CHRISTIAN MORAL ACTION * Flashcards
What was BONHOEFFER?
key FOUNDING MEMBER of the CONFESSISING CHURCH, a BREAKAWAY CHURCH that REJECTED the way much of the German Christian establishment had ACCEPTED NAZI IDEOLOGY including its Anti-Semitism
He went on to Found his Own Religious Community at FINKENWADLE
What is the RELATIONSHIP between the STATE and GOD for Bonhoeffer through - the DIVIDE between Church and State
There was a DIVIDE between the CHURCH and the State due to NAZI CONTROLLING the German Church, Nazi politics Merged into Religion and the ideology GAINED STRONG INFLUENCE and CONTROL over the Church
he ACCUSED the GERMAN CHRISTIANS of NOT CONFESSING THEIR FAITH , not being True to Their Discipleship and the Commands of God
What is the RELATIONSHIP between the STATE and GOD for Bonhoeffer through - OBEDIENCE and LEADERSHIP in doing God’s will
the CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP is a CALL to OBEDIENCE to the LEADERSHIP of JESUS and the WILL OF GOD
Bonhoeffer thinks that Christian Discipleship is FUNDAMENTALLY about Something you Do ; WHICH LEADER you OBEY. Bonhoeffer believed that OBEDIENCE SHOULD be to the LEADERSHIP of GOD alone
Discipleship entails the EXCLUSIVE OBEDIENCE to the LEADERSHIP of God and all Other legal ties are Burnt
For Bonhoeffer, the ROAD to FAITH passes THROUGH OBEDIENCE TO the CALL of JESUS and the Serving of all earthly ties
Explain the TYPE of OBEDIENCE that BONHOEFFER Called For
Bonhoeffer called for SINGLE-MINDED OBEDIENCE
by RESPONDING to the CALL into OBEDIENCE , Faith becomes Possible
Putting Aside SINGLE-MINDED OBEDIENCE FAITH Replaces the Justification of God with Self Justification
Explain how BONHOEFFER believes CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE shows Duty to God
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SAW DUTY to GOD as FAR OUWEIGHING DUTY TO the STATE
he WROTE that there was a NEED to BREAK with the LUTHERAN TEACHING that a CHRISTIAN should OBEY the Civil Authority and its Laws
for this reason, he Joined the Resistance and SPOKE OUT AGAINST HITLER in Public and JOINED the PLOT to ASSINATE HITLER
JESUS too seemed to IGNORE the POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES in his RELATIONSHIP with the STATE
What does DISCIPLESHIP mean to BONHOEFFER
Explain the COST of DISCIPLESHIP - GRACE
what is cheap grace
Bonhoeffer REJECTS any Understanding that GRACE being EASY to OBTAIN.
CHEAP GRACE is the DEADLY ENEMY of our Church. We FIGHT today for Costly grace
CHEAP GRACE is Grace that os OFFERED FREELY, but is RECEIVED WITHOUT ANY CHANGE in the RECIPIENT , and is ultimately is FALSE
BONHOEFFER is Concerned that PEOPLE THINK because Christ PAID the PRICE for GRACE. the Chuch can keep on GIVING it OUT for FREE
Explain the COST of DISCIPLESHIP - GRACE
what is costly grace
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COSTLY GRACE is the IDEA that the Free Gift of GRACE DEMANDS a RESPONSE of TRUE, SACRIFICIAL DISCIPLESHIP - Total abandonment to Christ and to be Christ like in your attitude
it’s GRACE FOLLOWEED by OBEDIENCE to GOD’S COMMAND and DISCIPLESHIP
it CALLS US to FOLLOW JESUS and that means Making Changes to Our Lives and our Decisions
it BIND PEOPLE TO the YOKE of CHRIST , places an expectation on people that they live in a certain way, it REQUIRES PEOPLE to ACKNOWLEDGE WHO CHRIST IS
Explain the SACRIFICE AND SUFFERING to the Cist of Discipleship
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Bonhoeffer says that the CALL to DISCIPLESHIP is clearly LINKED to the PASSION of the DEATH of JESUS, his SUFFERING and REJECTION
Suffering and Sacrifice are INHERENT to DISCIPLESHIP for anyone who follows Jesus as they MUST PICK UP his CROSS and FOLLOW the path of SUFFERING that JESUS WALKS
to him , ALLEGIANCE to JESUS Christ INVOLVES SUFFERING
the Burden of Christian Life also INVOLVES TEMPTATION and the BURDEN of FORGIVING OTHERS
Explain the SOLIDARITY to the Cist of Discipleship
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SOLARITY EXPRESS BONHOEFFER’S VIEW that the CHURCH Must Be ‘FOR OTHERS
His understanding of Solidairty is SHOWN in the way that he CHOSE to RETURN to GERMANY to be ALONGSIDE OTHER PEOPLE and WORK WITH THEM.
