Rating: 
Summary: Some of our deepest soul searching came from WWII
Review: In this short, but extremely profound, work, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrestles with the Christian's relationship to the Christian community. I will give a warning. We recently used this book as a text for my Sunday School class. Most of the class felt it was too hard for them to read.
Rating:
Summary: Simple yet profound
Review: It's not complicated, Bonhoeffer says, but its do-able. In the Christian body we need to allow prayer, worship, work, sacraments, and service unite us in the body of Christ--this, he says, is what is needed in order to obtain true fellowship. Of course, Bonhoeffer learned about the meaning of fellowship under the Nazi regime, and he personally took the high road. The easy route would have been to align himself with the state church, but instead he involved himself in the Confessing Church and helped organize an underground seminary. Does our Christian church--I'm really limiting myself to the church in America--have it too easy today? Would a little persecution, which could be just around the corner, force us to better live the life of fellowship that I find so badly lacking in my life and the church around me? Perhaps. I think Life Together is well worth pondering as we take a look at our own life together with God and the brethren.
Rating:
Summary: Family Life Together
Review: Life Together stands apart as the best book on the church in the 20th century. Few theologians write with such practical, common sense. Few church growth pastors write with such theological depth. The mix of deep Christ-centered theology and ideas for living in community as a daily practice are what make Bonhoeffer's Life Together such a classic. Okay, I disagree with some of his overly strict opinions about communal life, such as his ban on singing in harmony. But these small critiques are minor compared with the riches that can be easily mined from this treasure mountain of a book on the challenges and glories of life together within the community called the Body of Christ, the Church.For two other books on life together, written for parents as encouragement for the daily holy calling of raising children, look for "The Family Cloister: Benedictine Wisdom for the Home", by David Robinson (New York: Crossroad, 2000) and "The Christian Family Toolbox: 52 Benedictine Activities for the Home", also by David Robinson (New York: Crossroad, September 2001).
Rating:
Summary: What you need to know about church!
Review: Life Together was written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer while he was in a Nazi Gestapo prison during WWII. The book's Introduction is a 6 page mini-bio of Bonhoeffer, which will inform the reader as to why he was in a Nazi Gestapo prison. He was executed by the Nazi's just weeks before the end of the war. Life Together was written while Bonhoeffer was being held by the Nazi's. It is his short treatise on Faith in Community - what it means to be the Body of Christ. During his time in prison, Bonhoeffer undoubtedly had interaction with Christians of many denominations. This probably led to contemplation of what it meant for all of them to worship together, even in a prison camp. The book is just five chapters: 1. Community
2. The Day with Others
3. The Day Alone
4. Ministry
5. Confession and Communion Amazingly enough, Bonhoeffer thinks seriously and deeply about what it should be like for Christians to experience Life Together as the Church. Few current authors are packing so much in so little a book. In the first chapter he looks at relating to one another as Jesus would have us relate to one another. He distinguishes between the worldly and the biblical concepts of living in community. His observations are astounding and would do many churches a great deal of good today. In chapters 2 and 3, he looks at one's relationship with God as it should be lived both corporately and individually. He even gives us a glimpse of what family worship was expected to look like at that time. Again, his observations would do Christians much good today. The chapter on ministry is outstanding, but one really cannot do it justice in just a few sentences. The final chapter on confession and communion was a mixed bag for me. His ideas on confession were pretty good. However, his beliefs on communion are different from my beliefs (he was a Lutheran, I am a Baptist). Even still, I would recommend reading this chapter with one's eyes open. When all is said and done, this is a wonderful book. It was written in 1940's German and translated to English, so there are some places where the translation is not always the clearest. The reader should know that Bonhoeffer was not only a pastor, but also a theologian - his writing is meaty, not fluffy. For those brave enough to sink their teeth in, this book will be a great read (and probably a great re-read). There is much to learn in this little book. I even found that much of this book can be applied within the marriage context. Read, enjoy, apply it to all aspects of your life.
Rating:
Summary: What you need to know about church!
