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Bonhoeffer: the ministry of holding one's tongue
Seven principles for eradicating selfish ambition in the
fellowship: 1. the ministry of holding one's tongue
Often we combat our evil thoughts most effectively if we
absolutely refuse to allow them to be expressed in words...
Thus it must be a decisive rule of every Christian fellowship
that each individual is prohibited from saying much that occurs
to him. This prohibition does not include the personal word of
advice and guidance. But to speak about a brother is
forbidden, even under the cloak of help and goodwill; for it is
precisely in this guise that the spirit of hatred among
brothers creeps in when it is seeking to create mischief.
... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together
Friday, May 03, 2002
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Bonhoeffer: the ministry of meekness
Seven principles for eradicating selfish ambition in the
fellowship: 2. the ministry of meekness
He who would learn to serve must first learn to think
little of himself... Only he who lives by the forgiveness of
his sin in Jesus Christ will rightly think little of himself.
He will know that his own wisdom reached the end of its tether
when Jesus forgave him. He will know that it is good for his
own will to be broken in the encounter with his neighbor...
But not only my neighbor's will, but also his honor is more
important than mine. The desire for one's own honor hinders
faith. One who seeks his own honor is no longer seeking God
and his neighbor. What does it matter if I suffer injustice?
Would I not have deserved even worse punishment from God, if He
had not dealt with me according to His mercy?
... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together
Bonhoeffer: the ministry of meekness
Seven principles for eradicating selfish ambition in the
fellowship: 2. the ministry of meekness
He who would learn to serve must first learn to think
little of himself... Only he who lives by the forgiveness of
his sin in Jesus Christ will rightly think little of himself.
He will know that his own wisdom reached the end of its tether
when Jesus forgave him. He will know that it is good for his
own will to be broken in the encounter with his neighbor...
But not only my neighbor's will, but also his honor is more
important than mine. The desire for one's own honor hinders
faith. One who seeks his own honor is no longer seeking God
and his neighbor. What does it matter if I suffer injustice?
Would I not have deserved even worse punishment from God, if He
had not dealt with me according to His mercy?
... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together
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Bonhoeffer: the ministry of listening
Seven principles for eradicating selfish ambition in the
fellowship: 3. the ministry of listening
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... Listening can be a
greater service than speaking... One who cannot listen long
and patiently will presently be talking beside the point and be
never really speaking to others. Anyone who thinks his time is
too valuable to spend keeping quiet will eventually have no
time for God and his brother, but only for himself and for his
own follies...
We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the
Word of God.
... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together
Bonhoeffer: the ministry of listening
Seven principles for eradicating selfish ambition in the
fellowship: 3. the ministry of listening
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... Listening can be a
greater service than speaking... One who cannot listen long
and patiently will presently be talking beside the point and be
never really speaking to others. Anyone who thinks his time is
too valuable to spend keeping quiet will eventually have no
time for God and his brother, but only for himself and for his
own follies...
We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the
Word of God.
... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together
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Bonhoeffer: the ministry of helpfulness
Seven principles for eradicating selfish ambition in the
fellowship: 4. the ministry of helpfulness
Active helpfulness means, initially, simple assistance in
trifling, external matters. There is a multitude of these
things wherever people live together. Nobody is too good for
the meanest service...
We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by
God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and canceling
our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions. We
may pass them by, preoccupied with our more important tasks, as
the priest passed by the man who had fallen among thieves,
perhaps -- reading the Bible. When we do that, we pass by the
visible sign of the Cross raised athwart our path to show us
that not our way, but God's way must be done.
... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together
Bonhoeffer: the ministry of helpfulness
Seven principles for eradicating selfish ambition in the
fellowship: 4. the ministry of helpfulness
Active helpfulness means, initially, simple assistance in
trifling, external matters. There is a multitude of these
things wherever people live together. Nobody is too good for
the meanest service...
We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by
God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and canceling
our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions. We
may pass them by, preoccupied with our more important tasks, as
the priest passed by the man who had fallen among thieves,
perhaps -- reading the Bible. When we do that, we pass by the
visible sign of the Cross raised athwart our path to show us
that not our way, but God's way must be done.
... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together
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Bonhoeffer: the ministry of bearing
Seven principles for eradicating selfish ambition in the
fellowship: 5. the ministry of bearing
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of
Christ" (Gal. 6:2). Thus the law of Christ is a law of
bearing. Bearing means forbearing and sustaining...
The Christian must suffer and endure the brother. It is
only when he is a burden that another person is really a
brother and not merely an object to be manipulated. It is,
first of all, the freedom of the other person that is a burden
to the Christian. The freedom of the other person includes all
that we mean by a person's nature, individuality, endowment.
It also includes his weaknesses and oddities, which are such a
trial to our patience, everything that produces frictions,
conflicts, and collisions among us.
