The Reading List Begins: Bonhoeffer

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”  Dr. Seuss

Since I started my reading list, it has only gotten exponentially longer. The more I add, the more it looks as if I will be working on this particular goal for years (in which case it might have to be switched over to my bucket list).

The first book on my list was Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas. The book is a biography of the German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer who lived during both WWI and WWII and who is now considered to be one of the foremost Christian thinkers of the 20^th century.

There is a lot I can say about this book because it covered a plethora of historical, theological, and ethical issues while still managing to be a page turner. But, rather than recount every minute detail, I am simply going discuss the points that primarily grabbed my attention.

First, perhaps one of my most nagging questions about World War II was answered by reading Bonhoeffer’s story: How could an entire country with a strong Christian heritage be deluded into committing such atrocities? The answer, more or less, was that German patriotism was manipulated by politicians. The Nazis brought the German people a sense of pride in their country after the horror and humiliation of WWI and the Treaty of Versailles. A strong idea of what it meant to be German developed, which made everyone who was non-German (or non-Aryan) a lesser citizen in the eyes of the general population. Even though it was the SS and Gestapo who committed most of the atrocities, the public turned a blind eye and refused to believe what they considered to be propaganda.

 Following the historical progression was heart wrenching. I had always believed that such hatred was purely a hallmark of Nazi Germany and nothing so tragic could ever afflict modern Western Civilization again.  What this book made me realize was that a combination of economic troubles, political dissatisfaction, and willing ignorance on the part of the people were all it took to allow evil to rise. 

Perhaps even more disturbing was the fact that Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one of only a few who saw what was coming and actively tried to prevent it. Other Christian leaders and many of Bonhoeffer’s own colleagues tried to reason with Hitler because they refused to believe that he was maliciously working against Christian principles. It was startling to realize that the Holocaust might have been prevented if the Christian leaders in Germany had been united enough to challenge the government. Unfortunately, too many Christians believed that the Church should only get involved in church related problems. 

Following Bonhoeffer through his letters, journals, and through Metaxas’ commentary as he walked through this mess of twisted theology and politics was…insightful, inspiring, thought provoking, sad, joyful…It was reassuring to discover that there were many in Germany who hated Hitler and the Nazis and who tried to depose them using any means necessary. But, at the same time, it was a hard truth to come by that most Germans were not the monsters I wanted them to be. They were just people with human faults and flaws. The only thing that set Bonhoeffer apart from the manipulated masses was his reliance on the Word of God.

Many Christians during that time had warped the Bible to fit their own ideas. Bonhoeffer, in contrast, believed that the Bible was the foundation and starting place of principles. He took what the Bible said seriously and tried to let it explain itself rather than filtering it through preconceived ideas.  The fact that Bonhoeffer stood with the Jewish people when it was considered unpatriotic to do so (a death wish by German standards) was a testament to his commitment to Biblical truth no matter what the cost.

I would like to note that this biography is the type of book that needs to be read multiple times to fully grasp its contents. I have only read it once; therefore my understanding is still perhaps a bit dim. But, even so, this book is likely to become influential in regards to how I interpret future political and religious issues. I would definitely encourage everyone to read Bonhoeffer. It is inspiring, thought provoking, and, most importantly, it shows that reading and believing the Word of God is the only thing that separates mankind from becoming either the manipulated or the monsters.

Metaxas, Eric. Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2010. Print.