitler. He planned
to go to India to study with Gandhi; but instead accepted an
invitation by The Confessing Church (the underground church)
to run an illegal seminary. There with 25 student pastors ,
he experienced what he describes in "Life Together." The seminary
was closed by the Gestapo. Bonhoeffer became involved in a nearly
successful plot to assassinate Hitler. He was arrested, jailed,
and finally hung under Hitler's direct order, just before the
Allies liberated where he was in prison. |
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In the following we shall consider a
number of directions and precepts that the Scriptures provide
us for our life together under the Word." From "Life Together"
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Important things to remember:
- We are called to live in and through Christ. Christ
is to live in and through us. Our whole life is to be in
and through Christ. There is no compartmentalization (no
pieces left out)
- Salvation is not just about me. It is not just about
me being saved. Salvation is being called into relationship
with God by Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Salvation is
being called into relationship with others who are also
called. It is being called to "koinonia" (communion). If
we are "in Christ" then we are together with each other
forever. It is about being gathered together in a relationship
that is both deep and intimate. It is intimate but not self-gratifying
(like sex). It is intimate in the sense of self-transcending
love
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- Salvation is living in the paradox of being gathered
by Jesus to be scattered throughout the world, like seed,
to grow and bear fruit for the Kingdom
- Salvation is being held together with God and with
each other only by and only through Jesus. Jesus is the
bridge of love between us all. We are to meet and receive
(be hospitable to) each other as we would Jesus himself.
- The Church was and is meant to be temporary. It was
and is meant to be a community in exile. The exile began
when Jesus rose from the tomb. It will end when Jesus returns
to gather home all who are his.
- We are to live by God's grace (a free, unearned and
undeserved gift). Any righteousness we may have comes from
beyond us, from God
- We are to live Jesus, "The Word," not just with our
mouths but with our actions .
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