I am going through notes for a book I want to write on Bonhoeffer’s Discipleship (what we’ve called The Cost of Discipleship in American publishing), the Book of Revelation, and the prophetic call they give concerning White Christian Nationalism.

As I was going through some notes from Discipleship, I wanted to stop and reflect on where I currently find “home” spiritually in my life.

Bonhoeffer wrote this:

“The preaching and sacrament of the church is the place where Jesus is present.” (p. 202)

From my own notes:

It is the working practice of faith that leads us in discipleship. This is the beauty of the liturgy. It is my personal belief that two paths will “save me” in times of trouble: the way of the ancient path found in liturgy and the way of joy in the midst of trouble found in the historic Black church.

Liturgy brings me “home.” It is a spiritual home for the believer. The call is always back to what truly matters is found at the table of the Lord. The liturgy will contain all we need to remind us of the basics: Confession, Prayer, Creeds, the Gospel, the Preaching, and the Eucharist. 

The Black church grounds me in joy. No matter what life has thrown at you, no matter how your week has been, you come to the Lord. You come to church. You worship and rejoice. You may weep. You will hear the preaching of the Word. You will walk with others who have known the heartache you may be experiencing right now. 

There is also the grounded walk in the hard times of life. The historic Black church represents people walking in joy celebrating Jesus when the culture all around them didn’t want them there. When the culture around them gave them no value, they found that Jesus valued them. It is grounded joy I find in the Black church. 

The ancient path of liturgy brings me home. It lets me know the centuries of story and struggle and rootedness that have gone before me matter. And it comes to me, and I matter. 

The Black church brings me home because I see people living out daily what it is to always be the minority and still live with deep joy. 

This is home for me.