From the Pen of Dietrich Bonhoeffer . . .

You can read some background on Dietrich in two recent posts: "Messages from a Martyr" (Feb. 17) and "Bonhoeffer Biography" (Feb. 23). I started to say more about him here. But he speaks so well for himself. A few quotes:

Worldly, religionless Christianity: "The Christian must plunge himself into the life of a godless world, without attempting to gloss over its ungodliness with a veneer of religion. He must live a 'worldly' life and so participate in the suffering of God. To be a Christian does not mean to be 'religious' in a particular way. . . . It is not some religious act which makes a Christian what he is, but participation in the suffering of God in the life of the world."

A Christian's purpose: "I remember talking with a young French pastor. We were discussing what our real purpose was in life. He said he would like to become a saint. I disagreed with him and said I should prefer to have faith. . . . One must abandon every attempt to make something of oneself, whether it be a saint, a converted sinner, a churchman (the priestly type, so-called!) a righteous man or an unrighteous one, a sick man or a healthy one. This is what I mean by worldliness--taking life in one's stride, with all its duties and problems, its successes and failures, its experiences and helplessness. It is in such a life that we throw ourselves utterly into the arms of God . . . That is faith, and that is what makes a person a Christian."

Fellowship: "Let him who is not in community beware of being alone. Into the community you were called. The call was not for you alone. In the community of the called you bear your cross, you struggle, you pray. You are not alone, even in death, and on the Last Day, you will be a member of the great congregation of Jesus Christ."

Solitude: "Let him who cannot be alone beware of community. He will only do harm to himself and to the community. Alone you stood before God when he called you; alone you had to struggle and pray."