Life Together: A Book Review

Dietrich Bonhoeffer speaks with authority on the dynamics of life together in Christ. His book offers both the theological framework for understanding Christian community (which I found riveting, clear, and immensely helpful) and practical advice for living the life together. His practical counsel flows from his own experience of Christian community, and is therefore valid - and limited. At times his counsel sounds like pontification; at others it has the ring of truth that transcends culture and circumstances. If one listens for that ring of truth there is much to be gleaned.

Bonhoeffer unfolds the interrelationship of community and aloneness. "Let him who cannot be alone beware of community. . . . Let him who is not in community beware of being alone." He constantly upholds Christ as the only source of true relationship with others, and the Word of Christ as that which defines and integrates our corporate life.

I heartily recommend Life Together for growing together in Christ.