God Hates Visionary Dreaming

False Prophets have Visions

God hates visionary dreaming; it makes the dreamer proud and pretentious. The man who fashions a visionary ideal of community demands that it be realized by God, by others, and by himself. He enters the community of Christians with his demands, sets up his own law, and judges the brethren and God Himself accordingly. He stands adamant, a living reproach to all others in the circle of brethren. He acts as if he is the creator of the Christian community, as if his dream binds men together. When things do not go his way, he calls the effort a failure. When his ideal picture is destroyed, he sees the community going to smash. So he becomes, first an accuser of his brethren, then an accuser of God, and finally the despairing accuser of himself.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

I would only add: If this is what happens when things don’t go the visionaries way, it is even worse when things do!

Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller
Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor of St Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, TX, author of "A Martyr's Faith for a Faithless World", "Has American Christianity Failed?", co-host of Table Talk Radio, teacher of Grappling with the Text, and theological adventure traveler.

4 Comments

  1. I’m reading Eric Metaxas’ biography of Bohnhoffer right now. He does lots of Bohnhoffer quotes–lots to think about. Question—does this apply to all visionaries or are there visionaries who have it right? I’m maybe confusing definition of visionary and thinking more of prophet.

  2. I’m reading Eric Metaxas’ biography of Bohnhoffer right now. He does lots of Bohnhoffer quotes–lots to think about. Question—does this apply to all visionaries or are there visionaries who have it right? I’m maybe confusing definition of visionary and thinking more of prophet.

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