While in prison for the...
Illustration
While in prison for the final time, Dietrich Bonhoeffer reflected on those who are tragically "at ease in Zion" and the way in which this attitude severs them from their own humanity and God.
"There is a very real danger of our drifting into an attitude of contempt for humanity. We know full well that it would be very wrong, and that it would lead to a sterile relationship with our fellow men. Perhaps the following considerations will save us from this temptation. The trouble about it is that it lands us into the worst mistake of our enemies. The man [person] who despises others can never hope to do anything with them. The faults we despise in others are always, to some extent at least, our own, too. How often have we expected from others more than we are prepared to do ourselves? Why have we until now held such lofty views about human nature? Why have we not recognized its frailty and liability to temptation? We must form our estimate of men [others] less from their achievements and failures, and more from their sufferings. The only profitable relationship to others -- and especially to our weaker brethren [siblings] -- is one of love, that is the will to hold fellowship with them. Even God did not despise humanity, but became Man [humble] for man's [humility's] sake."
(Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers From Prison, New York: The MacMillan Company, Eighth Printing, 1966. Pages 24-25.)
"There is a very real danger of our drifting into an attitude of contempt for humanity. We know full well that it would be very wrong, and that it would lead to a sterile relationship with our fellow men. Perhaps the following considerations will save us from this temptation. The trouble about it is that it lands us into the worst mistake of our enemies. The man [person] who despises others can never hope to do anything with them. The faults we despise in others are always, to some extent at least, our own, too. How often have we expected from others more than we are prepared to do ourselves? Why have we until now held such lofty views about human nature? Why have we not recognized its frailty and liability to temptation? We must form our estimate of men [others] less from their achievements and failures, and more from their sufferings. The only profitable relationship to others -- and especially to our weaker brethren [siblings] -- is one of love, that is the will to hold fellowship with them. Even God did not despise humanity, but became Man [humble] for man's [humility's] sake."
(Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers From Prison, New York: The MacMillan Company, Eighth Printing, 1966. Pages 24-25.)
