Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor and theologian, stood firm against the tide of Nazism in Germany, paying the ultimate price for his faith and convictions. Born on February 4, 1906, in Breslau, Germany, Bonhoeffer was raised in a family where intellectual pursuits were encouraged. His father was a psychiatrist and his mother a teacher. However, it was through his theological studies and experiences in the United States that Bonhoeffer's faith took on a new depth.
Discovering True Christian Faith
In the early 1930s, after a transformative time at Union Theological Seminary in New York, Bonhoeffer realized, "For the first time I discovered the Bible... I had often preached, I had seen a great deal of the church, spoken and preached about it – but I had not yet become a Christian." This revelation led him to a life deeply committed to the teachings of Jesus, focusing on community, obedience, and prayer.
Standing Against Nazi Germany
As the Nazi regime rose to power in 1933, Bonhoeffer was among the first to oppose it. He delivered a radio address warning against the idolatry of Hitler and later became a key figure in the Confessing Church, a movement resisting the Nazification of the German Evangelical Church. In April 1933, he wrote an essay arguing that Christians should oppose National Socialism. His stance was clear: the church had a duty to "Speak out for those who cannot speak."
Teaching Costly Discipleship
Bonhoeffer's famous work, "The Cost of Discipleship," published in 1937, explored the idea of costly grace, urging believers to embrace a life of true discipleship. "Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance," he wrote. "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die."
Faith Under Persecution Testimony
Despite the danger, Bonhoeffer returned to Germany to join the resistance against Hitler. Arrested in April 1943, he was imprisoned at Tegel Prison, where he continued to minister to fellow prisoners and wrote extensively about his faith. He prayed that "May God in His mercy lead us through these times; but above all, may He lead us to Himself."
On April 9, 1945, just weeks before the war's end, Bonhoeffer was executed at Flossenbürg concentration camp. His last words were, "This is the end—for me, the beginning of life." His friend Eberhard Bethge described him as courageous and composed as he faced his final moments.
Bonhoeffer's legacy endures, challenging Christians to live a life of radical obedience to Jesus. His writings continue to inspire believers to consider the true cost of discipleship and to act with courage and faith in the face of injustice.
