Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Story of Courage and Faith

The Incredible Journey ^ | 26/23/23

[Eleutheria5]

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian, is a Christian hero for many. Executed by the Nazis just days before the end of WWII for his participation in a plot to assassinate Hitler, Bonhoeffer is hailed as a 20th-century martyr. But Bonhoeffer struggled with a moral dilemma – his religious views were in stark contrast to the evil he saw all around him. He chose to face possible imprisonment and execution and to remain faithful to the principles of his belief in God. Across the political and theological spectrum, Bonhoeffer is celebrated as an icon of true Christianity and his theological writings are classics throughout the Christian world.

[Eleutheria5]

Great Man.

[Openurmind]

I agree. Thank you.

[Who is John Galt?]

"...Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.

"Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field... [i]t is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble, it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.

"Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.

"Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'ye were bought at a price,' and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God."

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship

[reviled downesdad]

Bonhoeffer was very influential with the international church to shine the light on the evil that was afoot.

He was in the US and could have stayed but decided to return to help the German church and German people.

He was torn about getting involved directly with resistance but slowly grew more involved as the war progressed.

Tragically he was executed on the cusp of Germanys defeat.

Eric Mataxis biography on him is extremely good.

[Eleutheria5]

Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman returned to Poland to be there for his students. He was murdered in 1941 by guess who.

There’s a quality of greatness that transcends parochial denominations. Where a Gandhi, a Mother Theresa or a Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer or a Rabbi Elchanan Wasserman meet and are comrades. It doesn’t always require martyrdom, but often does.