Life Together Quotes by Dietrich Bonhoeffer delve into the true meaning of Christian community, highlighting the significance of fellowship, humility, and shared responsibility. These quotes inspire us to live authentically in community, following Christ’s example of self-sacrifice and love for others.
Life Together Quotes
Here are some powerful Life Together Quotes by Dietrich Bonhoeffer that explore the depths of Christian fellowship, humility, and the importance of small blessings in life.
“We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts.”
Explanation: We often overlook the importance of appreciating small blessings, which are just as significant as the bigger ones in our lives.
“The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community.”
Explanation: A true community builds on loving and caring for others, not on idealized visions or expectations of how it should look.
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“Let him who cannot be alone beware of community… Let him who is not in community beware of being alone…”
Explanation: Both solitude and community are essential for balance, as neither extreme can provide the full support or growth needed for a Christian life.
“The most experienced psychologist or observer of human nature knows infinitely less of the human heart than the simplest Christian who lives beneath the Cross of Jesus.”
Explanation: Only through Christ’s sacrifice can true understanding of sin and forgiveness emerge, something even the most experienced psychologist cannot fully grasp.
“I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me.”
Explanation: Prayer for others, even those who challenge us, transforms our ability to forgive and let go of resentment.
“Nothing can be more cruel than the leniency which abandons others to their sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than the severe reprimand which calls another Christian in one’s community back from the path of sin.”
Explanation: True compassion involves confronting sin with care, not letting someone continue in harmful behavior, and guiding them back toward righteousness.
“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.”
Explanation: We must recognize our own sinfulness as equally significant as others’, without comparing or minimizing our flaws.
“God is not a God of the emotions but the God of truth.”
Explanation: God’s nature is grounded in truth, not in fluctuating emotions, guiding us to seek the truth in all aspects of life.
“There is a kind of listening with half an ear that presumes already to know what the other person has to say.”
Explanation: True listening involves fully engaging with others, offering empathy and understanding, rather than assuming or preparing to speak.
“We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.”
Explanation: We must remain open to God’s will, even when it disrupts our plans, trusting that His guidance is always for the best.
“It may be that Christians, notwithstanding corporate worship, common prayer, and all their fellowship in service, may still be left to their loneliness.”
Explanation: True fellowship happens when Christians embrace vulnerability and honesty about their sins, not just through superficial connections.
“A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses.”
Explanation: Community thrives when members actively pray and intercede for one another, fostering deeper spiritual bonds and support.
“God has prepared for Himself one great song of praise throughout eternity, and those who enter the community of God join in this song.”
Explanation: The eternal praise of God is the essence of Christian fellowship, uniting all believers in a shared song of worship and joy.
“Christian community is like the Christian’s sanctification. It is a gift of God which we cannot claim.”
Explanation: Community, like sanctification, is a divine gift that grows through humility and gratitude, not something we can claim as our own achievement.
“Why is it that it is often easier for us to confess our sins to God than to a brother?”
Explanation: We tend to find it easier to confess sins to God because of His holiness, but confessing to a fellow believer allows us to experience true humility and God’s forgiveness through community.
“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.”
Explanation: Brown reminds us to acknowledge our own sin fully, without comparing it to others, in order to truly understand God’s grace.
“In the Christian community thankfulness is just what it is anywhere else in the Christian life.”
Explanation: Gratitude is central to Christian life and community, as it allows us to embrace both small and large blessings, fostering deeper fellowship.
“God did not make this person as I would have made him.”
Explanation: True Christian community means accepting others as they are, appreciating their unique gifts, and recognizing God’s sovereignty in their creation.
“The early morning belongs to the Church of the risen Christ.”
Explanation: The early morning is symbolic of the resurrection of Christ, a reminder of His victory over sin and death, and a call to begin each day in worship.
“The Christian, however, must bear the burden of a brother.”
Explanation: In Christian community, we are called to bear one another’s burdens, embodying Christ’s example of love, sacrifice, and support.
“In confession occurs the breakthrough of the Cross.”
Explanation: Confession brings humility and reconciliation, acknowledging our sin before God, and leading to the healing and transformation brought by Christ’s sacrifice.
“A pastor should never complain about his congregation, certainly never to other people.”
Explanation: Pastors are entrusted with the care of their congregation, and should reflect patience and understanding rather than frustration or judgment.
“What determines our brotherhood is what that man is by reason of Christ.”
Explanation: Our fellowship with others is not based on personal qualities but on what Christ has done for us all, uniting us in Him.
“The first service one owes to others in a community involves listening to them.”
Explanation: Listening is an essential service in community life, as it demonstrates love, respect, and the willingness to understand others’ experiences.
“Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?”
Explanation: Faithfulness in everyday tasks and responsibilities prepares us for greater challenges, reflecting our true commitment to God’s work.
“[…] we must ask ourselves whether we have not often been deceiving ourselves with our confession of sin to God…”
Explanation: Brown challenges us to question whether our confessions are genuine or merely self-deception, reminding us of the need for authentic repentance and change.
“The fact that we do not speak it but sing it only expresses the fact that our spoken words are inadequate to express what we want to say…”
Explanation: Singing represents a deeper, more profound way to express our emotions and praises to God, transcending the limitations of mere words.
“Human love is directed to the other person for his own sake, spiritual love loves him for Christ’s sake.”
Explanation: Christian love seeks the well-being of others, not for personal gain, but out of love for Christ and the recognition of His love for us.
“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.”
Explanation: Christian fellowship offers a space to acknowledge our sinfulness and seek healing, something a secular approach to counseling may not provide.
“A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses.”
Explanation: The strength of a Christian community depends on the active prayer and intercession of its members, supporting one another spiritually and emotionally.
“God has prepared for Himself one great song of praise throughout eternity, and those who enter the community of God join in this song.”
Explanation: Christian fellowship is part of a larger, eternal praise to God, joining believers in a collective expression of worship and unity.
“Christian community is like the Christian’s sanctification. It is a gift of God which we cannot claim.”
Explanation: Community is a gift from God, like sanctification, that grows naturally through His grace and cannot be forced or claimed by individuals.
“Why is it that it is often easier for us to confess our sins to God than to a brother?”
Explanation: Confessing to a brother in Christ is difficult because they are also sinners, but it is through this humility and openness that we experience true forgiveness and healing.
“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.”
Explanation: We must fully recognize and repent for our own sins, without comparing them to others, in order to truly embrace the grace and forgiveness offered by Christ.
“In the Christian community thankfulness is just what it is anywhere else in the Christian life.”
Explanation: Gratitude is integral to the Christian life, helping us appreciate both small and large blessings and enabling deeper connection within the community.
“God did not make this person as I would have made him.”
Explanation: This quote teaches that we should embrace the differences in others as part of God’s divine creation, recognizing that He has made each person uniquely and for His purpose.
“The early morning belongs to the Church of the risen Christ.”
Explanation: The early morning is a time to remember Christ’s resurrection, a daily renewal of life and hope, marking the victory over sin and death.
“The Christian, however, must bear the burden of a brother.”
Explanation: Christians are called to share in each other’s struggles, supporting one another as Christ bore our burdens on the Cross.
“In confession occurs the breakthrough of the Cross.”
Explanation: Confession, especially in the presence of others, breaks through pride and self-deception, allowing us to experience the transformative power of the Cross.
“A pastor should never complain about his congregation, certainly never to other people.”
Explanation: Pastors should show unwavering patience, love, and understanding towards their congregation, avoiding complaints that undermine their role as spiritual leaders.
“What determines our brotherhood is what that man is by reason of Christ.”
Explanation: True fellowship among Christians is based on Christ’s work in each of us, uniting us not through personal qualities but through His sacrifice.
“The first service one owes to others in a community involves listening to them.”
Explanation: Listening is a fundamental act of service within a community, showing love and care for others by truly hearing and understanding their concerns.
“Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?”
Explanation: Faithfulness in the small, everyday tasks prepares us for greater responsibilities, demonstrating true commitment to God’s work in all aspects of life.
“[…] we must ask ourselves whether we have not often been deceiving ourselves with our confession of sin to God…”
Explanation: This quote challenges us to ensure our confessions are sincere, as self-deception prevents true repentance and healing.
“The fact that we do not speak it but sing it only expresses the fact that our spoken words are inadequate to express what we want to say…”
Explanation: Singing transcends words, allowing us to express emotions and worship in a more profound and intimate way than mere speech can achieve.
“Human love is directed to the other person for his own sake, spiritual love loves him for Christ’s sake.”
Explanation: Christian love seeks the good of others not for personal gain but for Christ’s sake, viewing others as reflections of God’s love.
“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.”
Explanation: Christian fellowship offers a unique space where individuals can openly confess their sins and experience the healing power of forgiveness, unlike secular settings.
“But it is part of the discipline of humility that we must not spare our hand where it can perform a service and that we do not assume that our schedule is our own to manage, but allow it to be arranged by God.”
Explanation: True humility involves being open to God’s plan for our time and using our hands to serve others according to His will.
“Cuvântul potrivit se naște din tăcere și tăcerea potrivită se naște din cuvânt.”
