Bonhoeffer's Call To Familial Christian Community

Having just recently finished Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together, I could not help but think about the journey I have taken as I have worked my way through his small yet profound contribution to the subject of Christian community. I must confess that prior to beginning his work, I was somewhat skeptical at first. Though I do not doubt Bonhoeffer’s faith in Christ, I did question how much I could be helped to better understand a fundamental element of the Christian faith like community from someone not traditionally considered a conservative evangelical. As I read through Life Together, however, I quickly came to see the ignorance of such an error. Bonhoeffer helped me on many levels to see more clearly how essential and non-optional it is for all believers to function as builders of community within the body of Christ. Though there are many facets of this community building discussed by Bonhoeffer, one in particular has been most helpful to me.

On nearly every page of Bonhoeffer’s timeless work there is either a stated or implied assertion that upon conversion believers are given an invitation to live life within a family. This family can never be dissolved and the Head never deserts His children. This claim hit home with me for the simple reason that it seems to run so contrary to the trajectory of contemporary Christianity. I am convinced that this is not because Christians would take issue with Bonhoeffer, since his claim is biblically right on target. Instead, I believe the very concept of family has become severely eroded. So much so that most people, Christians included, no longer find it important, much less essential. To make matters worse, few attempts are being made within contemporary Christianity to teach and model the transcultural and transgenerational reality that believers are to live before the world as a family. There are “battles” being fought over alcohol consumption, the degree to which Christians should be culturally relevant, and a host of other issues; yet, rarely, is there a call to draw nearer to one’s brothers and sisters while at the same time drawing closer to the Father through His Son. If that were not enough, we live in a day and age when people are more and more self-absorbed and busy, and churches are more and more focused on numerical growth and fluff. This has led to a severe decline in the number of churches that are truly seeking to foster familial relationships. Whether it be within the home or within the church, true relational living as a family is sadly becoming nearly non-existent.

For all these aforementioned reasons and more, Bonhoeffer’s simple yet insightful Life Together ought to serve as a wake-up call to embrace anew the old truth that believers are brothers and sisters with the same heavenly Father. Just as a family eats together, prays together, reads the bible together, serves one another, cares for one another, confesses sin to one another, calls one another to account, and grows together, so must believers follow suit. When believers are confronted with this precious truth and begin to grasp what such a truth really means for the collective body of Christ, as well as the Christian as an individual, I am convinced that a great harvest of good fruit will result. Other than the word of God, I have yet to read a book more helpful as a call to and a guide for building genuine Christian community than Life Together. For this reason, I am very grateful that God, in His sweet providence, used Bonhoeffer to pen this excellent treatise. There is no doubt in my mind that his words will long be helpful to believers for many generations to come. May you, too, profit from this excellent work.

A Small Gift To Fathers

For the fathers who may visit this blog I want to wish you all a most happy Father's Day. To my dad, Milton, and my father-in-law, Joe, I want to say in particular that I am more thankful for the two of you than I could ever express. Larissa and I were and are enormously fortunate to have you as dads. We hope you two, in particular, have a most blessed Father's Day.

As one father to many other fathers, I want to offer up a small gift to all of you. Included in this post is a list of books that will be helpful to you as you labor to fulfill your role as a husband and father. I have made comments on some of the following recommendations and some I have not. I did this primarily because I am more familiar with some of the books than I am with the others. However, all of the books are highly recommended. If a book happens to interest you simply click on the book info and you will be directed to a link where the book can be purchased. As you read and hopefully enjoy these books remember that the truths they espouse were not conjured up by their authors. Instead they were gleaned from God's precious and perfect word. Feast on and savor the Bible, first and foremost. It is here where you will find the best guidance for your marriage and your family. Then take up and read the books listed here. You will not be disappointed.

Each For The Other by Bryan Chapell

Strengthening Your Marriage by Wayne Mack
This is an excellent book written by a seasoned husband, father, author, and biblical counselor. Mack is a very good writer -- throughly biblical and practical. Read this book with your wife and most definitely do not neglect his book recommendations or the helpful study guides at the end of each chapter.

