Session Three Discussion: The Best Thing?

1. Bonhoeffer demands an unapologetic response to the rigorous demand of the gospel. He seems to think that our greatest possibilities and ends lie within those demands.  There are a number of reviews of The Cost of Discipleship and Life Together which suggest that Bonhoeffer must be consider in the light of the horrific sideshow of Nazi Germany and World War II. His demands must be watered down to fit contemporary thinking and life – especially in western cultures.

 

It has often been said (by me, at least), that “the enemy to the best thing in your life is often the second best thing in your life.” What do you think Bonhoeffer might think of this thought?

 

Session Three Discussion: Too Hard?

1. Bonhoeffer demands an unapologetic response to the rigorous demand of the gospel. He seems to think that our greatest possibilities and ends lie within those demands.  There are a number of reviews of The Cost of Discipleship and Life Together which suggest that Bonhoeffer must be consider in the light of the horrific sideshow of Nazi Germany and World War II. His demands must be watered down to fit contemporary thinking and life – especially in western cultures.

Does Bonhoeffer challenge us to the impossible? What sorts of possibilities do you see for Christian Community in today’s Americanized, westernized context?

Chapter Twenty One: Going Back

I personally found one of my most challenging ideas from Bonhoeffer’s life in this chapter. On page 323, Metaxas shares Bonhoeffer’s thinking that “…Christians cannot be governed by mere principles. Principles could carry one only so far. At some point every person must hear from God, must know what God is calling him to do, apart from others.” I have always been less-than secretly proud of my attempts and desire to be driven by principles, especially “principles above rules.” Rules are a cop-out, but principles demand intellectual attention to all problems. Principles are tough and operated in the world of the gray. Bonhoeffer is upping the stakes on me! But I like it better. Henry Blackaby has explained that we hear accurately from God through His Spirit when we take readings from four sources and combine them for strength: God’s Word; Prayer; Circumstances; and the Church (Christians). When faced with dilemma, Bonhoeffer makes the necessary step away from relying on what our understanding can produce. He takes us instead to simply moving as commanded. Obedience is to God, not principles. It may seem like a distinction without a difference, but I think there is a difference. I am challenged.

For Bonhoeffer all of this theory is tested through his decisions regarding America. What began as a solution to his immediate dilemmas: military inscription vs. pacisfism, divided loyalties to differing aspects of Germany, and his struggles with weakening factors within the Confessing Church – all this morphed into a bigger question: Could he really follow God’s call in America? Once he realized the answer was, “No,” nothing could persuade him otherwise. Many values were exposited – safety, loyalty, gratitude, potential impact as an academic and inspirational voice – none trumped God’s call on Dietrich to return to Germany, to the midst of the chaos. It was where God wanted him, it was where he would be, come hell or high water.

Chapter Twenty: 11-9

“Mars Ascending” is an astrological reference, indicating a favorable time to go to war. Chapter twenty of the Metaxas text explains much of the history immediately preceding Hitler’s “response” to the “Polish attacks” on the border.  Highlighted by escalating violence against Jews, the year leading to war kicked off with a Jewish version of 9-11 – November 9th, 1938. On that day, almost all homes and business of Jews across Germany were destroyed during what is known as Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass. Dietrich’s sister and her Jewish husband barely escaped across the border before the violence began in earnest.  One of the most important revelations from this chapter is that of the Zossen File, the records kept of German atrocities by Dohnanyi. That file’s discovery by Nazis eventually led to the execution of many, including Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Chapter Nineteen: On the Nazi Radar

In 1935 the Nazis noticed Bonhoeffer. His refusal to bend to diplomacy, expediency or political correctness if any of those concepts were challenged by the word of Christ made him “a lightning rod for controversy.”  Bonhoeffer was actively living out the marriage of two ideals. First, he asked, “what does God want me to do?” Secondly, he did just that in response.  The reference of the chapter title is to two sea monsters, and the problem of being caught in between. The Nazis on one side, and the under-performing church on the other – Bonhoeffer could only fight both in his efforts to move forward. Bonhoeffer’s vision for the servant-disciple who followed the model of the servant-king left little room for anything other than action. Much is made of Bonhoeffer’s resolve after his early failure to officiate the funeral of the father of his Jewish brother-in-law. His personal mortification at his own fear was never to be repeated. Bonhoeffer’s frustration at the pious Lutheran services, complete with Gregorian chants was seen by him as hypocritical if there was no concern for the German Jew. This reminds me of the battle-cry that Bono, the Rock Star advocate for Africa issued to the American church in this decade, saying he believes that “God does not hear the hymns and choruses of those who do not care for ‘the least of these.’”

