Bonhoeffer Chapter 3

    This week Bonhoeffer touched on something that is very deep and near to my heart. It is something that I struggle with and did not even think about it this way until after reading this chapter. On page 76 he says, “The person who comes into a fellowship because he is running away from himself is misusing it for the sake of diversion, not matter how spiritual this diversion may appear” (pg 76). Compared to previous chapters, this one really convicted me. The other ones made me think hard, but this one was completely different. It really showed me the level of my weakness.

    For a long time, I have struggled with lustful temptations and desires and have often fallen to them. It still goes on today. After reading this chapter, it helped me realize what I do when I am struggling with this sin. I will often go hang out in a spiritual setting and allow the idea of that setting help me pull away from my sin instead of my relationship with God. I am also on the other end of the stick where I will close off from community when I am struggling. So, I see both issues within my life that Bonhoeffer describes.

    One of Bonhoeffer’s other main points of the chapter was about silence and speech. He says, “Silence and speech have the same inner correspondence and difference as do solitude and community. One does not exist without the other” (pg. 78). If we are to understand the meaning of life, we must remember that these two terms are cohesive. You will often hear people, especially Christian’s, say that staying silent is wrong. Well, Bonhoeffer seems to disagree. It is looked as a way of getting out of something, to avoid confrontation. Contrary to those views, it can often be something else. It can be a time of rest before we experience something as wonderful as God’s word.  

    When I am sitting in my bedroom, or living room, I will often just pray or mediate on God’s word. Either before or after I will sit in silence as I am trying to discern and think about what God is saying in His word. Being alone to have that time of silence can be so important and vital to our lives as Christians. If we do not get that time, we will get worn out. We will lose sight of what we are reading, and eventually have no desire to read His word.

    I am glad that this week’s reading made me think and spurred conviction within me. I hope it does that for others and I also hope that we do not forget that silence and solitude can be a good thing.