Cruel Kindness

January 21, 2009

Joe,

In my recent studies on small group ministry I have been reading a book called Life Together, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  In it he writes:

“Nothing can be more cruel than the kindness that consigns another person to his sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than the rebuke that calls a brother back from the path of sin.”

How grateful I have been for those brothers and sister of mine who have loved me enough to point out my sin.  It is not easy to hear such words, but it is always fruitful.

Readers: do you ever struggle with this cruel form of kindness?  What prevents us from displaying the kind of compassion Bonhoeffer commends?

Larry

Posted by Larry | Filed Under Quotes, Seeking Him 

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