“The fact that we are brethren only through Jesus Christ is of immeasurable significance… What determines our brotherhood is what that man is by reason of Christ.  Our community with one another consists solely in what Christ has done to both of us.  This is true not merely at the beginning, and though in the course of time something else were to be added to our community; it remains so for all the future and to all eternity.”

 -Deitrich Bonhoeffer 

 It is absolutely necessary for us to live in community. We are called the body of Christ, for to body to function- it needs all parts to be active and working together. For the word of God to be communicated to us, we also need each other to speak it: Deitrich says, " God has put his word into the mouth of others in order that it may be communicated to us. When one person is stuck by the word he speaks it to others.....Therefore, the Christian needs another Christian who speaks God's word to him." Christ has also through himself allowed us to relate to one another- he has enabled us to reason and understand each other. With out Jesus there is a separation between God and man, and even a separation among men. Christ has become mediator in his sacrifice so that there is no distinction. We relate to each other in knowing that it is only by Jesus that we are who we are, that we have done nothing- so there no longer slave or free, jew or gentile, male or female, white or black, but by his grace we are all set free. This is how we are to see each other and understand one another- that we are no longer captives, but live in freedom together. This is community- an ever present reminder of Christ- he is the joy that lives in each of us- so we do not praise on another or convict each other, rather we live knowing that the good in each of us is only Jesus. He is whom we love.