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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
This book had a very profound effect on me. Not because I agreed with everything it said but because it is clearly an important work of theology written with a passion which is sometimes lacking in contemporary Christian writings.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a pastor living in Germany during the rise of the Nazi party. After gaining power Adolf Hitler created his own state church full of clergy who sympathised with Nazi ideology. Dietrich resisted the call to join this new church and spoke out publically against it (a very dangerous thing to do) despite being banned from speaking out by the Nazis Dietrich formed a secret 'underground' church and took on great personal risk by continuing to preach and teach students 'illegally'. He also began to secretly assist the German Resistance. Eventually the danger became so great that Dietrich was taken out of the country by friends and travelled to the US and England only to return to Germany because he felt he couldn't abandon his country in its greatest time of need. Tragically he was arrested and hanged by the Nazis only a few days before the end of the war.
When considering this background the words of 'The Cost of Discipleship' take on a new meaning. Dietrich makes a strong and rallying cry for Christians everywhere to be true disciples of Jesus Christ and to follow His commands no matter the cost to ourselves. Rather than relying on 'cheap grace' which is saying we love Jesus then ignoring all His commands we must be true disciples by not only regularly and sincerely repenting of all our sins (rather than just arrogantly assume we are forgiven) but by trying to live as Christ wanted us to. Loving our neighbours, praying for those who hate us etc.
I didn't always agree with what Dietrich said. His rejection of any Biblical interpretation in particular vexed me (he argued scripture should be taken as it is read off the page) and sometimes he seemed to be affirming the Catholic view of salvation through works rather than faith but generally his point remained the same; we must not be lazy in our faith simply sitting back and thinking 'I'm saved because I've accepted Jesus, there is nothing more required of me no matter what I do'
It is not an 'easy going' book and it can be very fire and brimstone and intense in places but it is full of truth, faith and wisdom. I found the key was to really read it slowly and not try to read too much in one go. Reading it prayerfully is important.
If you are a Christian I think it should be required reading. An important book.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a pastor living in Germany during the rise of the Nazi party. After gaining power Adolf Hitler created his own state church full of clergy who sympathised with Nazi ideology. Dietrich resisted the call to join this new church and spoke out publically against it (a very dangerous thing to do) despite being banned from speaking out by the Nazis Dietrich formed a secret 'underground' church and took on great personal risk by continuing to preach and teach students 'illegally'. He also began to secretly assist the German Resistance. Eventually the danger became so great that Dietrich was taken out of the country by friends and travelled to the US and England only to return to Germany because he felt he couldn't abandon his country in its greatest time of need. Tragically he was arrested and hanged by the Nazis only a few days before the end of the war.
When considering this background the words of 'The Cost of Discipleship' take on a new meaning. Dietrich makes a strong and rallying cry for Christians everywhere to be true disciples of Jesus Christ and to follow His commands no matter the cost to ourselves. Rather than relying on 'cheap grace' which is saying we love Jesus then ignoring all His commands we must be true disciples by not only regularly and sincerely repenting of all our sins (rather than just arrogantly assume we are forgiven) but by trying to live as Christ wanted us to. Loving our neighbours, praying for those who hate us etc.
I didn't always agree with what Dietrich said. His rejection of any Biblical interpretation in particular vexed me (he argued scripture should be taken as it is read off the page) and sometimes he seemed to be affirming the Catholic view of salvation through works rather than faith but generally his point remained the same; we must not be lazy in our faith simply sitting back and thinking 'I'm saved because I've accepted Jesus, there is nothing more required of me no matter what I do'
It is not an 'easy going' book and it can be very fire and brimstone and intense in places but it is full of truth, faith and wisdom. I found the key was to really read it slowly and not try to read too much in one go. Reading it prayerfully is important.
If you are a Christian I think it should be required reading. An important book.
challenging
slow-paced
One of the most important but difficult books I’ve ever read. I struggle through theology books - this kind of intellectual writing is not my long suit. It was too good to not push myself to re-read paragraphs until I understood the point, then to keep reading after feeling convicted & even intimidated by it. Amazing Christian man & a hero of my faith.
Whew! My brain is mush.
It has been really helpful for me to read this book alongside my friend and mentor. We have gotten together over the past three weeks (and once more this Friday) to discuss what we've read and how our lives as disciples differ from Bonhoeffer's definition of a disciple.
***
UPDATE 9/14/18: I came across this article which helped me better understand Bonhoeffer's theology.
