“In the Spiritual community the Word of God alone rules; in the emotional, self-centered community the indovidual who is equipped with exceptional powers, experience, and magical, suggestive abilities rules along with the Word. In the One, God’s Word alone is binding; in the other, besides the Word, human beings bind others to themselves. In the one, all power, honor and rule are surrendered to the Holy Spirit; in the other, power and personal spheres of influence are sought and cultivated. So far as these are devout people, they certainly seek this power with the intention of serving the highest and the best. But in reality they end up dethroning the Holy Spirit and banishing it to the realm of unreal remoteness; only what is self-centered remains real here. Thus, in the spiritual community the Spirit rules; in the emotional community, psychological techniques and methods. In the former, unspohisticated, nonpsychological, unmethodical, helping love is offered to one another; in the latter, psychological analysis and design. In the former, service to one another is simple and humble; in the latter, it is to strangers treated in a searching, calculating fashion. – from “Life Togehter 40”
Ruled by the Spirit Dietrich Bonhoeffer “A Year with Dietrich Bonhoeffer” Carla Barnhill
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