Pastor’s Perspective

What is a Christian community? Lots of people claim that we live in a Christian nation. But the marks of a Christian community may not be what they are proposing.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote that Christian community is truly Christological. Not a dreamy, humanistic love and not a rigid, demanding, personal love. Rather, a love originating with God and demonstrated in the grace of Christ. In his book, Life Together, he said that community is both a gift from God and a call from God. It's a very specific aspect of grace.

Bonhoeffer strongly declared that Christian community is not to be confused with a social goal or unifying ideal. We are a grateful people already united in the Christ experience. We are called and inspired by the Holy Spirit to live in the truth of Christ and no other so-called "truth." We are called to participate in a reality that God has made. Not to build a worldly reality that satisfies human desires.

Even if love of neighbor is a basic attribute of social community, it will ultimately objectify and re-mold neighbor to suit the goals of the community with no consideration of grace. A Christological community meets neighbors where they are without objectifying them or trying to re-mold them.

 Allen