Others

William Temple, renowned theologian and former Archbishop of Canterbury, is reported to have said: “The church is the only society in the world that exists for the sake of those who are not members of it!” That’s quite a statement, and it certainly makes a point, reminding us of the Great Commission Christ gave to his followers to ‘go and make disciples of all nations.’ A comment by theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, executed by the Nazis in 1945, comes to mind in this connection, too: “The church is the church only when it exists for others.” Years ago Salvation Army founder William Booth, when he was unable to attend an international convention where he was to speak, cabled his message: "Others."