Service

In Service, the fourth chapter of Life Together, Bonhoeffer specifies the believer’s duties toward one another in Christian community. He emphasizes that Christians are called to listen intently to one another, actively seek ways to help each other, and support one another by bearing each other’s burdens. Before listing these specific duties, however, Bonhoeffer addresses the heart of the believer. Opening with the story of the disciples arguing in Luke 9, Bonhoeffer highlights how easy it is for Christians (and humans in general) to fall into routine competition with one another. Yet the follower of Christ must continually strive to see themselves not as their pride and self-assurance dictate, but as God sees them: redeemed sinners dependent on His grace. Bonhoeffer writes, “Only those who live by the forgiveness of their sin in Jesus Christ will think little of themselves in the right way. They will know that their own wisdom completely came to an end when Christ forgave them.”

Inmates Fredrick, Matthew, Jacob, and Larry all agreed that Bonhoeffer was describing prison perfectly when he wrote, “There are strong people and weak ones. If people are not strong, they immediately claim the right of the weak as their own and use it against the strong,” and vice versa. In prison, people quickly size each other up, categorizing others based on how they might be used or manipulated. A slow-witted inmate may be seen as someone to exploit, a wealthy inmate as someone to extort, or a young or physically weak inmate as an easy target for abuse. Turf wars, power struggles, and manipulation are everyday occurrences behind bars. Whatever pride issues plague people in the free world are magnified in prison. Bonhoeffer would instruct Christian inmates to resist these natural tendencies.

Matt wrote, “In this prison, this happens instantly—categories by race, groups within race, crimes. Who you hang out with determines who you are. For the community of Christian believers to grow spiritually, the blinders of the flesh have to be taken off, and the sight of Christ has to go forth.” [sic] Bonhoeffer reminds inmates to view others in light of their own mistakes and shortcomings. Recognizing one’s own sin and the forgiveness required to cleanse it is essential to achieving the humility necessary for service. Bonhoeffer writes, “Once individuals have experienced the mercy of God in their lives, from then on they desire only to serve.”

Larry appreciated the Thomas à Kempis quote Bonhoeffer included: “The highest and most useful lesson is to truly know yourself and to think humbly of yourself. Making nothing of yourself and always having a good opinion of others is great wisdom and perfection.” Larry noted that if everyone on his yard—and at the very least the Christians—adopted this mindset, the entire atmosphere would shift to one of peace.

Fredrick particularly resonated with Bonhoeffer’s idea that seeing one’s own sin as worse than others’ is essential for serving others in Christian love. Bonhoeffer writes:

My sin is of necessity the worst, the most serious, the most objectionable. Christian love will find any number of excuses for the sins of others; only for my sin is there no excuse whatsoever. That is why my sin is the worst. Those who would serve others in the community must descend all the way down to this depth of humility. How could I possibly serve other persons in unfeigned humility if their sins appear to me to be seriously worse than my own?

Fredrick observed that if everyone saw their own mistakes—both past and present—as worse than those of others, it would significantly aid in the rehabilitation process. Coming to terms with one’s own darkness while extending love and service to others despite their flaws would create a community of properly remorseful and rehabilitated inmates.

Matthew identified with Bonhoeffer’s discussion of how easily gossip and self-righteousness spread, even under the guise of church business. Matt wrote:

O’ how we gossip, spread discontent, bitterness, [and] alienation throughout the community. Even when trying to avoid anything negative about another, it always seems to be right in the way. It is very hard to avoid when your community is in such a tight space. Maybe the reason it is like this is due to the lack of accountability in community. I have very seldom told someone to stop talking about another, nor seen someone else do the same. The flesh enjoys feeling superior to others. [sic]

Matt appreciated this chapter and plans to discuss with the church elders and pastors on the yard the implementation of a rule Bonhoeffer established at Finkenwalde: “Thus it must be a decisive rule of all Christian community life that each individual is prohibited from talking about another Christian in secret… talking about others in secret is not allowed even under the pretense of help and goodwill.” Matt believed this rule would significantly improve morale within the church and reduce gossip, assumptions, and negativity.

We also discussed the service of active listening. In prison, where many feel unseen and unheard, listening is one of the most meaningful acts of service a Christian can provide. Larry reminded us how, whenever volunteers visit the prison, inmates flock to them simply to be heard. “Knowing that someone else on earth recognizes you as a human is paramount to knowing we exist,” he said. While volunteers offer this service occasionally, Christian inmates can provide it daily.

There are countless opportunities for inmates to engage in acts of helpfulness. These don’t have to be pre-scheduled or sanctioned events. A Christian inmate can shine another inmate’s boots, handwash their laundry, clean their cell, or make their rack while they’re at work. In prison, there’s no shortage of people to help or ways to help them. The church on the yard should always be on the lookout for such opportunities.

Bearing one another’s burdens is another vital aspect of service. Prison is a challenging environment, even for hardened criminals. Special occasions like Christmas or milestones such as births, graduations, birthdays, and weddings can be painful reminders of separation from loved ones. Losing a family member while behind bars is one of the most devastating experiences an inmate can face. Fredrick, Matthew, Jacob, and Larry all agreed that the Christian community can make a significant impact by praying with one another, listening, crying together, and, in the hardest act of empathy, offering physical embrace. Even the “worst of the worst” are often starved for such compassion and would welcome it. Serving one another by bearing each other’s burdens is one of the most proactive ways for inmates to do their time well.