Dietrich’s new status as lightning rod did not deter him in the least. In fact, he seemed content to use his new positioning to make his voice more loudly heard. His right to teach at the university revoked – his ability to lecture and write as a popular dissenter was only beginning. He challenged the Nazis, the Reich Church and even the Confessing Church to heed the command of Christ.

 

During this time, Bonhoeffer and his compatriots were faced with arrests. Some were even “dispatched.” The time to suffer was now, and the limits of suffering were going to expand. Early days of seven-hour house arrests would later lead to months of prison and executions. Does anything in our western context compare?

Chapter Eighteen: Life Together

While Bonhoeffer considered Christian community in our previous chapter, in chapter eighteen he is actually living out the details. Eventually, his observations of his newly-cloistered band of seminarians culminated in his work, Life Together.  Though Bonhoeffer’s experience was centered around communal living arrangements, there are many valuable aspects of life together that we should each consider stealing for our own lives – Bonhoeffer wouldn’t mind! Special detail to scripture within the context of community seemed to guide the entire reality of the seminary experience – living the word as opposed to simply learning the word.  Beginning every day with strict discipline, ordinands were exposed to scripture and fellowship (including singing, prayer and meditation). This community life grew real pastors – shepherding pastors, of the men in the community.

Bonhoeffer carried the reality of life together even into life apart. When he sailed for America in 1939, he was in agreement with other men to pray and read specific scriptures at specific times during the day. He reported that he felt the unity that he so needed during his time of separation from family, friends and the German problem.

Bonhoeffer wrote of his appreciation for the pastoral question, “How goes it with your soul?” He lamented the lack of this sort of pastoral training and the need for it – even within the confessing church. For a man so committed to God and His word, Bonhoeffer was deeply grateful to the support he found within the body of Christ – especially when that body was made healthy by obedience to the word.

• What opportunities do we have in contemporary culture to experience “life together”?
• If you have seminary training in your background, how did your experience compare to Bonhoeffer’s? Lot’s of personal spiritual growth in the disciplines, or theology, or both?

Session Two Discussion: Open Comments

Any discussion you might like to initiate on the basic topic of Discipleship is welcome. Just begin a conversation by leaving a comment. Blessings!

Session Two Discussion: The Church of Jesus Christ and the Life of Discipleship

Section four of The cost of Discipleship is called, “The Church of Jesus Christ and the Life of Discipleship.” Bonhoeffer challenges us with this, “Discipleship never consists in this or that specific action: it is always a decision, either for or against Jesus Christ.”He argues that there is no excuse for not following the will of Christ.

• Are you baptized? Bonhoeffer says that ‘in baptism man becomes Christ’s own possession.’ Did you think of it that way?
• How is the body of Christ visible in the world today?
• What disciplines help you to hear the call of Christ on your life? How?

Session Two Discussion: The Messengers

Section three of The Cost of Discipleship is called, “The Messengers.” In this section Bonhoeffer makes the claim, “To refuse to believe in the gospel is the worst sin imaginable, and if that happens, the messengers can do nothing but leave the place.” C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity, speaks of a problem he calls “Christianity and water,” in which true faith is too much to bear, so it is cut by adding water.

• Bonhoeffer challenges pastors to be true shepherds. Share the shepherding experiences by pastors in your life. Has it been good or bad, true or false?
• Bonhoeffer found several points in life where he responded to the need to “move on.” What factors have shaped your decisions to move on?
• What are things that cause fear in the life of believers?

Session Two Discussion: The Sermon on the Mount

Section Two of The cost of Discipleship is titled, “The Sermon on the Mount.” This passage of Scripture, found in Matthew 5-7, records the only prolonged and single sermon that we have from Christ. It is powerful. Of it, Bonhoeffer states, “In Christ crucified and in His people the ‘extraordinary’ becomes reality.” Bonhoeffer believes that the extraordinary reality is to know and offer the love that Jesus Himself offers.

• Have you experienced the ‘extraordinary”? How?
• What does it mean in the context of todays culture to be ‘salt & light’?
• Bonhoeffer defined ‘simplicity’ as a life free from worldly possessions. His three-fold evaluation includes the following: What are you really devoted to? Is your heart set on earthly goods? Do you try to combine devotion to Christ with devotion to other concerns? Is he over the top?