We need to be discerning readers.
A Reliable Guide? https://banneroftruth.org/us/resources/articles/2016/bonhoeffer-reliable-guide/
It has been really helpful for me to read this book alongside my friend and mentor. We have gotten together over the past three weeks (and once more this Friday) to discuss what we've read and how our lives as disciples differ from Bonhoeffer's definition of a disciple.
***
UPDATE 9/14/18: I came across this article which helped me better understand Bonhoeffer's theology.
We need to be discerning readers.
A Reliable Guide? https://banneroftruth.org/us/resources/articles/2016/bonhoeffer-reliable-guide/
This book is worth reading for the first section alone, the section in which Bonhoeffer discusses “cheap grace.” The entire section reads like Paul in Romans where he says “should we continue to sin that grace may abound?” Bonhoeffer presents the picture of a Christian life according to the “Reformers” and states clearly his opinion that a life without spiritual works is a simply a life of “unbelief.” This is section of the book is one giant call to action, I don't see how you could come away with any other impression.
The book was a bit tough to read for me, especially in audio form while commuting to work. With the exception of the first section on cheap grace, the rest of the book is very “heady” and each sentence can be packed full of challenging language. In terms of format, the Bonhoeffer discusses the Sermon on the Mount after talking about cheap grace, and then he discusses the Sacraments, and finally the Church in all it's manifestations.
In discussing the community of the Church and what it should look like, Bonhoeffer says that we are slaves, and our concern should be for the Kingdom/Gospel, and we should be content in submission to our earthly authorities, just as Jesus was. He says we should not be “bond servants of the world” and suggests that there are two ways this can happen. You can overthrow a government in revolution in an attempt to instill a righteous order, or you can attempt to instill the government with a pseudo-religiousness that is not really righteousness, because those in authority may not have a relationship with Jesus. It's interesting that he states this, because we know that Bonhoeffer is well known for his part in the conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler during WW II, for which he was captured, jailed, and finally executed. I think there are a few opinions in this early book of his that he would later come to change with more maturity and wisdom. And knowing that he later disagreed with some of the things he wrote in this book it makes it a little more difficult to promote comments from this book. Having said that, I do think there are plenty of nuggets of truth in this book that are completely in line with scripture and can therefore easily be supported and encouraged; the portion on “cheap grace” being the foremost of those nuggets.
The book was a bit tough to read for me, especially in audio form while commuting to work. With the exception of the first section on cheap grace, the rest of the book is very “heady” and each sentence can be packed full of challenging language. In terms of format, the Bonhoeffer discusses the Sermon on the Mount after talking about cheap grace, and then he discusses the Sacraments, and finally the Church in all it's manifestations.
In discussing the community of the Church and what it should look like, Bonhoeffer says that we are slaves, and our concern should be for the Kingdom/Gospel, and we should be content in submission to our earthly authorities, just as Jesus was. He says we should not be “bond servants of the world” and suggests that there are two ways this can happen. You can overthrow a government in revolution in an attempt to instill a righteous order, or you can attempt to instill the government with a pseudo-religiousness that is not really righteousness, because those in authority may not have a relationship with Jesus. It's interesting that he states this, because we know that Bonhoeffer is well known for his part in the conspiracy to assassinate Adolf Hitler during WW II, for which he was captured, jailed, and finally executed. I think there are a few opinions in this early book of his that he would later come to change with more maturity and wisdom. And knowing that he later disagreed with some of the things he wrote in this book it makes it a little more difficult to promote comments from this book. Having said that, I do think there are plenty of nuggets of truth in this book that are completely in line with scripture and can therefore easily be supported and encouraged; the portion on “cheap grace” being the foremost of those nuggets.
DNF at 110 pages. I liked what I read so far, however, I started it with my Bible study group and because of the coronavirus we haven't been able to meet up and have decided to start over with something else when we are able to meet again.
Yes: He tried to kill Hitler, and was martyred for it. If you know nothing else about Bonhoeffer, you just might know that. So no one truly reads Bonhoeffer apart from his biography. As a pastor and theologian, he is always a tyrannicide and martyr first, and I don't apologize for reading him accordingly.
This does not limit the force of his writing. Nothing about his biography would explain how he got to where he ended up. How does a Prussian aristocrat become an anti-racist activist in Germany and in America? His life can tell that story, but only in dialogue with his gospel.
