The Reviews are in: Metaxas’ “Bonhoeffer”
I had hoped to give a review of this book myself, but upon reading Cal Thomas’ review I’ve decided leave the reviewing to the professionals.
I’ll say only that in this compelling work Eric Metaxas manages to use WWII and the plot to kill Hitler as a backdrop. The real tale is that of the reality, growth and consummation of one man’s relationship with the Living God. The Creator God, whom Dietrich was convinced, and indeed proved, is alive!
Read Cal’s review, and buy “Bonhoeffer” TODAY!!!
Cal Thomas: Bonhoeffer and a Christian’s ‘privilege to suffer’
By: Cal Thomas
Washington Examiner Columnist
June 22, 2010
June 18, 2010, marked the 70th anniversary of Charles de Gaulle’s historic call to arms for the French to resist the Nazis and also Winston Churchill’s “finest hour” address.
Another anniversary might have gone unnoticed were it not for a brilliant new biography of a man who gave his life in a failed plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. “Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy” by Eric Metaxas is a major biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, published 65 years after the death of this giant of faith.
Bonhoeffer came from a family of intellectuals. His father was Germany’s leading psychiatrist. His siblings succeeded in their chosen fields. Dietrich became a theologian to the surprise and initial disappointment of his parents and the puzzlement of his siblings.
Twice Bonhoeffer visited the United States. On the first occasion he studied at the liberal Union Theological Seminary in New York, where he met the theological giants of the time, including Reinhold Niebuhr. Bonhoeffer quickly tired of the “God-lite” theology at Union and decided to visit churches that held more substantive beliefs.
He discovered an African-American church in Harlem where Adam Clayton Powell Sr. preached riveting sermons and people joyfully worshipped God as if they actually believed He exists.
Bonhoeffer’s theology might be summed up in a letter he wrote in 1936 to his brother-in-law, Rudiger Schleicher: “One cannot simply read the Bible, like other books. One must be prepared really to enquire of it. Only thus will it reveal itself. Only if we expect from it the ultimate answer, shall we receive it.”
Bonhoeffer struggled over whether to join the conspiracy to assassinate Hitler, and that struggle is chronicled in Metaxas’ book. His may have been a simple faith surrounded by theological muscle, but its application — which he knew might cost him his life — was a classic struggle of flesh vs. spirit faced by all who seek to take God seriously.
Metaxas writes of the attempt by Hitler to create a state church that would give him moral cover for his immoral acts, especially his goal of exterminating Jews. The willingness of so many to sign on to this rogue and apostate church warns us moderns about the dangers of a church that is more interested in advancing an earthly political agenda than the Kingdom of God.
Clerics are seen sieg-heiling and speaking lovingly of their Fuhrer with a reverence that convicts them of spiritual adultery. Bonhoeffer bravely stood against them as he participated in the formation of the “Confessing Church,” which, among other things, spoke up for the Jews.
The high regard in which the Bonhoeffer family was held in Germany and their supreme intellect temporarily protected Dietrich from the hands of the Gestapo.
Inevitably he was arrested, but even then he won the respect of prison guards, who offered him special treatment, which he refused. Further complicating things and adding to his temptation to live was that he had fallen in love with a young woman, 18 years his junior. Their love letters, mostly written when Dietrich was in prison, are riveting.
Metaxas writes, “Bonhoeffer thought it the plain duty of a Christian — and the privilege and honor — to suffer with those who suffered.” That’s why he considered it both privilege and honor to be executed at the Flossenburg Concentration Camp on April 9, 1945, where his body was burned in a pile of bodies, many of whom were likely Jewish.
The doctor at the camp said he had never seen anyone die with such peace. Two weeks later, the Allies marched into Flossenburg. A week after that, Hitler committed suicide in his Berlin bunker.
Bonhoeffer’s memorial service at Holy Trinity Church in London on July 27, 1945, was broadcast in Germany where his parents listened. The sermon by Bonhoeffer’s longtime friend, Bishop George Bell, is reprinted in the book.
