Eberhard Arnold, Why We Live In Community
"Admittedly, with our present nature, without God, we humans are incapable of community. Temperamental mood-swings, possessive impulses and cravings for physical and emotional satisfaction, powerful currents of ambition and touchiness, the desire for personal influence over others, and human privileges of all kinds–all these place seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the way of true community. But with faith we cannot be deluded into thinking that these realities are decisive: in the face of the power of God and his all-conquering love, they are of no significance. God is stronger than these realities. The unifying energy of his Spirit overcomes them all."
9.20.2006
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2 comments:
This would seem to depend on a notion of sin as a metaphysical property of humanity that is erased or compromised by divine intervention. This might sound good, but the consequence is that either every Christian is no longer sinful, and the struggle with temptation needs to be explained, or that community is not likely in this world, a strange notion indeed. Is Arnold contending that no nonChristian has ever experienced community, or that God acts without regard for one's belief system (for both Christians and nonChristians)?
I'm sure you understand my sensitivity in this area...there seems to be as much potential (and sometimes more realization) of community outside the "Body of Christ" as within.
bruder yoder,
i´m reading bonhoeffer´s "life together" and he echoes tose same words...
can´t wait to hash it out in daily life with you.
-blake
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