A Newport man visited St. Peter's United Methodist Church early this summer. Since then, he has become an acquaintance, even friend. During our first conversation, he mentioned that he enjoyed reading works by, and about, Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945).

In addition, my friend noted that he had read Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Biography by Eberhard Bethge. That is no small achievement. The book is over 1,000 pages in length. It is made complicated by countless names, places, dates, incidents, movements, theological currents in the churches, and political events in society that figured into the rise of Hitler's National Socialism and Bonhoeffer's resistance to it.

A copy of this book has been parked, beside my bed, for over three years. My bookmark has still not reached the back of the book. I admit that I had actually given up on trying to finish reading the book. But my Newport friend's example encouraged this pastor to pick it up and try again. So just before switching off the last light of each evening, I read 2-5 pages of the book.

Most recently, I have been wading through Bonhoeffer's life and ministry during the mid-1930s. It is very heavy sledding. Much of the time in the reading I am, to be frank, lost. It is a seeming endless story of meetings and declarations, triumphs and betrayals, loyalty and disloyalty, faithfulness to Christ and unfaithfulness. But through it all, there was Dietrich Bonhoeffer -- baptized Christian, forgiven sinner, thoughtful theologian, dedicated pastor, committed activist, resister of the Nazi ideology which had taken Germany by storm. Most importantly, within the Church, he stood up for the Gospel in its purity and against the "updating" of the Gospel in terms provided by National Socialism.

During this time in his life and ministry, Bonhoeffer was the first to admit his failings. Sadness, at times, overcame his faith in God in Jesus Christ -- who is merciful to all, and who judges nations and empires. And yet, Dietrich Bonhoeffer remained patient. He persevered. He continued faithful to God and God's promises. He was principled. He was unwilling to enter into compromises that promised peace.

In our time, American Christians are hesitant to place principle above peace. That is understandable. God's commandment to love others is absolute. But the love of Christians for others means that Christians are willing to sacrifice, even their peace of mind, for the good of others. At times, the principled lives and words of Christians -- the witness of Christians -- will offend others. That is simply part of being Christian. We should not be surprised.

Thank God for the principled life and ministry of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.