Let him who cannot be alone beware of community. He will only do harm to himself and to the community. Alone you stood before God when he called you; alone you had to answer that call; alone you had to struggle and pray; and alone you will die and give an account to God. You cannot escape from yourself; for God has singled you out. If you refuse to be alone you are rejecting Christ's call to you, and you can have no part in the community of those who are called. "The challenge of death comes to us all, and no one can die for another. Everyone must fight his own battle with death by himself, alone... I will not be with you then, nor you with me" (Luther).
Well, we actually won't be alone because God is always with us? :) Or is that referring to judgement day?
ReplyDeleteSo we should be able to be alone, but also yearn community. Something like that? (Sorry for so many question marks)
"Alone" is in contrast to "with others," i.e. other human beings. Judgment day is one time when we will be alone in that sense.
ReplyDeleteEssentially, I think you've got the idea. You shouldn't yearn for community simply because you cannot live by yourself, since you will make community into something that it's not supposed to be.
Ah, I see. Thanks for the explanation!
ReplyDelete(By the way, the way you write your responses reminds me of Ma0 :P)