In an age (then and now) full of “cheap grace,” here is a book that will challenge Christians and non-Christians alike. Few books can claim to be a “must-read.” This is one.
Examiner columnist Cal Thomas is nationally syndicated by Tribune Media
Doug, another great show. A few comments….So, Kevorkian says that the worst moment of his life was the moment he was born. Interestingly enough, I looked on line and found out that it was the worst moment of his mother’s life also.
And, regarding the execution of Ronnie Gardner, I was surprised to find out that it’s actually illegal to kill a lawyer. For personal reasons, I hope there’s a statute of limitations for that.
On a serious note, you advocated death for Calvin Lockner, the guy who beat a black man and had a tattoo of Hitler on his chest. Did you misspeak there? I would think a sever beating would be the correct punishment.
Russ:
Thanks for listening!!
The charge against Lockner is attempted murder, (which I probably failed to mention). I believe the scripture supports capital punishment for attempted murder.
As for Kevorkian’s mom… You just gotta feel for her, but seeing her son on judgment day will be even worse that having endured this life as a relative of his.
And while it may be illegal to kill lawyers… you know what I always say, “some things are illegal, and some things are immoral, and they’re not always both…” (he said jokingly).
If Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a hero for attempting to kill Hitler, is Scott Roeder a hero for killing George Tiller, or isn’t Bonhoeffer a hero for attempting to kill Hitler?
Roeder acted on his own authority, as judge & executioner. This is un-biblical. In doing so he robbed society of the opportunity to see the evidence, he robbed the authorities of the opportunity to execute justice properly, and he increased the violence that God means to prevent by the institution of human government, (see Jim Pouillon).
Rom 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
“GIVE PLACE TO WRATH” IS NOT ONLY FOR THE HEREAFTER! GOD WILL REPAY IN ETERNITY, BUT HERE ON EARTH AS WELL VIA THE AUTHORITIES THAT ENFORCE GODLY LAWS.
Rom 13:4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
If God’s people condone vigilantism a-la Scott Roeder mankind, in our fallen state, will devolve into uncontrolled brutality and murder. And there will be no justice.
And just to be clear, “Authorities appointed by God” does not necessarily mean the persons in office, or even the system of government in place at any given time. But clearly God has instructed that there must be a human government to restrain evil people. And even evil governments enforce righteous laws justly. And in those cases the authorities must be respected.
And a government does not lose ALL credibility just because it is run by evil people and enforces their evil directives. It loses some credibility, and the people earn the right to resist. But not to take up arms an kill. God is wise and he knows that even his people cannot escape the soul corrupting power of wanton bloodshed, (see King David 1Ch 28:3 But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.’)
But there must be justice, and it is for this reason God instituted human governmnet:
Gen 9:6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.
Deu 17:6 Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.
And whatever authorities one finds oneself under by happenstance of birth or travel, to the degree that we are able we must submit to them. And we must not violate the clear concept in scripture that killing anyone without due process of law is murder.
Of course the authorities were not scheduled to take up a case against Tiller anytime soon. But Roeder could have worked within the constraints of biblical teaching in many ways to elevate tension, and prevent the killing of children, even to the point of sacrificing his own life. (Now that would be heroic).
On the other hand, Bonhoeffer and the German conspirators were in communications with, and actively soliciting assistance from other nations who had formally declared war against the corrupt Hitler regime. So here we have “authorities appointed by God” at war with a leader clearly identified as an enemy of God.
So the conspirators were “covered” so to speak, and could kill Hitler in act of war, (they also had a plan to transfer power to a new government once Hitler was dead, preserving as best they could the social order). And Bonhoeffer eventually did sacrifice his own life for his opposition to wickedness. That’s heroic.
That being said, if another nation declared war and announced their intent to invade America in order to protect themselves from our corruption and immorality, (because it is clear and present danger to them and their posterity), and in order that the American people might be liberated from the evil men who rule over them , one would be justified in joining them either overtly or covertly.
Can anyone think of a nation that might one day take that position?
.-= Doug´s last blog ..The Reviews are in- Metaxas’ “Bonhoeffer†=-.