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.

In Hopes Of Being Helpful

When Larissa asked me if I was interested in blogging with her, I admit I was somewhat hesitant. I honestly have niether the time nor the inclination to type. Perhaps though, that is due in part to the fact that I use only two fingers. At any rate, I warmed to the idea when I realized how much of a blessing it would be to my own soul to prepare and put out entries for this blog. My real hope, however, is that what is written might bless you also. For this reason, I have purposefully chosen to limit the scope of what I intend to write. Though I love academics, particularly when studying strenghtens my understanding of God's word, I will not be purely academic. Though I love simplistic practical truth, particularly when such truth strengthens my daily walk as a disciple of Christ, I will not be purely practical. What I desire to be more than anything is helpful. If I can help others see clearer how great and glorious the one and only Triune God is, than any time spent posting on this blog will be well spent. In an attempt to achieve this end, my postings will vary a great deal in subject matter and length, but never focus. Tonight I offer up a review of a book on the often neglected topic of humility. I hope after reading this review that you will be persuaded to use your lunch money to purchase this book. Your stomach may growl, but I assure you you will be richly fed.

Humility: The Forgotten Virtue by Wayne A. Mack, with Joshua Mack. Phillipsburg, NJ:
Presbyterian and Reformed, 2005. Pp. 180.

In chapter 5 of the first epistle that bears his name, the apostle Peter warns the people of God that Satan is “like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”(v. 8). Most Christians know that Satan’s relentless pursuit of their soul is futile, yet his temptations and attacks continue on and are as real as a believer’s security in Christ. There are many fronts upon which the Christian fights his greatest adversary but few if any are as challenging as the battlefront of pride. In fact, the Holy Spirit did not accidentally inspire Peter to warn about Satan only three verses after calling for God’s people “to be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility for ‘God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.’” (V. 5). If humility fails to characterize a Christian’s life than they have little hope for achieving victory in the daily battle against the devil. For this reason, Wayne Mack’s Humility: The Forgotten Virtue is a welcome treatise on a sorely neglected but vitally important topic.
In Humility: The Forgotten Virtue, Dr. Mack begins his book by establishing the biblical mandate for humility. He then defines humility by defining pride and setting forth four qualities that describe a person who is genuinely humble.
Throughout the course of the next three chapters seventeen descriptions are given that paint a complete portrait of the humble. Ten of those descriptions are shown by Mack to be recognizable in the way a believer contemplates, interacts with, and responds to their great God. However, being humble in one’s relationship with God is only part of living as a humble Christian. One must also display humility in everyday interaction with their fellow man. For this reason, the remaining seven descriptions address this important reality.
As the reader comes to chapter 5, Mack’s focus shifts slightly. In this chapter his purpose is simple—explain the foolishness of pride. Pride not only “produces” things we should shun but it also “prevents” things we should embrace (pg. 111). Based on Mack’s condemnation of pride, which he shows from scripture is ultimately God’s condemnation of pride, the reader is lead to rightly conclude that no one is able to live a life pleasing to God while embracing pride. This fact is made all the more obvious in the final few paragraphs of this chapter, when Mack reminds his readers of the tremendous humility displayed by our Lord Jesus Christ.
As the reader digests the final two chapters in Mack’s book they are promised an answer to how a Christian can put into practice what has been asserted in the previous 5 chapters. His highly competent and biblically sound answer neither neglects God’s grace or man’s responsibility. He begins by reminding his readers that “humility begins with the new birth” (p. 123). No matter how much a man may work to achieve humility it will never be realized apart from the empowerment of a gracious God. Yet, as Mack points out, man must work to cultivate humility. As in all areas of the Christian life, humility comes when we diligently labor to practice the virtue while remembering that all action is grace enabled.
In the preface to Humility: The Forgotten Virtue Mack states that he intends to use a “four-D approach” in helping his readers better understand pride and humility in light of scripture (p. 14). This method consists of providing “a biblical definition” of what pride and humility are, discussing “how pride and humility display themselves” and explaining “how true humility can be developed and destructive pride can be diminished in our lives” (p. 14). As one can see from the analysis of his individual chapters, Mack has admirably achieved his purpose.
To say that the strengths of Mack’s book are legion would be an understatement. Perhaps the most impressive strength is Mack’s accurate assessment of man’s utter depravity, God’s sovereign and gracious character, and the impact these foundational truths have on any discussion relating to humility. Another strength is found in the overall practical nature of Mack’s work. Instead of technical analysis, you will find Bible soaked wisdom gleaned from nearly 40 years in the ministry. As if Mack’s godly counsel were not enough, peppered throughout this book are numerous quotes by men like C.H. Spurgeon, Jonathan Edwards, and Charles Bridges. As the reader concludes each chapter, yet another strength becomes clearly visible. Mack had included study questions which encourage both review and reflection. This very useful feature helps to make this book an excellent choice for those seeking to do a discipleship class on humility in the local church. In fact, Mack acknowledges earlier on that the material for the book originated in a class taught at Grace Fellowship Church (p.15).
Before concluding a discussion of the strengths of this book, a few words must be said about the brilliant forward written by Joel Beeke. Aside from being a great introduction to and commendation for Mack’s work, the forward is an enormously rich goldmine of Puritan comment on pride and humility. Typically, forewords serve as appetizers for more fulfilling meals to follow. Beeke’s forward, however, is a feast all by itself. Whether it’s Richard Mayo, George Swinnock, Thomas Shepard or Cotton Mather, Beeke lets these spiritual giants speak and what they have to say is, in the opinion of this reviewer, worth the price of the book.
Despite being a commendable book in so many ways, there are a couple of desirable corrections worth noting. In a few places the reader will notice some minor grammatical mistakes. On page 15 Mack states that Joel Beeke is a “seminar professor.” This should in fact read “seminary professor.” Then on page 38 references to the Lord in a quotation from Jeremiah 17 are capitalized so they appear as “LORD.” However, the final reference appears as “LoRD.” A third grammatical mistake appears on page 157. His fourteenth point on decreasing pride and increasing humility should be italicized like the previous 13 points.
Wayne Mack’s Humility: The Forgotten Virtue proves that truly Christian literature both admonishes and encourages God’s people. He takes his readers on a journey through scripture that is painful at times, encouraging at others, but always faithfully honest. All of this is done in the hopes that the natural man’s heart is shown to produce only pride never humility; and that when humility is displayed it is solely because of the grace of God. In an age when fluff, which is not worth the paper it is printed on, is scoffed up by Christians in mass quantities, Mack’s faithful message is wonderfully refreshing. May God grant His people the ability to not only hear but also heed this timeless message.