This popped up on my TH-cam as I do love the Bruderhof communities and stay in contact with them. I'm 32 now, but have been visiting on and off since I was 17. I have researched extensively over the years and learnt many things about this way of life. It sure isn't easy - it is a daily sacrifice, picking up your cross and walking. BUT when called to community, you do it. There will always be things that need smoothing out and things that can be improved. What I love is that the Bruderhof are not stuck in their ways, they are progressive. You can ask the difficult questions and someone will have an answer 99% of the time. If not, pray about it together as community or in private with someone. The Bruderhof's main goal is to live as close to the early apostles as possible. They are truly bible based, as you mentioned. There is a lot more I could write but it would turn this comment into a novel. I highly suggest going back there and staying a month or two if possible. You will get a better feel for things, and you will also learn so much about yourself as well as our Lord.
Thanks so much. I pray that our travels reunite us with them. My heart united with them quickly for the reasons you mention. And I continue to pray about what it might mean for our little network of house churches. In fact, I revisited this today in my blog (www.x242.net/pastorsblog/but-what-about-acts-2-44). Perhaps you would have something to add. Specifically, I am curious why you haven't joined them? I feel like your answer might help give understanding to my answer. If you have the time.
@@simplerfaith Hey Roger, I will send you an email with my reply and communication around this. Would I be right to email the one linked to your channel?
Really enjoyed the video. I have been following the Bruderhof for a few years now and I'd say yes I am definitely drawn to the community based lifestyle. I'm 58 accepted Christ at 18 married for 28 years. I basically detest our modern way of living, were all seperated and are basically wage slaves like me for the last 40 years. I have one close friend and we may see each other once a month because the job is 8-12 hours a day and then there are vehicles and a house in need of constant repair. I try not to be bitter but no one gets it. It funny wife and I were going out to dinner and I asked if she wanted to invite our friends, she asked why I always wanted to invite them out and I told her its because I hardly ever see others outside of work. I think she understood.
@@simplerfaith We were all set to visit Spring Valley in PA. last year but had to cancel at the last moment. Maybe sometime soon. I know their way of life is not perfect, I'm sure they would admit that, but it would be interesting to experience the unity, efficiency and cooperation as opposed to how the world operates at a purely secular level.
I have been following the Bruderhof for more than a year since I started seeing how the anabaptist seem to be a lot closer to New Testament than most of other Christians. I live in Florida and only know of a few Christians who feel the same way.
Same goal , unity in christ , not for the lazy , but should be fulfilling to take care of each other in faith . Their will have to be high standard of discipline ❤
I have it as a fantasy, but my family wouldn't follow me into the community. I'd have liked to be brought up in the Bruderhof, and if I had a second life I'd join it.😃
George Schaffer created places similar to these in Switzerland, although they were more temporary. And very much breeding ground for socialist church think. I learned this as I tried to create such a place in Puerto Rico. It didn’t take long for it to fail, but God taught me a lot through the experience. One thing was that the early church was under persecution. This fire made the light shine brighter and it brought the body closer. People don’t know what repentance means today and they deny Him by their lawlessness. This will change when the judgment starts. And as people are brought back to widespread experiential knowledge of the true transformation of Christ, they will again commune together (out of oneness and necessity). The latter rains. Anyhow, I can’t wait to live in communion with his true body as the tares are separated out…
I'll look into the George Schaffer experiments. And yes, I agree about persecution. In fact, while I don't have the full story, I do know that the Bruderhof was started in 1920, in Germany, in response (at least somewhat) to the first world war. As to it being a breeding ground for socialist church think, are you saying that happened in the community you created? What's an example of that? And in retrospect, do you think there was anything you could have done to prevent that, or are you just saying that it's inevitable when Christians live in close community? I would love to learn what you learned. As for repentance, I agree, people don't know what it means, or how it ties into the gospel message. I was just reading again this morning, Acts 26.20, where Paul says he went around preaching that people "should repent and turn to God and demonstrated their repentance by their deeds."
