Those who love their dream of a Christian community

“Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than they love the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their personal intentions may be ever so honest, earnest and sacrificial. God hates this wishful dreaming because it makes the dreamer proud and pretentious. Those who dream of this idolized community demand that it be fulfilled by God, by others and by themselves. They enter the community of Christians with their demands set up by their own law, and judge one another and God accordingly. It is not we who build. Christ builds the church. Whoever is mindful to build the church is surely well on the way to destroying it, for he will build a temple to idols without wishing or knowing it. We must confess he builds. We must proclaim, he builds. We must pray to him, and he will build. We do not know his plan. We cannot see whether he is building or pulling down. It may be that the times which by human standards are the times of collapse are for him the great times of construction. It may be that the times which from a human point are great times for the church are times when it's pulled down. It is a great comfort which Jesus gives to his church. You confess, preach, bear witness to me, and I alone will build where it pleases me. Do not meddle in what is not your providence. Do what is given to you, and do it well, and you will have done enough.... Live together in the forgiveness of your sins. Forgive each other every day from the bottom of your hearts.”
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer


I love this quote so much. The reason why is because I identified with that. I was a dreamer of what Christian community "should" look like and came to find myself judgmental and bitter over the state of things. God has been so gracious to my heart through these last couple of years. I've come out of the judgmental and bitter state to wanting to love as many people as I can for the sake of Christ. To value as many people as I can for the glory of God. Instead of growing bitter at what the Church lacks I've grown in joy of how great God is. I use to depend on the Church for my value and worth as a Christian and it turned to bitterness. Now I believe the Church has a huge role in the growth of a new believer and the shepherding of a Christian, but there comes a time when that Christian needs to grow solely in Christ.. They can't stay relying on the Church for their growth. I couldn't stay there. If I did the Church would become my crutch. Instead I've come to the realization that I'd rather have Christ above all things. I'd rather Christ be glorified over a group of people. If that group isn't glorifying Christ then I won't let them bring me down because they don't define my relationship with God, only Christ does.

I have my moments where I turn to despair and bitterness at the state of our society. At the state of Christendom today. Yet I will not let it waiver me from Christ. When I see falsehood flow into churches and sin encroach on the cause of Christ, I hold on to this promise:

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven

    and do not return there but water the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

   so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

    it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."

Isaiah 55:10-11

I've realized how liberating it is to live in Christ alone. To find ways of loving people more. Even if someday the Church no longer welcomes me I can still love them because my value and worth is found in the Cross of Christ. He is my strength and He is my portion forever. God will mobilize me when everything else is trying to take me down. I love Him and I pray I never lose sight of this.