I’ve been thinking a lot about Christian community lately. Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a great guide to thinking about this subject. Here is what he has to say about how Christian service is performed in Christian community. He mentions that many would say it consists of “serving the Word” but argues that there must be more, and every service must be oriented to the Word. He suggests three other essential services of the Christian. Today the first:
“The first service one owes to others in the community involves listening to them. Just as our love for God begins with listening to God’s Word, the beginning of love for other Christians is learning to listen to them. God’s love for us is shown by the fact that God not only gives us God’s Word, but also lends us God’s ear. We do God’s work for our brothers and sisters when we learn to listen to them. So often Christians, especially preachers, think that their only service is always to have to ‘offer’ something when they are together with other people. They forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking. Many people seek a sympathetic ear and do not find it among Christians, because these Christians are talking when they should be listening. But Christians who no longer listen to one another will soon no longer be listening to God either; they will always be talking even in the presence of God.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together
For reflection:
Try listening hard today. Notice when you would usually speak, and try listening to God, to the other, instead. What is that experience like?