Explanation: The right word comes from silence, and the appropriate silence is born from the right words—an interplay of listening and speaking.
“How can I possibly serve another person in unfeigned humility if I seriously regard his sinfulness as worse than my own?”
Explanation: Humility is about recognizing our own sinfulness and not elevating the sins of others above our own.
“Anybody who lives beneath the Cross and who has discerned in the Cross of Jesus the utter wickedness of all men and of his own heart will find there is no sin that can ever be alien to him.”
Explanation: Understanding the depth of sin through the Cross allows us to empathize with others’ failings without judgment.
“This makes it clear that intercession is also a daily service we owe to God and our brother. He who denies his neighbour the service of praying for him denies him the service of a Christian.”
Explanation: Intercessory prayer is a vital service to others, as denying it is denying the Christian duty to support one another spiritually.
“The desire we so often hear expressed today for “episcopal figures,” “priestly men,” “authoritative personalities” springs frequently enough from a spiritually sick need for the admiration of men.”
Explanation: Seeking authority figures for admiration stems from a misunderstanding of leadership, which should be based on humble service, not the pursuit of personal glory.
“The Christian community is not a spiritual sanatorium. The person who comes into a fellowship because he is running away from himself is misusing it for the sake of diversion…”
Explanation: Christian community is for genuine fellowship, not a place to escape from one’s problems or loneliness.
“[…]this whole world is sustained only for the sake of Jesus Christ, his Word, and his message.”
Explanation: The entire world exists to serve the purposes of Christ and to spread His message of salvation.
“The sin of irritability that blossoms so quickly in the community shows again and again how much inordinate ambition, and thus how much unbelief, still exists in the community.”
Explanation: Irritability in a community reveals underlying pride and a lack of faith, affecting the unity and peace of the fellowship.
“Blessed are those who are alone in the strength of the community. Blessed are those who preserve community in the strength of solitude.”
Explanation: Strength in both solitude and community comes from grounding oneself in the Word of God, which empowers both individual and collective life.
“We recognize, then, that only as we are within the fellowship can we be· alone, and only he that is alone can live in the fellowship.”
Explanation: Solitude and fellowship are interconnected; only by being alone in Christ can we truly experience and live in Christian community.
“In confession the break-through to community takes place. Sin demands to have a man by himself. It withdraws him from the community.”
Explanation: Confession brings sin into the light, breaking the isolation that sin creates and restoring the sinner to the community of believers.
“He who loves his dream of a community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter.”
Explanation: When individuals prioritize their idealized vision of community over the real, imperfect Christian fellowship, they hinder its growth and authenticity.
“If we do not give thanks daily for the Christian fellowship in which we have been placed, even where there is no great experience, no discoverable riches, but much weakness, small faith, and difficulty…”
Explanation: Gratitude for the fellowship we have, even in its imperfections, is essential for God to grow the community into something richer and more fulfilling.
“Christian brotherhood is not an ideal which we must realize; it is rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate.”
Explanation: Christian fellowship is a gift from God, not an ideal to be achieved, but a reality that we enter into through Christ.
“Human love constructs its own image of the other person, of what he is and what he should become. Spiritual love recognizes the true image of the other person which he has received from Jesus Christ…”
Explanation: Spiritual love sees others as they truly are in Christ, not based on our own desires or expectations, but through God’s perspective.
“The root of all sin is pride, superbia. I want to be my own law, I have a right to my self, my hatred and my desires, my life and my death.”
Explanation: Pride is the core of sin, as it leads us to desire control over our lives and the world around us, neglecting God’s sovereignty.
“The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them.”
Explanation: Listening is one of the most important acts of service in Christian fellowship, allowing us to understand and support each other truly.
“There is no place in the service of worship where vanity and bad taste can so intrude as in the singing.”
Explanation: In worship, pride and self-centeredness can detract from the focus on God, especially when individuals seek attention rather than participating humbly.
“So often Christians, especially preachers, think that their only service is always to have to ‘offer’ something when they are together with other people.”
Explanation: Christians often forget that listening is just as valuable a service as speaking, as many seek a sympathetic ear, not just advice or preaching.
“Human love is directed to the other person for his own sake, spiritual love loves him for Christ’s sake.”
Explanation: Spiritual love focuses on loving others for Christ’s sake, not for personal benefit or admiration, reflecting Christ’s sacrificial love for us.
“Therefore, let those who until now have had the privilege of living a Christian life together with other Christians praise God’s grace from the bottom of their hearts.”
Explanation: Christians should be deeply grateful for the grace that allows them to live in fellowship with one another, appreciating this divine gift.
“In confession the break-through to community takes place. Sin demands to have a man by himself.”
