I found myself ordering books on Amazon this morning before I knew what happened I has ordered 5 books…
“Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“Letter and Papers from Prison”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“The Call to Discipleship”
Karl Barth
“The Humanity of God”
Karl Barth
“Prayer”
Karl Barth
I am still reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s “The Cost of Discipleship”. What an amazing book. He is going through the Sermon on the Mount showing how being a disciple of Christ requires much more than a vocal acknowledgment of commitment. Being a disciple of Jesus requires action… living life a certain way with certain purpose. The chapter I am wrestling with is called “The Brother”.
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
(Mat 5:21-26)
I know there are some brothers I have retained anger against. While time and distance has weakened the anger I have to admit there is residue in my soul that I have not dealt with.
“There is therefore only one way of following Jesus and of worshiping God, and that is to be reconciled with our brethren. This is a hard way, but it is the way Jesus requires if we are to follow him. It is a way which brings much personal humiliation and insult, but it is indeed the way to him, our crucified Brother, and therefore a way of grace abounding.” pg 129 “The Cost of Discipleship” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
To move forward in my discipleship process I need to get this right, at least clean the air from my end of things. It is not even an issue whither I agree with methods, motivations, or attitudes. It is an issue that relationships were broken in a state of anger and that is where they remain in conscience. Is it not a crime against the gospel that the ones we are going to spend eternity with are the ones we hurt with words and deeds? I am convicted… I am full of pride and arrogance. These are things I should have dealt with much sooner.