Review: Life Together was written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer while he was in a Nazi Gestapo prison during WWII. The book's Introduction is a 6 page mini-bio of Bonhoeffer, which will inform the reader as to why he was in a Nazi Gestapo prison. He was executed by the Nazi's just weeks before the end of the war. Life Together was written while Bonhoeffer was being held by the Nazi's. It is his short treatise on Faith in Community - what it means to be the Body of Christ. During his time in prison, Bonhoeffer undoubtedly had interaction with Christians of many denominations. This probably led to contemplation of what it meant for all of them to worship together, even in a prison camp. The book is just five chapters: 1.Community
2.The Day with Others
3.The Day Alone
4.Ministry
5.Confession and Communion Amazingly enough, Bonhoeffer thinks seriously and deeply about what it should be like for Christians to experience Life Together as the Church. Few current authors are packing so much in so little a book. In the first chapter he looks at relating to one another as Jesus would have us relate to one another. He distinguishes between the worldly and the biblical concepts of living in community. His observations are astounding and would do many churches a great deal of good today. In chapters 2 and 3, he looks at one's relationship with God as it should be lived both corporately and individually. He even gives us a glimpse of what family worship was expected to look like at that time. Again, his observations would do Christians much good today. The chapter on ministry is outstanding, but one really cannot do it justice in just a few sentences. The final chapter on confession and communion was a mixed bag for me. His ideas on confession were pretty good. However, his beliefs on communion are different from my beliefs (he was a Lutheran, I am a Baptist). Even still, I would recommend reading this chapter with one's eyes open. When all is said and done, this is a wonderful book. It was written in 1940's German and translated to English, so there are some places where the translation is not always the clearest. The reader should know that Bonhoeffer was not only a pastor, but also a theologian - his writing is meaty, not fluffy. For those brave enough to sink their teeth in, this book will be a great read (and probably a great re-read). There is much to learn in this little book. I even found that much of this book can be applied within the marriage context. Read, enjoy, apply it to all aspects of your life.
Rating: 
Summary: And 7/8th's. The 5 star rating's are all from geniuses!
Review: My less than five star rating is simply because this work (like the other Bonhoffer books I've tried to finish) are written in a style that is hard to read. Maybe it is the loss in the translation or maybe it is because Bonhoffer gets to his points and leaves out anedote, personal information and doesn't quote other writers very much.
But these complaints notwithstanding this book is a very fine example of a modern writers words flowing from the very grace of God's Holy Spirit and if someone were to come along and add numbers to many of the sentences they'd be able to convince the unsuspecting that it was truly scripture. Some examples; Ministry of Bearing, page 101; "It is, first of all, the FREEDOM of the other person...that is the burden to the Christian. The other's freedom collides with his own autonomy, yet [the Christian] must recognize it. He could get rid of this burden by refusing the other person his freedom, by constraining him and thus doing violence to his personality, by stamping his own image upon him." One of the ways that Peck defines an evil person in his great work, The People of the Lie, is a person that refuses to recognize the autonomy of others, the narcissistic attitude that "you exist to meet MY needs". Compare that with what Bonhoffer describes above and here: Bonhoffer, pg 101, "It is the fellowship of the Cross to experience the burden of the other." The opposite of evil. More great quotes: Fellowship of the Table, pg 69; "So long as we eat our bread together we shall have sufficient even with the least. Not until one person desires to keep his own bread for himself does hunger ensue. This is a strange divine law." How about the "Ministry of Holding One's Tongue", "The Ministry of Meekness" and "The Ministry of Listening" for the subjects of short chapters? On sinfulness: "If my sinfulness appears to me to be in any way smaller or less detestable in comparison with the sins of others, I am still not recognizing my sinfulness at all." Bonhoffer's take on confession needs to be addressed by todays Protestant body. We seemed to have thrown the baby out with the bath water when it comes to confession of sins. I think we are so wary of the "priest" that we forget we Christains are all priests. And if priests, what then is our role? Bonhoffer, pg 112; "When I go to my brother to confess, I am going to God." and "Sin demands to have a man by himself. It withdraws him..." , "Sin wants to remain unknown.", "In confession the light of the Gospel breaks into the darkness and seclusion of the heart." While these may seem platitudes it is in the way Bonhoffer challenges the community to actually work out this confession business in a practical and real way. If these don't seem at all like platitudes, if we really believe the power and depth here, why aren't we practicing the confession more seriously? Are we afraid of being too "Catholic"? And as far as that goes, what about all the factions, groups, denominations, and friction we see in the body today? Bonhoffer, pg 37; "...life together under the Word will remain sound and healthy only where it does not form itself into a movement, an order, a society, a collegium pietatis, but rather where it understands itself as being a part of the one, holy, catholic, Christian Church, where it shares actively and passively in the sufferings and struggles and promise of the whole Church." Read any group of reviews on a controversial Christian book and observe first hand how far, how very far, we are from this "sound and healthy" life together... On the whole I'd highly recommend this work to any one that is going to be working in the church in any fashion, anyone that is part of small group leadership or any seeking Christian that isn't a "lazy" reader. Don't be lazy, read this book.