I would agree with you regarding today's 'Christian' communities, are often a breeding ground for 'social group think', but I would go as far as saying many churches, particularly reformed churches are definitely indoctrinating 'believers' into a set of rigid doctrines that makes them cults in the worst degree. Finally, another reason many of these 'communities' fail is because the Lord Jesus preached against the idea of separation from the physical world (society) but rather stay spiritually seperate but go INTO the world to spread the Good news. Sadly, when you see the crumbling of the man-made religious institutions before our very eyes, the remnant may well have to begin thinking about forming communities due to the increasing persecution all over the world.
I LOVE this concept, being a child of the '60s and very familiar with the communal living concept. What I find attractive, Roger, is that it's biblically based, compassionate, and as austere as one needs it to be. Are you thinking of starting something in Sarasota?
You should read a book by Art Gish called Living in Christian Community. It offers challenging and very good insight for those seeking or considering Christian Community.
Sounds like you need to move to a small town in Rural USA or Canada! It's not Bruderhof, but it is community. Someplace in between small town and commune? Lots to think on. Thanks Roger
Yes, that is a weakness of the strictly communal or cloistered life. But I think many of us are just as cloistered in our hearts. If we're honest, most Christians who *don't* live communally don't make disciples either. What draws me is the hope that living out the teachings of Jesus in community will include living out Matthew 28:18-20 as well.
@@simplerfaith i agree with you most people in my church have never shared the gospel or lead anyone to Christ. There is a very interesting ministry Wheel Power Christian Cyclist founded and lead by Judy Bowman who has spent the past 30 years teaching people how to start a conversation with strangers. She has a great testimony. If you talk to her ask about Bush Man. i am 73 and after 52 years driving truck by faith i retired in obedience to God’s call even though i have no idea where i am going. (Heb. 11:8 the verse God used) God says to trust Him and go to the people He will send me to and speak the words He will put in my mouth.
@craigduysen3663 As a missional nomad of sorts, I certainly understand that. I also understand firsthand that it makes community and deep fellowship difficult. But every "call" has its strengths and weaknesses. That's why I think it's good to be tethered to a strong, village-type community, even if half the year has my wife and me floating across the country, going from conversation to conversation.
Yeah, I think by necessity, right? The more self-reliant we are, the less community-reliant we become. And there's obviously a tendence to romanticize the past. But anytime things change, you have to ask why the people at that time felt it good or necessary or desirable to change. Was it just a gradual change that crept in before they realized it? Or did they intentionally move away from interdependence because they tested it and found it wanting? We could ask the same of the early church. Persecution scattered them. They lived in tight communities, even some of them in caves and such. But eventually they didn't. Perhaps living in community like that is so hard it's not worth it, especially when it's no longer necessary for survival. Whether the 1800s or the 30s, the question I'm chewing on is whether there's value in choosing to let go of some independence to better embrace Christian interdependence in the 2020s!
I grew up and live in a small town in Canada; there's nothing romantic about it. We're also surrounded by Amish and Mennonites and there's nothing romantic about that, either. Either work hard and stay poor, don't work at all and stay poorer, or employ the poor so you can get rich. IN CHRIST is the only way, because only IN CHRIST is pride extinguished.
@risenindeed can "in Christ" also include "in community" like I was talking about? The Bruderhof are certainly poor individually (vow of poverty) and yet all their needs are met.
@simplerfaith individual poverty when all needs are met isn't poverty. Amish and Mennonite communities can be, and often are rife with abuse. I won't get into the specifics but some of it is truly horrendous. Small town & rural living has become a race to the bottom for moral depravity. The divide between the rich and the poor is ever increasing. What you describe as being ideal or romanticized, where all needs are met, pride has been extinguished, living after the Spirit is abundant and living after the flesh non-existent IS living in Christ in community. I applaud the effort of this community but if they are truly living in Christ in community then Satan is pacing the property, looking for a way in. As long as Satan is free to roam the earth and Christ has yet to set up His throne on earth, the ideal Christian community will not exist.
