# “The Church doesn’t need another accuser” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2009/03/16/the-church-doesnt-need-another-accuser-by-dietrich-bonhoeffer/
- Published: 2009-03-16T11:54:50-05:00
- Author: tollelege

“A pastor should not complain about his congregation, certainly never to other people,
but also not to God. A congregation has not been entrusted to him in order that 
he should become its accuser before God and men. When a person becomes alienated
from a Christian community in which he has been placed and begins to raise complaints
about it, he had better examine himself first to see whether the trouble is not 
due to his wish dream that should be shattered by God; and if this be the case, 
let him thank God for leading him into this predicament.

But if not, let him nevertheless guard against ever becoming an accuser of the congregation
before God. Let him rather accuse himself for his unbelief. Let him pray to God 
for an understanding of his own failure and his particular sin, and pray that he
may not wrong his brethren. Let him, in the consciousness of his own guilt, make
intercession for his brethren. Let him do what he is committed to do, and thank 
God.”

–Dietrich Bonhoeffer, _Life Together_ (New York: Harper & Row, 1954), 29-30.

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