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Christian Moral Action: Bonhoeffer - Coggle Diagram
Christian Moral Action: Bonhoeffer
Knowing and acting on God’s will
Bonhoeffer
thought that because we live in a fallen world we can never be completely sure what the right thing to do is – we can’t be sure of God’s will
However, God still demands that we do something – that we act – Jesus said to pick up your cross. It’s risky to act because we can’t be sure what to do, but we must do something and have faith that God will forgive us if we become a sinner by mistake
Bonhoeffer
was never sure that killing Hitler was the right thing – he said if he survived he would step down as a priest for example
Bonhoeffer
thinks that all we can do is meditate on the Bible and hope to hear the word of God through it, guiding us
Evaluation
Taking part in violence goes against the will of God as stated in the Bible, and Jesus’ teachings and actions
Jesus never hurt anyone – he said turn the other cheek – but Bonhoeffer is not doing that! Jesus said ‘do not resist an evil person’
In Romans, 13 St Paul says we should obey the rulers. Bonhoeffer is going against that teaching too
Optional: defence of Bonhoeffer
Bonhoeffer
had an unusual view of the Bible – that it was not the word of God, but by meditating on it with humility you might be able to hear the word of God ‘through’ it like a religious experience (also
Karl Barth’s
view)
Cheap vs costly grace
Bonhoeffer
criticised mainstream Christianity for preaching ‘cheap grace’ – just believing and saying the right things without actually doing what’s needed – will save you
Bonhoeffer:
true grace is costly – Jesus said to be his disciple you should pick up your cross and follow him
The cost of discipleship
is sacrifice,
solidarity and sometimes suffering
– this is
God’s will
according to
Bonhoeffer
If
civil disobedience
is required as costly grace (As in
Bonhoeffer’s
case), then Christians should do it
Evaluation
However
arguably his idea of costly grace is
irrelevant today
– we aren’t in Nazi germany. – we’re not going to need to suffer or do civil disobedience like that to achieve grace
Defence of Bonhoeffer
Sacrifice is still relevant – there are still problems like sexism, racism, war and climate change that all require sacrifice and
suffering
to combat
Bonhoeffer’s views on Church & state & civil disobedience
Confessing church
(Church
Bonhoeffer
was in with
Karl Barth
which resisted Nazi control),
Finkenwalde
(
Bonhoeffer’s
illegal secret seminary) & the plot to kill hitler were civil disobedience
Bonhoeffer
thought we should
generally
obey the rulers because order is useful for sinful creatures (as
Luther
argued) – however if a ruler acts against
God’s will
– Christianity should act as a check on state power and Christians should engage in
civil disobedience
even if it causes them
suffering
(
Bonhoeffer
was executed) since that
solidarity
is the
cost of discipleship
Evaluation
A moral system which justifies evil acts (like killing) as God’s will is dangerous –
Bonhoeffer
recommended civil disobedience against rulers who acted against God
He took part in the plot to kill Hitler because of this theology. However, that principle is suggesting that if a Christian thinks that the ruler of a state is acting against God then it’s ok to kill them
So,
Bonhoeffer
is saying that if you think your ruler is going against God then it’s fine to kill them
Bonhoeffer
is essentially justifying the assassination of politicians
Nazis thought God was on their side!
Bonhoeffer’s
approach might have made sense in
his situation
– but it’s not
relevant today
. Especially since society is more secular and the church has less power