Community of Christians
Currently reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, his essays about Christians living in community with each other. He wrote this in 1930s Germany when Hitler’s government had coopted the Christian church and outlawed dissenting churches. He made this statement that’s worth pondering: “Visible community is grace.” In other words, it’s by God’s grace Christians who meet together regularly can do that. Many around the world are isolated, imprisoned, sick, or living in closed countries.
What struck me, however, was Bonhoeffer’s statement: “Yet what is denied them as a visible experience they grasp more ardently in faith.” That is, the experience makes them more firmly believe they are part of a larger community of faith.
That gave me an insight into Hebrews 1:1 (NIV), “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” I used to think of this verse in terms of Christians’ hope to see God face to face in heaven. I now see it also as assurance of being part of a fellowship here and now even though we don’t have that visible experience.
Why is that important? Often, the encouragement of others keeps us going in difficult situations. Teammates on sports teams pulling for each other, soldiers protecting each other, parents attending children’s activities, all these are examples of how we can mutually encourage each other. What Bonhoeffer suggested was the faith of these scattered and isolated Christians convinced them there were others out there praying for them and yearning for eventual face to face contact.
Bonhoeffer’s words also helped me think about Hebrews 12:1 in a different way. The writer of Hebrews listed Bible characters who epitomized faith and concluded in Hebrews 12:1 (NIV), “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” There is indeed a community encouraging us to push forward in our walk with God.