Rating:
Summary: And 7/8th's. The 5 star rating's are all from geniuses!
Review: My less than five star rating is simply because this work (like the other Bonhoffer books I've tried to finish) are written in a style that is hard to read. Maybe it is the loss in the translation or maybe it is because Bonhoffer gets to his points and leaves out anedote, personal information and doesn't quote other writers very much.
But these complaints notwithstanding this book is a very fine example of a modern writers words flowing from the very grace of God's Holy Spirit and if someone were to come along and add numbers to many of the sentences they'd be able to convince the unsuspecting that it was truly scripture. Some examples; Ministry of Bearing, page 101; "It is, first of all, the FREEDOM of the other person...that is the burden to the Christian. The other's freedom collides with his own autonomy, yet [the Christian] must recognize it. He could get rid of this burden by refusing the other person his freedom, by constraining him and thus doing violence to his personality, by stamping his own image upon him." One of the ways that Peck defines an evil person in his great work, The People of the Lie, is a person that refuses to recognize the autonomy of others, the narcissistic attitude that "you exist to meet MY needs". Compare that with what Bonhoffer describes above and here: Bonhoffer, pg 101, "It is the fellowship of the Cross to experience the burden of the other." The opposite of evil. More great quotes: Fellowship of the Table, pg 69; "So long as we eat our bread together we shall have sufficient even with the least. Not until one person desires to keep his own bread for himself does hunger ensue. This is a strange divine law." How about the "Ministry of Holding One's Tongue", "The Ministry of Meekness" and "The Ministry of Listening" for the subjects of short chapters? On sinfulness: "If my sinfulness appears to me to be in any way smaller or less detestable in comparison with the sins of others, I am still not recognizing my sinfulness at all." Bonhoffer's take on confession needs to be addressed by todays Protestant body. We seemed to have thrown the baby out with the bath water when it comes to confession of sins. I think we are so wary of the "priest" that we forget we Christains are all priests. And if priests, what then is our role? Bonhoffer, pg 112; "When I go to my brother to confess, I am going to God." and "Sin demands to have a man by himself. It withdraws him..." , "Sin wants to remain unknown.", "In confession the light of the Gospel breaks into the darkness and seclusion of the heart." While these may seem platitudes it is in the way Bonhoffer challenges the community to actually work out this confession business in a practical and real way. If these don't seem at all like platitudes, if we really believe the power and depth here, why aren't we practicing the confession more seriously? Are we afraid of being too "Catholic"? And as far as that goes, what about all the factions, groups, denominations, and friction we see in the body today? Bonhoffer, pg 37; "...life together under the Word will remain sound and healthy only where it does not form itself into a movement, an order, a society, a collegium pietatis, but rather where it understands itself as being a part of the one, holy, catholic, Christian Church, where it shares actively and passively in the sufferings and struggles and promise of the whole Church." Read any group of reviews on a controversial Christian book and observe first hand how far, how very far, we are from this "sound and healthy" life together... On the whole I'd highly recommend this work to any one that is going to be working in the church in any fashion, anyone that is part of small group leadership or any seeking Christian that isn't a "lazy" reader. Don't be lazy, read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Dare to be in a community and dare to be a sinner
Review: Paster Bonhoeffer's life as well as this book is a testimony to Christian community and a challenge to me. Written in 1938, this predates his imprisonments and to quote an English officer "Bonhoeffer always seemed to me to spread an atmosphere of happiness and joy". If he could establish a Christian community in Gestapo prison, can't we try also? I have been guilty of defining a Christian Community in terms of human reality, but Bonhoeffer more clearly centers the community. I am sure there are times I should have paid heed to the section "The Ministry of Holding One's tongue". Bonhoeffer clearly shows the balance of community and being alone ... "Let him who cannot be alone beware of community. Let him who is not in community beware of being alone". The perspective of day-to-day work as "a test of meditation" shows the importance of renewing the blessing of fellowship at the end of the day. Particularly for those with Protestant background the discussion on confession is challenging, and his phrase about "daring to be a sinner" is paradoxical. "In the presence of a psychiatrist I can only be a sick man; in the presence of a Christian brother I can dare to be a sinner".