The richness of his life is nevertheless a valid key to the work. I've now read Discipleship three times: once as a devotional, once in a course on Bonhoeffer's theology, and most recently, with anti-fascist applications in mind. All three readings have instructed and convicted me in different ways, and all are true to Bonhoeffer's life and work. He was always a pastor, and a theologian, and an activist, all at once. And his vision of the disciple, too, partakes always of all three facets. Christians cannot be activists unless we are first, second, and last of all disciples of Jesus-- which will make us pastors and theologians too, defined by God's people and grounded in God's Word.
A few salient points from this reading:
--The text never calls out its true (Nazi) targets by name, but its meaning was clear enough to its readers. When Jesus calls disciples, Bonhoeffer shows, he calls them specifically out of the blood-and-soil relationships the Nazis idolized, into an anti-racist fellowship that the world will hate. This was a deeply contextual theology, phrased in universal terms: "Each call of Christ's leads toward death", not only the calls of martyrs under fascism. I find this example compelling as a theologian: We may write fearlessly to and about our times without letting our times define or confine our writing. Nor do we need to chase eternity or perfection. Many of Bonhoeffer's phrasings, emphases, and claims are "of his time" at best, but his whole work's provocation remains intact.
--For Episcopalians, whose liturgy leads us often to remember our baptisms but who seldom speak in terms of discipleship, Bonhoeffer's chapter on baptism is especially crucial. For him, everything the synoptic gospels say about the disciples, Paul says about the baptized. I want to try preaching this now and see how it goes.
This does not limit the force of his writing. Nothing about his biography would explain how he got to where he ended up. How does a Prussian aristocrat become an anti-racist activist in Germany and in America? His life can tell that story, but only in dialogue with his gospel.
The richness of his life is nevertheless a valid key to the work. I've now read Discipleship three times: once as a devotional, once in a course on Bonhoeffer's theology, and most recently, with anti-fascist applications in mind. All three readings have instructed and convicted me in different ways, and all are true to Bonhoeffer's life and work. He was always a pastor, and a theologian, and an activist, all at once. And his vision of the disciple, too, partakes always of all three facets. Christians cannot be activists unless we are first, second, and last of all disciples of Jesus-- which will make us pastors and theologians too, defined by God's people and grounded in God's Word.
A few salient points from this reading:
--The text never calls out its true (Nazi) targets by name, but its meaning was clear enough to its readers. When Jesus calls disciples, Bonhoeffer shows, he calls them specifically out of the blood-and-soil relationships the Nazis idolized, into an anti-racist fellowship that the world will hate. This was a deeply contextual theology, phrased in universal terms: "Each call of Christ's leads toward death", not only the calls of martyrs under fascism. I find this example compelling as a theologian: We may write fearlessly to and about our times without letting our times define or confine our writing. Nor do we need to chase eternity or perfection. Many of Bonhoeffer's phrasings, emphases, and claims are "of his time" at best, but his whole work's provocation remains intact.
--For Episcopalians, whose liturgy leads us often to remember our baptisms but who seldom speak in terms of discipleship, Bonhoeffer's chapter on baptism is especially crucial. For him, everything the synoptic gospels say about the disciples, Paul says about the baptized. I want to try preaching this now and see how it goes.
Dietrich Bonhoffer is the German theologian who is mainly remembered for being a part of a failed plot to assassinate Adolph Hitler, and being executed at Buchenwald. He was a man of great intellect and great faith, and this is one of his best books. The cost of discipleship is sacrifice, a subject with which he was intimately acquainted. Bonhoffer's burning devotion to God shines through these pages, illuminating the reader with his idealism and, ultimately, hope.
This took me a long time to finish. There was so much to process. I am sure that I missed half of it. I will read it again in a few years.
A great thought provoking read setting forth Bonhoeffer's thoughts on the Word as it relates to discipleship. I particularly appreciated his thoughts on "cheap" vs. "costly" grace: "cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ." While Gods grace is freely given it isn't free, and while you could never earn God's grace through your own works, your own works will play a part in your relationship with Christ, or as Bonhoeffer puts it: "Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes." Well laid out discussion and lots of scriptural references make this a highly recommended read and the brief forward and Memoir of the 1995 Simon and Schuster edition helped put Dietrich Bonhoeffer's thoughts into historical context. I would give this book a 4.5 out of 5, some of the language is kind of awkward, but I think that comes from the translation from German into English.