@risenindeed Thanks for the conversation. Yeah, I hear you about poverty. We really should do a better job of practicing what the scriptures teach: "those who gathered much did not have too much, and those who gathered little did not have too little." But everyone is too afraid of Communism to have a serious non- politicized conversation about that. And we like our stuff. I should also clarify that when I say "romanticized" I do mean it as an unrealistic fascination, just like you're saying. I was attempting to call that out in myself as a part of seeking discernment about this thought. It's good and bad, just like anything. Interestingly enough, my family line is Mennonite as far back as we can trace, and I was raised Mennonite. When i was 25, I left the Mennonite church declaring it dead. When I was 43, the congregation I left called me back as their pastor. I was reluctant about being called a Mennonite again, and still will admit to being an ethnic Mennonite, etc., but I haven't identified as Mennonite since 1992. Even when I pastored a Mennonite church. Not for any hatred but just because following Christ is way better than following Menno Simons. All that to say, I speak to this from a close up perspective when I say that, like you, I've seen abuse. But I've also seen many families like my own and my wife's that didn't experience it that way. I would venture to say abuse is not the norm. But it does happen. Wherever you have people, you have gross sin. Even if they think they're in Christian community. Come quickly Lord Jesus, come quickly.
@@simplerfaith if americas democracy doesnt work for you, its because youve never seen or heard a priest or teacher that was as smart or honest as a carpenter
@@simplerfaith all communes or churches or nations that preach brotherhood and unity but doesnt teach everyone to weld equally and build their own shelter has the spirit of anti-christ, the tradition of apes or total confusion
Intentional community is code for commune. Hippies share everything including wives. I’ve seen those Christian’s running around with each others spouses. Not for me.
There's nothing at all that I experienced with the Bruderhof, or that I was talking about here, that could be confused with hippies sharing spouses. That's unchristian. I was talking about Christian community.
The Word of God, which and who is "Jesus My Christ", is not at all a "What If" or meant to be some mere Social Experience or Experiment to Amuse The Masses
This popped up on my TH-cam as I do love the Bruderhof communities and stay in contact with them. I'm 32 now, but have been visiting on and off since I was 17. I have researched extensively over the years and learnt many things about this way of life. It sure isn't easy - it is a daily sacrifice, picking up your cross and walking. BUT when called to community, you do it. There will always be things that need smoothing out and things that can be improved. What I love is that the Bruderhof are not stuck in their ways, they are progressive. You can ask the difficult questions and someone will have an answer 99% of the time. If not, pray about it together as community or in private with someone.
The Bruderhof's main goal is to live as close to the early apostles as possible. They are truly bible based, as you mentioned. There is a lot more I could write but it would turn this comment into a novel. I highly suggest going back there and staying a month or two if possible. You will get a better feel for things, and you will also learn so much about yourself as well as our Lord.
Thanks so much. I pray that our travels reunite us with them. My heart united with them quickly for the reasons you mention. And I continue to pray about what it might mean for our little network of house churches. In fact, I revisited this today in my blog (www.x242.net/pastorsblog/but-what-about-acts-2-44). Perhaps you would have something to add. Specifically, I am curious why you haven't joined them? I feel like your answer might help give understanding to my answer. If you have the time.
@@simplerfaith Hey Roger, I will send you an email with my reply and communication around this. Would I be right to email the one linked to your channel?
@@OurFamilyJourney thanks. Email me at roger@x242.net.
Really enjoyed the video. I have been following the Bruderhof for a few years now and I'd say yes I am definitely drawn to the community based lifestyle. I'm 58 accepted Christ at 18 married for 28 years. I basically detest our modern way of living, were all seperated and are basically wage slaves like me for the last 40 years. I have one close friend and we may see each other once a month because the job is 8-12 hours a day and then there are vehicles and a house in need of constant repair. I try not to be bitter but no one gets it. It funny wife and I were going out to dinner and I asked if she wanted to invite our friends, she asked why I always wanted to invite them out and I told her its because I hardly ever see others outside of work. I think she understood.
Thanks. If you ever get a chance to visit them, they welcome it!
@@simplerfaith We were all set to visit Spring Valley in PA. last year but had to cancel at the last moment.
Maybe sometime soon. I know their way of life is not perfect, I'm sure they would admit that, but it would be interesting to experience the unity, efficiency and cooperation as opposed to how the world operates at a purely secular level.
I have been following the Bruderhof for more than a year since I started seeing how the anabaptist seem to be a lot closer to New Testament than most of other Christians. I live in Florida and only know of a few Christians who feel the same way.
