In his book The Cost of Discipleship, Bonhoeffer puts forth an intriguing proposition. He suggests that the one of the fundamental characteristics of the Body of Christ (the Church) is that it is a visible community.
I think in the midst of government-forced COVID restrictions against the church, his words have great implications for the church.
Wherever Christians live together, conversing and dealing with one another, there is the Church, there they are in Christ. This is what transforms the whole character of their fellowship…
…The member of the Body of Christ has been delivered from the world and called out of it. He must give the world a visible proof of his calling, not only by sharing in the Church’s worship and discipline, but also through the new fellowship of brotherly living.
Those COVID restrictions, or more pointedly, the local churches that have submitted to the governmental power, have denied that fellowship.
“Become not bondservants of men.” This can happen in two different ways. First, it may happen by revolution and the overthrow o the established order, and secondly by investing the established order with a halo of spirituality. “Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.” “With God”–and therefore “become not bondservants of men,” neither by revolution nor by false submission.
Is it a stretch to wonder if churches that have submitted to those governmental powers have made themselves bondservants of those powers? Bonhoeffer writes of revolution and the investing of the established order with a halo of spirituality. Have we not seen those same tendencies in recent/current politics?
Let the Christian remain in the world, not because of the good gifts of creation, nor because of his responsibility for the course of the world, but for the sake of the Body of the incarnate Christ and for the sake of the Church. Let him remain in the world to engage in front assault on it, and let him live the life of his secular calling in order to show himself as a stranger in this world all the more. But that is only possible if we are visible members of the Church. (emphasis mine)
The implication is staggering.
Thankfully, there are churches across the country that have stood against the restrictions, and in legal challenges, have fared exceptionally well. The other churches, though, have set a precedent that is dangerous to themselves and the Body.
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