The Holocaust remains the icon of evil in our day. The Nazis’
merciless slaughter of Jews and others, in Germany and eastern
Europe during the 1930s and 1940s, is the most evil of the many
murderous evils of the last century.
It is shocking that the thinking behind the Holocaust -- call it
National Socialism -- was so convincing to so many Germans during
the 1930s and 1940s. Early on, the ideas and ideals of National
Socialism were sincerely believed by the best and the brightest in
the universities of Germany. It is especially remarkable that
Hitler’s National Socialism was quite successful in seducing most
German Protestants away from the Church’s faith, "the faith which
was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3).
"Culture Protestantism" in Germany had long prided itself on being
open to the most popular cultural winds of the day. That is, where
German culture led, culture Protestantism followed. So when German
culture headed in a National-Socialist direction, most Protestants
gladly made the same turn. The result was that culture
Protestantism morphed into "German Christianity" -- which was a
demonic mixture of Nazi thinking with Christian words. German
Christianity changed basic Christianity so that: Hitler became the
new messiah, Germany became God’s newly chosen nation, and
National Socialism became God’s revelation to the world of the
1930s. German Christianity took the Protestantism of Germany by
storm. Indeed, most of Germany’s leading Protestants -- seminary
professors, church administrators, and pastors -- joined up with
German Christianity.
Not all German Protestants, however, swam with the
National-Socialist current. Some saw clearly that German
Christianity was an abandonment of genuine Christianity. Some
sensed the evil at hand. Some smelled the danger. Some resisted
the Nazi captivity of the churches. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one
who resisted.
Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran theologian, professor, and pastor. He
was deeply grounded in Biblical Christianity, in the faith of the
Church. Because of his solid grounding in the faith, he knew evil
when he saw it. From National Socialism’s beginnings, he discerned
its violent hatred of Jews. As a professor, as a pastor, and as an
activist for Christian unity, Bonhoeffer spoke and worked against
the Nazi corruption of the German churches and society. His was a
voice crying in the wilderness. But his voice remained strong,
clear, and decisive throughout. Toward the end of his brief life,
he was arrested for participating in a plot to assassinate Hitler.
And at the age of 39, he was executed by the Nazis.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer knew that the Gospel of Christ has strong,
public implications for the church and for society. And he acted
upon what he knew. The Gospel he lived and served did not take its
cues from the Nazi culture of his time. Rather, this Gospel was
the Gospel of the Bible and the Gospel of the Church in all of its
fullness. This Gospel had the power to speak and serve the truth
in love -- in a way that resisted the falsehoods and idols and
evils of his time, even when they were dressed respectably.
In our time and in our country, too often our churches reduce the
Gospel to a private matter that draws no lines, that asserts no
truths, that stays out of "church politics" and the public arena.
The life, ministry, and death of this courageous German Lutheran
challenge our private faith and offer a more faithful way to
follow Jesus Christ.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer is the subject of a new documentary. Entitled
"Bonhoeffer," this 90-minute documentary film by Martin Doblmeier
puts on display the goodness and greatness, the faithfulness and
forthrightness, of its main character with precision and passion.
(See www.bonhoeffer.com for more information.)
If the Holocaust is the icon for evil in our day, Dietrich
Bonhoeffer is the icon for Christian faithfulness. He stood up for
the uncompromised truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He stood
for the singular obedience of the Church to its Lord. And because
of his commitment to the Gospel and Body of Christ, he stood up
for the persecuted, and then slaughtered, Jewish minority in
Germany and eastern Europe.
Because Bonhoeffer stood up in his day, Christians can receive
courage to do the same in our day. The issues of his day are
certainly different than the issues of our day. But the urgency is
the same.
"Bonhoeffer" will be shown at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church
on September 7th (Sunday) at 7:00 p.m., and on September 8th
(Monday) at 10:30 a.m. and at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments will be
served at the evening shows. You are invited to attend, and
encouraged to invite family and friends.