Where in Florida?
@ orlando
Same goal , unity in christ , not for the lazy , but should be fulfilling to take care of each other in faith . Their will have to be high standard of discipline ❤
I have it as a fantasy, but my family wouldn't follow me into the community. I'd have liked to be brought up in the Bruderhof, and if I had a second life I'd join it.😃
@paulwilliams1469 it's certainly attractive in many ways. But it's extreme. It's not for everyone. Thank God is not the only way to be faithful!
George Schaffer created places similar to these in Switzerland, although they were more temporary. And very much breeding ground for socialist church think. I learned this as I tried to create such a place in Puerto Rico. It didn’t take long for it to fail, but God taught me a lot through the experience. One thing was that the early church was under persecution. This fire made the light shine brighter and it brought the body closer. People don’t know what repentance means today and they deny Him by their lawlessness. This will change when the judgment starts. And as people are brought back to widespread experiential knowledge of the true transformation of Christ, they will again commune together (out of oneness and necessity). The latter rains. Anyhow, I can’t wait to live in communion with his true body as the tares are separated out…
I'll look into the George Schaffer experiments. And yes, I agree about persecution. In fact, while I don't have the full story, I do know that the Bruderhof was started in 1920, in Germany, in response (at least somewhat) to the first world war.
As to it being a breeding ground for socialist church think, are you saying that happened in the community you created? What's an example of that? And in retrospect, do you think there was anything you could have done to prevent that, or are you just saying that it's inevitable when Christians live in close community? I would love to learn what you learned.
As for repentance, I agree, people don't know what it means, or how it ties into the gospel message. I was just reading again this morning, Acts 26.20, where Paul says he went around preaching that people "should repent and turn to God and demonstrated their repentance by their deeds."
I would agree with you regarding today's 'Christian' communities, are often a breeding ground for 'social group think', but I would go as far as saying many churches, particularly reformed churches are definitely indoctrinating 'believers' into a set of rigid doctrines that makes them cults in the worst degree. Finally, another reason many of these 'communities' fail is because the Lord Jesus preached against the idea of separation from the physical world (society) but rather stay spiritually seperate but go INTO the world to spread the Good news. Sadly, when you see the crumbling of the man-made religious institutions before our very eyes, the remnant may well have to begin thinking about forming communities due to the increasing persecution all over the world.
I LOVE this concept, being a child of the '60s and very familiar with the communal living concept. What I find attractive, Roger, is that it's biblically based, compassionate, and as austere as one needs it to be. Are you thinking of starting something in Sarasota?
In Sarasota or wherever. Let's just say my imagination is prayerfully stirred. :)
You should read a book by Art Gish called Living in Christian Community. It offers challenging and very good insight for those seeking or considering Christian Community.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Sounds like you need to move to a small town in Rural USA or Canada! It's not Bruderhof, but it is community. Someplace in between small town and commune? Lots to think on. Thanks Roger
I love your small town experience. :)
we are called to take the gospel throughout the world. in living in commune like that we fail our calling as disciples to go and make disciples.
Yes, that is a weakness of the strictly communal or cloistered life. But I think many of us are just as cloistered in our hearts. If we're honest, most Christians who *don't* live communally don't make disciples either. What draws me is the hope that living out the teachings of Jesus in community will include living out Matthew 28:18-20 as well.
@@simplerfaith i agree with you most people in my church have never shared the gospel or lead anyone to Christ. There is a very interesting ministry Wheel Power Christian Cyclist founded and lead by Judy Bowman who has spent the past 30 years teaching people how to start a conversation with strangers. She has a great testimony. If you talk to her ask about Bush Man. i am 73 and after 52 years driving truck by faith i retired in obedience to God’s call even though i have no idea where i am going. (Heb. 11:8 the verse God used) God says to trust Him and go to the people He will send me to and speak the words He will put in my mouth.
@craigduysen3663 As a missional nomad of sorts, I certainly understand that. I also understand firsthand that it makes community and deep fellowship difficult. But every "call" has its strengths and weaknesses. That's why I think it's good to be tethered to a strong, village-type community, even if half the year has my wife and me floating across the country, going from conversation to conversation.
