Bonhoeffer: The Church

Question 1

What did Bonhoeffer see the role of the Church as?

Answer 1

A community of believers and a source of spiritual discipline

Question 2

What Bible passage did Bonhoeffer use as inspiration?

Answer 2

The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7

Question 3

What does the ‘salt’ represent in the Sermon on the Mount?

Answer 3

Christians need to add ‘flavour’ to a community, even if they are small in number, leading by exemplary Christian lives

Question 4

What does the ‘light’ represent in the Sermon on the Mount?

Answer 4

Christians must be a leading example for others and not keep their beliefs hidden

Question 5

What is a ‘religionless Christianity’?

Answer 5

Bonhoeffer devised the idea, looking forward to a time after the war when Christians would focus on their call to discipleship rather than being ‘religious’