Life Together by Bonheoffer - Book Report/Review Example

Life Together by Bonheoffer Life together is an experience expressed by Christians, in regard to living in peace and harmony. Christians have the heart of living in togetherness, devoid of castigation from other people. According to the teachings of Apostle Paul, Christians are obligated by their faith to live in harmony and peace (Bonhoeffer, 102). In his letters, Apostle Paul expressed his gratitude to Christians in obligating to maintain a peaceful living with their neighbors. It is in this light that Bonheoffer expressed his views on the Christian living in togetherness. He initiated he teachings of ensuring all Christians lived in togetherness, shunning away from separation. With such a drill in the Christian fraternity, the Christians would be well prepared in making a stronger faith in the whole Christian fraternity. Bonheoffer initiated a fellowship that would bring unity in the Christian fraternity, to its best. In his thoughts, Bonheoffer was compelled to come up with a unique fellowship that would guarantee oneness in the Christian fraternity. Living together in Christ was the ostensible reasoning and thought, as generated by Bonheoffer. His practical advice to the Christian fraternity was evidently expressed from his unending desire to instill unity and peace to the Christians in the worlds. Similarly, he was compelled to spread the gospel and Christian virtues in families. He offered advice to families in regard to living in unity, as brother and sisters. Sustainability in families was a core subjected that was his initiation, which would generate a peaceful living. With such an approach, he was convinced that Christians in a family setup would be well prepared in spreading peace in the whole Christian fraternity (Bonhoeffer, 102). In his teachings, he considered families to be the basic and initial stages of improving peaceful living in the Christian fraternity. Therefore, banking on unity in families would be spread to other families. In the end, the whole Christian fraternity would be well prepared to spread unity to their neighbors. Hitherto to initiating the unique fellowship in the Christian fraternity, Bonheoffer had witnessed the predicaments of Christians while spreading the gospel. He was focused on improving the Christian faith and courage, thereby initiating a fellowship that would increase the numbers of Christians in line with unity of living in the world (Wuerl, Lawler and Lawler, 45). Since he had vast experience in Christianity, he was exposed to different occasions, which would be regarded as test for the Christian faith. However, he had strong faith that increased his commitment to Christianity. In his thoughts, Bonheoffer had a role in the Christian fraternity, which was eminent. The first role he exposes unequivocally is personal prayer. Personal prayer is considered as a one-on-one communication with the creator, in the Christian fraternity. Therefore, Bonheoffer was compelled to teach about Christians having the best communication with their God. This would improve the existing relationship between God and the Christians as a whole. Prayer is a mutual communication with god, making a Christian to have the best accrual in making a rapport with the living God. Therefore, the Christians will be in a better position of requesting for the best direction in their daily life. Secondly, Bonheoffer was compelled to communicate to Christians about worship in common. He instilled communication through worshiping in Christians, which would improve their peaceful living. This was strengthened by the everyday work initiated by Bonheoffer. He initiated a daily communication to Christians, which made a stronger approach to making a strong Christian denomination. Everyday Christian work was indeed his priority, as he made an opportunity in serving the Christian fraternity as a whole. In addition to this, Bonheoffer quantified the Christians to treat the word of God as bread of life. In his teachings, he encouraged the Christians to treat the word of God in simple terms, and incline the word of God to the biblical teachings. He retorts that the word of God is the bread of life, for the hungry Christians, with the urge of real life. This shows that Christians with the quest of fulfilling their Christian fellowship have to incline their life to the teachings, which will give real Christian life. This would reflect their living in togetherness, unity and a peaceful living, which is inclined to the Christian fellowship. The historical context of life together gives a meaningful existence to the book, which is vital in Christian fraternity. The Christian fraternity is in itself based on historical context of the savior, sent by God. Therefore, Christians must be observant with the teachings of Christ, which are prominent (Bonhoeffer, Kelly and Godsey, 121). In strengthening the point, Bonhoeffer initiated the advantages of living with others. Life with others is the initial point that has been generated by the author, which should be used to draw a strong lasting relationship. The Christian fraternity should be conversant with living in a community. The sense of community in the Christian fraternity is an approach that would generate a better relationship in the whole Christian fraternity. The true Christian community, as depicted by Bonhoeffer, does not have thresholds in living in unity(Bonhoeffer, 115). All Christians are considered to be a community, with equal privileged to life. They are all equal in their living, and should treat each other equally. Therefore, the main point in life with others is the ability to live in equality, without focus on earthly belongings. The conventional behavior in Christians as explained by Bonhoeffer is that, Christians should live as a true community. Bonheoffer’s life together gives an overview of radical Christians, with the zeal to expose change in the Christian union. The writer equips Christians with drills that would be appropriate in making a positive interaction with