Then, there is the abuse of that freedom that becomes a
burden for the Christian. In sin, fellowship with God and with
his brother are broken. To cherish no contempt for the sinner
but rather to prize the privilege of bearing him means not to
have to give him up as lost, to be able to accept him, to
preserve fellowship with him through forgiveness...
The service of forgiveness is rendered by one to the others
daily. It occurs, without words, in the intercessions for one
another. He who is bearing others knows that he himself is
being borne.
... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together
Bonhoeffer: the ministry of bearing
Seven principles for eradicating selfish ambition in the
fellowship: 5. the ministry of bearing
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of
Christ" (Gal. 6:2). Thus the law of Christ is a law of
bearing. Bearing means forbearing and sustaining...
The Christian must suffer and endure the brother. It is
only when he is a burden that another person is really a
brother and not merely an object to be manipulated. It is,
first of all, the freedom of the other person that is a burden
to the Christian. The freedom of the other person includes all
that we mean by a person's nature, individuality, endowment.
It also includes his weaknesses and oddities, which are such a
trial to our patience, everything that produces frictions,
conflicts, and collisions among us.
Then, there is the abuse of that freedom that becomes a
burden for the Christian. In sin, fellowship with God and with
his brother are broken. To cherish no contempt for the sinner
but rather to prize the privilege of bearing him means not to
have to give him up as lost, to be able to accept him, to
preserve fellowship with him through forgiveness...
The service of forgiveness is rendered by one to the others
daily. It occurs, without words, in the intercessions for one
another. He who is bearing others knows that he himself is
being borne.
... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together
Bonhoeffer: the ministry of proclaiming
from: cqod@lists.gospelcom.net
Seven principles for eradicating selfish ambition in the
fellowship: 6. the ministry of proclaiming
Where Christians live together the time must ultimately
come when in some crisis one person will have to declare God's
Word and will to another. It is inconceivable that the things
that are of utmost importance to each individual should not be
spoken by one to another. It is unchristian consciously to
deprive another of the one decisive service we can render to
him...
The more we learn to allow others to speak the Word to us,
to accept humbly and gratefully even severe reproaches and
admonitions, the more free and objective will we be in speaking
ourselves. The humble person will stick to truth and love. He
will stick to the Word of God and let it lead him to his
brother...
Reproof is unavoidable. God's Word demands it when a
brother falls into open sin. Where defection from God's Word
in doctrine or life imperils the fellowship... the word of
admonition and rebuke must be ventured. Nothing can be more
cruel than the tenderness that consigns another to his sin.
Nothing can be more compassionate than the severe rebuke that
calls a brother back from the path of sin. It is a ministry of
mercy, an ultimate offer of genuine fellowship, when we allow
nothing but God's Word to stand between us, judging and
succoring.
... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together
from: cqod@lists.gospelcom.net
Seven principles for eradicating selfish ambition in the
fellowship: 6. the ministry of proclaiming
Where Christians live together the time must ultimately
come when in some crisis one person will have to declare God's
Word and will to another. It is inconceivable that the things
that are of utmost importance to each individual should not be
spoken by one to another. It is unchristian consciously to
deprive another of the one decisive service we can render to
him...
The more we learn to allow others to speak the Word to us,
to accept humbly and gratefully even severe reproaches and
admonitions, the more free and objective will we be in speaking
ourselves. The humble person will stick to truth and love. He
will stick to the Word of God and let it lead him to his
brother...
Reproof is unavoidable. God's Word demands it when a
brother falls into open sin. Where defection from God's Word
in doctrine or life imperils the fellowship... the word of
admonition and rebuke must be ventured. Nothing can be more
cruel than the tenderness that consigns another to his sin.
Nothing can be more compassionate than the severe rebuke that
calls a brother back from the path of sin. It is a ministry of
mercy, an ultimate offer of genuine fellowship, when we allow
nothing but God's Word to stand between us, judging and
succoring.
... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together
Bonhoeffer: the ministry of authority
Seven principles for eradicating selfish ambition in the
fellowship: 7. the ministry of authority
Jesus made authority in the fellowship dependent upon
brotherly service (Mark 10:43). Genuine spiritual authority is
to be found only where the ministry of hearing, helping,
bearing, and proclaiming is carried out. Every cult of
personality that emphasizes the distinguished qualities,
virtues, and talents of another person, even though these be of
an altogether spiritual nature, is worldly and has no place in
the Christian community; indeed, it poisons the Christian
community...
Genuine authority realizes that it can exist only in the
service of Him who alone has authority... The Church does not
need brilliant personalities but faithful servants of Jesus and
the brethren...
Pastoral authority can be attained only by the servant of
Jesus who seeks no power of his own, who himself is a brother
among brothers to the authority of the Word.
... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together
Seven principles for eradicating selfish ambition in the
fellowship: 7. the ministry of authority
Jesus made authority in the fellowship dependent upon
brotherly service (Mark 10:43). Genuine spiritual authority is
to be found only where the ministry of hearing, helping,
bearing, and proclaiming is carried out. Every cult of
personality that emphasizes the distinguished qualities,
virtues, and talents of another person, even though these be of
an altogether spiritual nature, is worldly and has no place in
the Christian community; indeed, it poisons the Christian
community...