The Exemplary Husband by Stuart Scott

Thoughts for Young Men by J. C. Ryle
Though written specifically for teenage boys, you would be foolish to think this book would not be helpful for you. Whether young or old, these thoughts will challenge you to be a man worthy to be so called.

Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp
This book is a classic! Much like Mack's work listed above, you should read this with your wife. Every page is full of sound wisdom for fathers (and mothers for that matter). Outside of scripture, I know of no book better able to guide parents in the most difficult but most important ministry they will ever have.

Don't Make Me Count To Three by Ginger Plowman
My wife loved this book. Though definitely written more for a mom than a dad, fathers do not overlook this book. Plowman has been heavily influenced by Tedd Tripp and Lou Priolo (two very wise and godly men). Read Tripp first but make Plowman a close second.

Age of Opportunity by Paul Tripp
Paul Tripp is one of my favorite authors. If you have teenagers in your home get this book and read it right away! If you have young children soon to be teenagers put this book on your reading list and do not neglect to read it.

Peacemaking for Families by Ken Sande

Disciplines of a Godly Family by R. Kent Hughes and Barbara Hughes

Thoughts on Family Worship by J.W. Alexander
An excellent book by a 19th century pastor and seminary professor. Though it is an old book, it deals with subject matter that will never cease to be timely or important. I have no doubt that this book will spur you on to better more biblical leadership in your home.

Aim For Glory Not Glamour

As most of you know from Larissa's last post, I began my ministry at FCC Pleasanton as the Youth Pastor this past Sunday. I have spent a great deal of time recently reflecting upon the weighty role God has so graciously granted me. Though I am so thankful He has seen fit to place young souls under my care, I have been more aware than ever of the eternal nature of pastoral ministry. This has led to much contemplation about how one goes about engaging in ministry, in my case ministry to youth. As I began to think about this important question I realised how different I am from many Youth Ministers I have known in the past. Most have been far more hip and culturally connected than I. They have also typically been more focused on activities than I have ever desired to be. At this point I think it is necessary to say that for me I have felt some degree of pressure to fit this mould. It is when I feel this pressure, however, that my feelings collide with the word of God, and I am again reminded that if the trajectory of comtemporary Youth Ministry fails to be biblically sound then I must reject it. This is certainly not to say that being culturally aware is a bad thing or that engaging in activities is wrong, but when these things become front and center have we not departed from what is first and foremost? I will never be known as the coolest youth minister ever, nor will I ever be as up to date with cultural issues as many people are. I will also never love activities as much as I love teaching the word of God. But I am contented with that. Instead, I intend to strive, by God's grace, to labor for His glory by focusing on two things: 1. I want to tirelessly teach God's word with unction and accuracy and 2. I want my youth to know I love them. Certainly, youth ministry is more than this; but this is where I intend to begin and where I intend to remain. Others can have the glitz and glamour. I'd much rather see my Savior get the glory only He deserves!

Try Your Weekend Getaway...At Church?!

Summertime. It is a season of pools, tans, outdoor sports, boating, fishing, pretty much anything, with one exception - - corporate worship with other believers. Perhaps more than any other time of the year each one of us can think of a legion of activities that could be (and in some cases should be) done during the warm summer months. For the most part these activities are no doubt good and acceptable in and of themselves. The trouble comes when the pursuit of these activities becomes more important than gathering together with other believers to worship God. When this happens we tread on dangerous ground. The words of the writer of Hebrews are most pertinent here: "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25) What will you be doing this Sunday, say around 10 AM? Will you be fishing on the local lake or playing in a softball tournament? Believer, please know that your church family needs you (not to mention the fact that you need them) infinitely more than you need that 10 lb. bass or championship trophy. This Sunday, instead of pursuing that which is temporal let us pursue the One who is eternal, and let us do it with a grateful heart in the presence of our brothers and sisters in Christ. I leave you with a quote from the puritan Richard Baxter. In his phenonmenal work entitled A Christian Directory , Baxter makes this wise statement: "O consider what it is for a sinner that must shortly die, to go with the servants of God to worship him; to pray for his salvation, and to hear what God hath to say to him by his minister, for the life of his immortal soul!" (616)