This was common in America during the 1800's
Yeah, I think by necessity, right? The more self-reliant we are, the less community-reliant we become. And there's obviously a tendence to romanticize the past. But anytime things change, you have to ask why the people at that time felt it good or necessary or desirable to change. Was it just a gradual change that crept in before they realized it? Or did they intentionally move away from interdependence because they tested it and found it wanting? We could ask the same of the early church. Persecution scattered them. They lived in tight communities, even some of them in caves and such. But eventually they didn't. Perhaps living in community like that is so hard it's not worth it, especially when it's no longer necessary for survival. Whether the 1800s or the 30s, the question I'm chewing on is whether there's value in choosing to let go of some independence to better embrace Christian interdependence in the 2020s!
I grew up and live in a small town in Canada; there's nothing romantic about it. We're also surrounded by Amish and Mennonites and there's nothing romantic about that, either.
Either work hard and stay poor, don't work at all and stay poorer, or employ the poor so you can get rich.
IN CHRIST is the only way, because only IN CHRIST is pride extinguished.
@risenindeed can "in Christ" also include "in community" like I was talking about? The Bruderhof are certainly poor individually (vow of poverty) and yet all their needs are met.
@simplerfaith individual poverty when all needs are met isn't poverty.
Amish and Mennonite communities can be, and often are rife with abuse. I won't get into the specifics but some of it is truly horrendous. Small town & rural living has become a race to the bottom for moral depravity. The divide between the rich and the poor is ever increasing.
What you describe as being ideal or romanticized, where all needs are met, pride has been extinguished, living after the Spirit is abundant and living after the flesh non-existent IS living in Christ in community.
I applaud the effort of this community but if they are truly living in Christ in community then Satan is pacing the property, looking for a way in. As long as Satan is free to roam the earth and Christ has yet to set up His throne on earth, the ideal Christian community will not exist.
@risenindeed Thanks for the conversation.
Yeah, I hear you about poverty. We really should do a better job of practicing what the scriptures teach: "those who gathered much did not have too much, and those who gathered little did not have too little." But everyone is too afraid of Communism to have a serious non- politicized conversation about that. And we like our stuff.
I should also clarify that when I say "romanticized" I do mean it as an unrealistic fascination, just like you're saying. I was attempting to call that out in myself as a part of seeking discernment about this thought. It's good and bad, just like anything.
Interestingly enough, my family line is Mennonite as far back as we can trace, and I was raised Mennonite. When i was 25, I left the Mennonite church declaring it dead. When I was 43, the congregation I left called me back as their pastor. I was reluctant about being called a Mennonite again, and still will admit to being an ethnic Mennonite, etc., but I haven't identified as Mennonite since 1992. Even when I pastored a Mennonite church. Not for any hatred but just because following Christ is way better than following Menno Simons. All that to say, I speak to this from a close up perspective when I say that, like you, I've seen abuse. But I've also seen many families like my own and my wife's that didn't experience it that way. I would venture to say abuse is not the norm. But it does happen. Wherever you have people, you have gross sin. Even if they think they're in Christian community. Come quickly Lord Jesus, come quickly.
@@simplerfaith Amen. Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
you are already in a commune
What's that mean?
@@simplerfaith if americas democracy doesnt work for you, its because youve never seen or heard a priest or teacher that was as smart or honest as a carpenter
I'm having difficulty understanding what you mean.
@@simplerfaith all communes or churches or nations that preach brotherhood and unity but doesnt teach everyone to weld equally and build their own shelter has the spirit of anti-christ, the tradition of apes or total confusion
Intentional community is code for commune. Hippies share everything including wives. I’ve seen those Christian’s running around with each others spouses. Not for me.
There's nothing at all that I experienced with the Bruderhof, or that I was talking about here, that could be confused with hippies sharing spouses. That's unchristian. I was talking about Christian community.
Commune = Antichrist. You tell lies like your father.
way off the deep end
Ok, I think i know what that one means. 😅
dont be a baby swapper/tickler
Ok. But what does that mean?
The Word of God, which and who is "Jesus My Christ", is not at all a "What If" or meant to be some mere Social Experience or Experiment to Amuse The Masses
What made you think that's what I was saying?