We Really Do Need Each Other

by Reuben Welch

Classic book for Communities and Churches!

Genres: Christian, Theology, Nonfiction, Christianity

116 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Bev Walkling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the third or fourth time that I have read this wonderful book. Reuben Welch is a teacher and he teaches as he writes, in a manner that comes across almost as if he were speaking to one directly. In this book he explores the Gospel of John in relationship to community. There is a lot to learn from this Gospel and Reuben explains it very clearly.Each time I read it I come away feeling inspired to work more on being in fellowship with others and letting God's light shine within and through me. I highly recommend it.

2017 - I recently reread this book once again as part of my learning goals while on a lay support team for a student minister in our congregation. I chose it because it seemed particularly appropriate when starting out on a group process and once again I cannot recommend it more highly.My copy is out on loan to other members of the group right now. It is hard to find a copy but if you can, grab it. It will be worth it.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the title might sound a bit cheesy, this book will make some Christians uncomfortable with its intrusiveness into accepted practice and common interpretations of 1 John and scriptures concerning Christian love. The combination of poetic style with regular prose lets the content flow nicely, making this short book an easy read, though not easy to put into practice. Highly recommended.

[Hannah Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We are commanded to love one another. You see, it has to move suddenly out of the realm of attraction. There are some people that we like and then there are the other kind. And some who like us and some we can’t understand. Now look, if Christian love is restricted to those we have a natural, warm feeling for, we have limited our world to the little group we happen to be around.
But love is commanded. And if we are going to talk about love, we have to move out of the level of liking and emotion and feeling and warmth, to the level of the will—a posture, a stance, an attitude, a frame of mind, a life’s direction towards others that’s conditioned by our understanding of God’s self-giving in Jesus. We are commanded. It isn’t as though we have any alternative. Have we accepted that yet, do you suppose?”

In this short yet compelling work, the author guides readers through the book of 1 John, placing a specific emphasis on loving the Lord through the love we have for one another. Combining elements of both prose and poetry in an enjoyable fashion, Welch calls Christians into more fully embracing the command to "lay down our lives for our brothers" in a way that is both convicting and captivating.

[Joe Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that challenges our essential default thought patterns of an individual relationship with God in a vacuum and independent from all other people in relationship with God.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll need a copy to scribble in.

Beautiful and True.

[Betty Bruns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up at a Salvation Army store. The title intrigued me given the current state of our relationships with one-another. I thought it would reve up the desire in me to talk love! It is!

[Chris Hammett]

I really loved this books and it changed my attitude about receiving.

[Sheri Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

This smallish book is actually a sermon or series of sermons and was formatted rather oddly but the content of the book was great!