Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was a German Theologian, Pastor, and martyr. In his book “Life Together,” he explains why Christian Community is important for many reasons, including for Christian spiritual growth. Bonhoeffer notes that religious or pious people are “shocked” when a sinner is discovered in their midst, and do not permit sinners in their fellowship. What happens as a result is the sin of the pious is hidden, resulting in their remaining alone in their sin, living in lies and hypocrisy. The absurd thing about this is that the Bible says we are all sinners, so the fact that someone is a sinner shouldn’t come to anyone’s great surprise. How and why should we, as sinners, come to God? Bonhoeffer explains:
"You are a sinner; a great, desperate sinner; now come as the sinner that you are, to the God who loves you. He wants you as you are; He does not want anything from you, a sacrifice, a work; He wants you alone. My son, give me thine heart (Prov. 23:26). God has come to you to save the sinner. Be glad! This message is liberation through truth. You can hide nothing from God. The mask you wear before men will do you no good before Him. He wants to see you as you are, He wants to be gracious to you. You do not have to go on lying to yourself and your brothers, as if you were without sin; you can dare to be a sinner.“
The solution, according to Bonhoeffer, is do not worry about what others think; come directly to the God that is full of grace, who freely forgives.
quote from Life Together, 1954 Harper & Row, pg 111
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