Genuine authority realizes that it can exist only in the
service of Him who alone has authority... The Church does not
need brilliant personalities but faithful servants of Jesus and
the brethren...
Pastoral authority can be attained only by the servant of
Jesus who seeks no power of his own, who himself is a brother
among brothers to the authority of the Word.
... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together
Tauler: discover fault in yourself
Beginning a short series on forgiveness:
Turn your eyes full upon yourselves, and see if you cannot
discover the same fault [that you would judge in another] in
yourselves, either in times past or now-a-days. And, if you
find it, remember how that it is God's appointing that you
shall now behold this sin in another, in order that you may be
brought to acknowledge and repent of it; and amend your ways
and pray for your brother, that God may grant him repentance
and amendment according to His Divine Will. Thus a good heart
draws amendment from the sins of others, and is guarded from
all harsh judgment and wrath, and preserves an even temper;
while an evil heart puts the worst interpretation on all that
it sees, and turns it to its own hurt.
... John Tauler (ca. 1300-1361), Sermons, Sermon XII:
"Reprove, entreat, rebuke, in all patience and doctrine."
Beginning a short series on forgiveness:
Turn your eyes full upon yourselves, and see if you cannot
discover the same fault [that you would judge in another] in
yourselves, either in times past or now-a-days. And, if you
find it, remember how that it is God's appointing that you
shall now behold this sin in another, in order that you may be
brought to acknowledge and repent of it; and amend your ways
and pray for your brother, that God may grant him repentance
and amendment according to His Divine Will. Thus a good heart
draws amendment from the sins of others, and is guarded from
all harsh judgment and wrath, and preserves an even temper;
while an evil heart puts the worst interpretation on all that
it sees, and turns it to its own hurt.
... John Tauler (ca. 1300-1361), Sermons, Sermon XII:
"Reprove, entreat, rebuke, in all patience and doctrine."
Hromadka: the depth of the Gospel
Continuing a short series on forgiveness:
As the veil of the temple was, at the death of the Saviour,
rent asunder, in the same way our communion with the Crucified
puts aside all the curtains separating us artificially from the
rest of the world, and removes all sense of privilege and
exclusiveness. It is this explanation of justification by
faith only which leads us to the true depth of what the Gospel
has contributed to this world. To live by grace and to die by
grace, to live in forgiveness every day, every hour and every
moment, means to identify oneself with those who do not share
our faith, and to realize all the debts we owe them. Let us
not be afraid that this will reduce the Gospel to relativism.
Its depth is in proportion to its breadth. The deeper it is,
the broader and fuller it becomes.
... J. L. Hromadka (1889-1969),
The Church and Theology in Today's Troubled Times
Continuing a short series on forgiveness:
As the veil of the temple was, at the death of the Saviour,
rent asunder, in the same way our communion with the Crucified
puts aside all the curtains separating us artificially from the
rest of the world, and removes all sense of privilege and
exclusiveness. It is this explanation of justification by
faith only which leads us to the true depth of what the Gospel
has contributed to this world. To live by grace and to die by
grace, to live in forgiveness every day, every hour and every
moment, means to identify oneself with those who do not share
our faith, and to realize all the debts we owe them. Let us
not be afraid that this will reduce the Gospel to relativism.
Its depth is in proportion to its breadth. The deeper it is,
the broader and fuller it becomes.
... J. L. Hromadka (1889-1969),
The Church and Theology in Today's Troubled Times
method of proclamation
Our method of proclaiming salvation is this: to point out
to every heart the loving Lamb, who died for us, and although
He was the Son of God, offered Himself for our sins... by the
preaching of His blood, and of His love unto death, even the
death of the cross, never, either in discourse or in argument,
to digress even for a quarter of an hour from the loving Lamb:
to name no virtue except in Him, and from Him and on His
account, -- to preach no commandment except faith in Him; no
other justification but that He atoned for us; no other
sanctification but the privilege to sin no more; no other
happiness but to be near Him, to think of Him and do His
pleasure; no other self denial but to be deprived of Him and
His blessings; no other calamity but to displease Him; no other
life but in Him.
... Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760),
in a letter
Our method of proclaiming salvation is this: to point out
to every heart the loving Lamb, who died for us, and although
He was the Son of God, offered Himself for our sins... by the
preaching of His blood, and of His love unto death, even the
death of the cross, never, either in discourse or in argument,
to digress even for a quarter of an hour from the loving Lamb:
to name no virtue except in Him, and from Him and on His
account, -- to preach no commandment except faith in Him; no
other justification but that He atoned for us; no other
sanctification but the privilege to sin no more; no other
happiness but to be near Him, to think of Him and do His
pleasure; no other self denial but to be deprived of Him and
His blessings; no other calamity but to displease Him; no other
life but in Him.
... Count Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700-1760),
in a letter
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