Explanation: Confession brings sin into the open, breaking isolation and enabling the sinner to rejoin the community in humility and grace.
“On the other hand, there is no sin in thought, word, or deed, no matter how personal or secret, that does not inflict injury upon the whole fellowship.”
Explanation: Sin, even in private, affects the entire community, as each member of the body impacts the health of the whole fellowship.
“The undiscerning observer may think that this mixture of ideal and reality, of the human and spiritual, is most likely to be present where there are a number of levels in the structure of a community, as in marriage, the family, friendship…”
Explanation: True Christian community recognizes the balance between the human and spiritual, understanding the need to engage with both aspects in fellowship.
“Second, a Christian comes to others only through Jesus Christ. Among men there is strife. ‘He is our peace’, says Paul of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2.14).”
Explanation: Christians can only come together in true fellowship through Jesus Christ, as He is the source of peace between us and God, as well as among ourselves.
“Consecutive reading of biblical books forces everyone who wants to hear to put himself, or to allow himself to be found, where God has acted once and for all for the salvation of men.”
Explanation: Reading the Bible consecutively leads us to immerse ourselves in God’s actions and His salvation, aligning our lives with His Word.
“Only because the message concerning Jesus Christ must still go forth and find believers, and because our task is not yet perfected, does God in His patience continue to sustain us with His good gifts.”
Explanation: God continues to bless us with His gifts because He wants us to spread the message of Christ, and He sustains us with His patience until He completes His work.
“We do not complain of what God does not give us; we rather thank God for what He does give us daily.”
Explanation: Instead of focusing on what we lack, we should cultivate gratitude for the daily blessings and provisions God provides.
“Spiritual love will speak to Christ about a brother more than to a brother about Christ.”
Explanation: True spiritual love prays for others, bringing their concerns to Christ rather than merely speaking to them about Him.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer Quotes
“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
Explanation: Bonhoeffer emphasizes the sacrificial nature of following Christ, where believers must be willing to let go of their worldly desires and face challenges in His service.
“Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession.”
Explanation: Bonhoeffer criticizes easy, unearned grace that overlooks the importance of true repentance, commitment, and discipline in the Christian life.
“The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children.”
Explanation: Bonhoeffer highlights the importance of how a society cares for its children, measuring its morality by the way it nurtures future generations.
“Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.”
Explanation: He calls for Christians to focus on actively fulfilling God’s will with courage, rather than merely avoiding wrongdoing.
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
Explanation: Bonhoeffer stresses that failing to take a stand against evil is a form of complicity, and Christians must act against injustice.
“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.”
Explanation: This quote reinforces Bonhoeffer’s belief that a society’s moral values are most clearly seen in how it treats its most vulnerable—its children.
“He who is alone with his sin is utterly alone.”
Explanation: Bonhoeffer emphasizes the isolation sin creates, and the importance of confessing and sharing it with others to find healing and community.
“Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness to take responsibility.”
Explanation: Bonhoeffer emphasizes that true Christian action comes from being willing to take responsibility, not just from intellectual reflection.
“The church is the church only when it exists for others… not dominating, but helping and serving.”
Explanation: Bonhoeffer reminds the church that its role is not to be served or to dominate, but to serve others and be a presence of love and humility in the world.
“We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice. We are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.”
Explanation: Bonhoeffer challenges Christians to take a stand against systemic injustice, not just to help individual victims, but to challenge and dismantle the systems that perpetuate suffering.
Themes Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
| Theme | Explanation |
| Confession | Confession is essential for healing and reconciliation within the community, bringing sin into the light and experiencing forgiveness. |
| Solitude and Silence | Solitude is necessary for personal reflection and prayer, but it should not lead to isolation; true fellowship requires balancing both. |
| Fellowship | Fellowship is central to Christian life, where believers come together to share life, prayer, and worship, fostering unity and spiritual growth. |
| Community | Bonhoeffer emphasizes that true Christian community is rooted in Christ and thrives through mutual support, love, and accountability. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, Life Together Quotes by Dietrich Bonhoeffer challenge us to embrace true Christian fellowship, where confession, humility, and mutual support are essential for spiritual growth. These quotes remind us that a strong, Christ-centered community requires both solitude for personal reflection and active engagement in the lives of others. Through these teachings, Bonhoeffer calls us to live authentically in community and serve one another in love.
FAQ’s
Living together in love and harmony is the truest reflection of life’s beauty.
The purpose of life is not to be happy, but to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.
Life love quotes reflect the deep connection between love and life, celebrating the ways love enriches our existence and shapes our experiences.
Togetherness quotes highlight the importance of unity, support, and shared experiences in relationships, emphasizing the strength found in being together.