Christians in the world (Kelly and Nelson, 74). Making a concrete relationship in spreading the gospel would be a positive maneuver that Christians would use in living together. Though he retorts that theological views in the Christian fraternity are challenging, there is need to have directional devotion and commitments. Christians should be committed to expressing a life in togetherness, which would be a positive influence to the whole Christian fraternity. In essence, Christians should be subjected to the peaceful living in togetherness, though it is a hard task. Bonhoeffer retorts that the centrality of Christians and the church is based on Christ. In his book, Bonhoeffer refers to the church as a meeting ground to all the Christians. Christians meet in a church for a devotional communication to their God. With such meetings, the Christian fraternity cements its relationship with the father, through constant communication. As a central connector, Christ is an equally important accrual to the Christian fraternity. Christians are to establish a unity in the body of Christ, which should be used to spread the gospel even further (Jaggard, 42). While giving teachings to Christians as an audience, the author insists that Christians should raise their voices in unison, to prove that indeed the body of Christ is important in their faith. This would be a better accrual, especially to people without commitment to the religion. When the Christians expose devotional commitment, other people without commitments would express their commitments to Christianity. This would indeed increase the umber of Christians with a devoted heart. In the end, the Christian fraternity would not only be growing in size, but also improving in the prevalence of peaceful living, and living in togetherness. Bonhoeffer, while talking to the Christian fraternity as an audience initiates that the church is divine intervention. The church is considered a holy base t the Christian union, and should be given due respect. Therefore, all Christians should be devoted to the church, which is a Devine possession in the Christian organization. When Christians are gathered in churches, they have unison in praising and worshipping their living God. Under such, Christians have to devote to the church with unified faith and unity (Taylor, 44). This would give the church a concrete bearing, to remain a major influence of the Christian fraternity. In seconding this, the author states that the church should be a reality in addition to being Devine. Christians should regard the church as a reality, and be continuously prayerful for the church. However, before praying, the Christians should be devoted to confessing the truth. Christians are allowed to confess their truth, which is part of making the church a reality. Christians existing in a community should be in a position of confessing their sins (Walker, 76). After duly confessing, they should then ask for forgiveness. In his words, the author states that Christians confessing their sins will be forgiven and will initiate a peaceful living. This is a consideration of the Devine church, which is also a reality. Since the Christians will have confessed their sins, they will be living in reality. This will also be reflected on the union in living as a community, which is acceptable to the Christian fraternity. In his ultimate teachings, Bonhoeffer focused on initiating the church as a community of love. In his book, he unequivocally explains that Jesus was strongly devoted to initiating love in the church (Bonhoeffer, Kelly and Godsey, 132). The people in the church were to be connected with each other, and live as a community in love. This instills an open and free living in the community, whereas the people share in togetherness. With such prevalent situations, the community expects everything to happen as planned. There is little in terms of scuffles in the community. The author strengthens his point by focusing on the bible, which states that, the church in a symbol of love. However, he insists that the love in the church should be centered on Christ. Christ initiated the common purpose in the Christian fraternity, by reflecting on the beatitudes. Therefore, all Christians with zeal to create togetherness in the Christian fraternity should be compelled to loving the church, with oneness in Christ. For instance, he retorts that Christ stands between people. This is to show that Christ is a connecting body in the Christian fraternity, which strengthens the ideology of love in the church. In conclusion, the author explicitly retorts on the positivity in living together as Christians. This is a prevalent ideology that has been in the world. However, it needs a better reflection, or a complete acceptance in the Christian fraternity. References Bonhoeffer Dietrich. Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community. New York: HarperCollins, 1978. Print. Bonhoeffer Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship. New York: Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd, 2001. Print. Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, Kelly B. Geffrey and Godsey John. Discipleship. New York: Fortress Press, 2001. Print. Jaggard Arthur. Developing Spiritual Success: The Journey of Discipleship, the Path of Spiritual and Relational Vitality, and the Future of the Church. New York: AuthorHouse, 2011. Print. Kelly, B. Geffrey and Nelson F. Burton. The Cost of Moral Leadership: The Spirituality of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. New York: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2003. Print. Taylor Helen. Little Pilgrim's Progress: From John Bunyan's Classic. New York: Moody Publishers. 2006. Print. Walker Jon . Costly Grace: A Contemporary View of Bonhoeffer's the Cost of Discipleship. New York: Abilene Christian University Press. 2010. Print. Wuerl, W. Donald, Lawler, Ronald and Lawler C.Thomas. The Teaching of Christ: A Catholic Catechism for Adults. New York: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing, 2004. Print Read More