Nathan Mariano’s Reviews > Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community > Status Update

Bonhoeffer describes the difference between human love and spiritual love. Both begin in desire for community and can look the same, but human love operates to secure admiration and desire. Human love cannot “stops short” at an enemy. Muddied by over explanation, this is most clear when he says, “Human love is directed to the other person for his own sake, spiritual love loves him for Christ’s sake.”

Bonhoeffer employs harsh language that impedes the message of his assertions. He wants to rid the Christian, specifically calling out pastors along the way, of entitlements caused by personal expectations in community. He calls this the “wish dream”, but his tone comes off overly brutal at times. He does correctly describe Christian community as something to receive and cherish as is while God gives and grows it.

He seems to systematically call for unity as follows. It is only in Christ that one can have peace with God and man. When a Christian becomes won by grace, he is a part of Christ’s body. The body of Christ is based on nothing more than the claim Christ has made on a man. This unity between the body is eternal. If it is not solely Christ between man and man, removes us from the divine reality of brotherhood.