CHRISTIANS should EXPRESS SOLIDARITY by Speaking Out and Questioning Injustice when they percieve it, by FINDING the WILL of GOD and then Following through with action
Bonhoeffer’s view that CHRISTIANS Must Be PROPHETS who Speak Out is complemented by his view to take direction action
For him, SOLIDARITY is UNDERSTOOD through the REVELATION of God in Jesus Christ
Why does BONHOEFER think that ALL CHRISTIANS should ACT as a GROUP and NOT IN ISOLATION?
In the Sermon on the Mount, BONHOEFER SEES the REQUIREMENT that the FOLLOWERS of JESUS MUST BE SALT and LIGHT
this is a METAPHOR for the PRESENCE of CHRISTAINS Amongst Other People in the COMMUNTITY : just as Salt Adds Flavour to Food, CHRISTIANS MUST ACT as MORAL PRINCIPLE
Explain BONHOEFFER’S ROLE in the CONFESSING CHURCH
Barmen Declaration
they REJECTED the MOVE BY the GERMAN HIERACHY to BAN anyone of Aryan Descent from Leadership Within the Church.
The Core Beliefs found in the Barmen Declaration include:
- Jesus is the ONLY True Leader and the ONLY Way to God.
- Chrisians MUST NOT Follow any teaching that Doesn’t Come From the Revalation of Jesus
- Other Ideologies Do Not have Authoirty over a Person’s Life
Describe BONHOEFFER’S Religious Community at FINKENWADLE?
In 1935, Bohoeffer, on returning from America, was asked to Look After a Seminary ( a place where Church leaders are trained ) which soon moved to Finkenwadle.
The Seminary was ILLEGAL and SECRET becaise the State seminaries were Only Allowing ARYAN PEOPLE to train in thier instutions
The Seminary was CLOSED in 1937 by the Gastpo BECAUSE it went agaisnt the State
FOR points for - IS BONHOEFFER RELEVANT TODAY?
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+ there’s MANY examples of people who’re SUFFERING in the World and Bonhoeffer’s MESSAGE of SOLIDARITY with the POOR, the lonely , the unjustly dealt with SEEMS RELEVANT
+ in WESTERN SOCIETIES there’s an OBSESSION with MATERIAL BENEFIT and SELF-INTEREST which is held alongside a deep sense of unhappiness
+ JESUS as the FOUNDER of Christianity and God incarnate should be the CENTRAL STARTING POINT for all Expressions of Christianity , as shown by Bonhoeffer
AGAINST points for - IS BONHOEFFER RELEVANT TODAY?
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- There’s many CHRISTIANITY to MODERNISE , to adapt to be more inclusive and adopt the VALUES of the Modern Age, perhaps updating some of the moral messages
Bonhoeffer’s IDEAS seem to RUN COUNTER to this because of the key idea in his thinking that it’s commands that should be followed, not the trends of the day - Bonhoeffer’s EMPHASIS on the BIBLE Might Not be Relevant if the Bible is read as not being authoritative
