Posted on 09/06/2011 2:39:43 PM PDT by Monterrosa-24
Much of the academic treatment of the famous German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer leaves one unaware of the fact that the young pastor was a strict constructionist regarding scripture. Even the film Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace leaves the viewer unaware of his traditional perspective on Biblical truth. Because of the attention received in journals, books, and films many are aware of the courageous stand of Bonhoeffer in the face of Nazi persecution but far fewer learn that he first stood against liberal Biblical “criticism” of Schleiemacher and Harnack.
The relatively recent 2010 biography by Eric Metaxas goes far in setting the record straight about Bonhoeffer’s unyielding view of the potency of the Bible. Metaxas quotes Inge Karding, a young German University student, “…from the very beginning, he taught us that we had to read the Bible as it was directed at us, as the word of God directly to us. Not something general, not something generally applicable, but rather with a personal relationship to us”
Bonhoeffer warned against certain trends in academic circles, “Do not try to make the Bible relevant. Its relevance is axiomatic…Do no defend God’s Word but testify to it…Trust to the word. It is a ship loaded to the very limits of its capacity.”
Abortion was a divisive issue then as now and Metaxas again peels back the politically correct wrappings of many of today’s Bonhoeffer treatments explaining Bonhoeffer’s view that “apart from Jesus Christ, we cannot know what is right or do right. We must look to him in every situation.” The pastor’s own words are clear, “Destruction of the embryo in the mother’s womb is a violation of the right to live which God has bestowed upon this nascent life. To raise the question whether we are here concerned already with a human being or not is merely to confuse the issue.”
Bonhoeffer is often incorrectly labeled a pacifist. But Metaxas shows that the adolescent Bonhoeffer cheered Germany on in the First World War and in his thirties became involved in the plot to kill Hitler. An assassination plot may seem a sordid business for a pastor but Bonhoeffer believed that “being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.”
bump.
Such a terrific book. I could not put it down, even tho it is about 3” thick and 800 pages. He is a very good writer and of course Bonhoffer’s story is compelling.
The liberals paint him as one of theirs due to the time he spent in black churches of America.
What they don’t say is that the black liberation theology and collective salvation crap didn’t exist in black churches at that point.
Bonhoeffer was true faith and courage personified.
“The liberals paint him as one of theirs due to the time he spent in black churches of America...”
And they fail to mention how spiritually empty he found liberal theology as practiced at Union, NY, NY.
BUMP.
True, but those ideas were in their formative period at places like Union Theological Seminary where Bonhoeffer taught for a while. And he was not happy about it.
Great book.
He was a complex person who can’t be slotted into our modern version of Left/Right. I’ve studied “The Cost of Discipleship” and “Life Together” along with the Metaxis book and find that he is a true liberal in his selfless love for humanity, but not a modern liberal, which is a selfish Marxist who wants to feel good using other people’s money and time. But I also don’t think that he would be a fan of capitalism without morals where a CEO makes 1000x what his employees make and then lays them off to improve his bonus. He is also a strict believer in scripture and seems to take Jesus at His word. Trying to get into the mind of Bonhoeffer (as well as anyone from our culture can) made me learn to see the good and bad on both sides of our political spectrum and knowing his fate makes me pray that I could die as bravely as he did, if that is necessary.
Yes, the descriptions of Bonhoeffer helping and sharing bits of comfort and smokes with his fellow prisoners are very moving.
Nor was the great Catholic apologist G.K. Chesterton. Christianity does not esteem the amassing of wealth for its own sake, or at the expense of other people.
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