One of the great pitfalls of any politically divided age is the tendency of both sides to demonize the motives, strategies, and the persons of the other side. This is equally true of both the right and the left, even if both are blind to the reality, maybe especially because they are blind. The beast … More A Message for Both the Left and the Right from Bonhoeffer
Christmas was on the horizon. For seven months, Bonhoeffer had been leading the soon to be outlawed preachers seminary at Finkenwalde. He was pioneering a seminary that in many ways was the pattern of the seminary I attended in California. A community of scholars living as closely together as they could, and studying together for … More Bonhoeffer on the Gospel at Christmas Time
Bonhoeffer on the greatness of Mary’s advent song. “This song of Mary’s is the oldest Advent hymn. It is the most passionate, most vehement, one might almost say, most revolutionary Advent hymn ever sung. It is not the gentle, sweet, dreamy Mary that we so often see portrayed in pictures, but the passionate, powerful, proud, … More Bonhoeffer’s Take on “Christmas Mary”
Sunday Musing Jesus’ view of marriage is incomprehensible to the Western mind. But incomprehensible or not, it is better than your understanding of marriage, better than mine and better than any human being who ever lived or will live. Better and right. It is the only way of marriage that maximally supports human flourishing. And … More An Incomprehensible View of Marriage
There is no escaping obedience in the call of Christ. No amount of tears, or feelings, or bold proclamation can replace the sure and certain call that those who follow Christ are called to a lifetime of obedience to His will. We do life by His rules not ours. Many have pointed this way but … More Obedience and the Call to Follow Jesus
Excerpts Quotes and Comments Commenting on the early disciples arguing over which one of them was greatest in the Kingdom of God. “We know who it is that sows this thought in the Christian community. But perhaps we do not bear in mind enough that no Christian community ever comes together without this thought immediately … More Life Together (Bonhoeffer’s Meditations on Community)
Wonderful discussion tonight led by our worship pastor over Bonhoeffer’s Life Together. I was reminded again of this particular quote/suggestion. Our teacher for the evening asked a good question? “How can we give God the first and last word of the day?” The question got me thinking as I drove home from the discussion. So, … More Bonhoeffer on Beginning and Ending the Day
Sunday Afternoon Musings “It is not simply to be taken for granted that the Christian has the privilege of living among other Christians. Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the Cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause … More In the Midst of Enemies
I posted this yesterday on Facebook without any commentary or introduction. ……. Bonhoeffer wrote for the ages. His thoughts and writings were burnished in the flames of turmoil, war and persecution. He wrote prophetically to his generation but he wrote also against the backdrop of the failure of liberal protestant theology that had saturated the … More Bonhoeffer on the Real Cost of Discipleship
No comment necessary except to say, Bonhoeffer’s little book Life Together is worth reading over and over again. (Confession: I have probably read it half a dozen times myself so I am an unabashed fan.) “The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love to … More Learning to Listen — a Christian Duty
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