Bonhoeffer: the impiety of the pious

Friday, June 5, 2015
    Feast of Boniface (Wynfrith) of Crediton, Archbishop of Mainz, Apostle of Germany, Martyr, 754
Meditation:
No one who practices deceit
    will dwell in my house;
no one who speaks falsely
    will stand in my presence.
    —Psalm 101:7 (NIV)
Quotation:
    The pious community permits no one to be a sinner. Hence all have to conceal their sins from themselves and from the community. We are not allowed to be sinners. Many Christians would be unimaginably horrified if a real sinner were suddenly to turn up among the pious. So we remain alone with our sin, trapped in lies and hypocrisy, for we are in fact sinners.
    ... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together [1954], tr. Daniel W. Bloesch & James H. Burtness, Fortress Press, 2004, p. 108 (see the book)
    See also Ps. 101:7; Isa. 7:12; Matt. 23:5-6; 27:24; Luke 20:21-25; John 15:6; 18:28; Acts 5:1-10; Rom. 16:17-18; Gal. 6:3; 1 Pet. 5:8
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, tear the veil away that hides our sin. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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