Dive deep into the life and powerful witness of Dietrich Bonhoeffer—pastor, theologian, martyr, and spy—who courageously resisted the Nazi regime and a compromised church. This episode explores his story through his book Life Together and Eric Metaxas' acclaimed biography Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.

Discover Bonhoeffer's vision for authentic Christian community, shaped by his Finkenwalde seminary "experiment," emphasizing shared Scripture reading and silence. Learn about his early life, including impactful experiences like his time in America and his critique of prevalent theological liberalism, particularly as observed at Union Theological Seminary. His exposure to places like the Abyssinian Baptist Church offered a contrasting view of the gospel preached and lived out.

Trace his bold opposition to the "Führer Principle," highlighting how a leader can become an idol and a "mis-leader," a speech that was controversially cut off shortly after Hitler's election. Delve into his response to the "Aryan Paragraph," arguing it contradicted the clear meaning of the scriptures and demonstrating the danger posed by the "German Christians". Explore his role in the formation of the Confessing Church and the significance of documents like the Barmen Declaration which repudiated the anti-Semitism and heresies of the German Christians and their "official" church. Bonhoeffer firmly believed the church had only one altar and one pulpit, dedicated solely to God and His Word. He saw Christianity as unavoidably Jewish and opposed efforts to remove Jewish elements from the church.

Finally, the episode covers his complex involvement in the resistance, his theological reflections on living faithfully in a tyrannical era, his imprisonment where he maintained a pose of being a simple pastor. Understand Bonhoeffer's enduring call to costly discipleship and his legacy as a figure who lived out his convictions with radical obedience, paying the ultimate price. His life stands as a powerful example of faith confronting evil.

References

Bonhoeffer, D. (1979). The cost of discipleship (Rev. and unabridged ed.; R. H. Fuller, Trans.). Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. (Original work published 1937)

Bonhoeffer, D. (2015). Life together (G. B. Kelly & V. J. Barnett, Eds.; D. W. Bloesch, Trans.). Fortress Press.

Metaxas, E. (n.d.). Bonhoeffer: Pastor, martyr, prophet, spy. Thomas Nelson.Please note: The provided excerpts from this source do not contain the publication year for this edition. Therefore, "n.d." (no date) is used in the citation.