Rating:
Summary: A Needed Message for the Church
Review: Satan is the accuser, the Bible says. But Christ, with the Spirit, intercedes for us, as the Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:26 "with sighs too deep for words". A beautiful book, my copy freely given me by a Lutheran pastor who shared my love for Bonhoeffer. I wanted to lead a Bible study, he said if he ever led one he would use this book! I first heard of Bonhoeffer from someone at my church. I discovered Bonhoeffer for myself when I watched the documentary Hanged on a Twisted Cross, the life and times of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, which I highly, highly recommend. The parts of the book which spoke to me most were the sections in chapter 1 entitled through and in Jesus Christ and in chapter 3, the section on intercession. Here are some excerpts I love: "A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses. I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me. His face, that hitherto may have been strange and intolerable to me, is transformed in intercession into the countenance of a brother for whom Christ died, the face of a forgiven sinner......Intercession means no more than to bring our brother into the presence of God, to see him under the cross of Jesus as a poor human being and sinner in need of grace....His need and his sin become so heavy and oppressive that we feel them as our own, and we can do nothing else but pray: Lord, do Thou, Thou alone, deal with him according to Thy severity and Thy goodness." I do believe Bonhoeffer has " the mind of Christ" on that one. Beautiful, beautiful book. P.S. I challenge you to examine and compare the lives of Noah, Daniel, and Job
to find out what was so pleasing to God about them. How do their lives reflect Christ's and what about everyone else's?!!! Please see Ezekiel 14:14-23. So I leave you with some homework, I just couldn't resist!
Rating:
Summary: He lives to make intercession for us. Hebrews 7:25
Review: Satan is the accuser, the Bible says. But Christ, with the Spirit, intercedes for us, as the Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:26 "with sighs too deep for words". A beautiful book, my copy freely given me by a Lutheran pastor who shared my love for Bonhoeffer. I wanted to lead a Bible study, he said if he ever led one he would use this book! I first heard of Bonhoeffer from someone at my church. I discovered Bonhoeffer for myself when I watched the documentary Hanged on a Twisted Cross, the life and times of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, which I highly, highly recommend. The parts of the book which spoke to me most were the sections in chapter 1 entitled through and in Jesus Christ and in chapter 3, the section on intercession. Here are some excerpts I love: "A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses. I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me. His face, that hitherto may have been strange and intolerable to me, is transformed in intercession into the countenance of a brother for whom Christ died, the face of a forgiven sinner......Intercession means no more than to bring our brother into the presence of God, to see him under the cross of Jesus as a poor human being and sinner in need of grace....His need and his sin become so heavy and oppressive that we feel them as our own, and we can do nothing else but pray: Lord, do Thou, Thou alone, deal with him according to Thy severity and Thy goodness." I do believe Bonhoeffer has " the mind of Christ" on that one. Beautiful, beautiful book. P.S. I challenge you to examine and compare the lives of Noah, Daniel, and Job
to find out what was so pleasing to God about them. How do their lives reflect Christ's and what about everyone else's?!!! Please see Ezekiel 14:14-23. So I leave you with some homework, I just couldn't resist!
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