Christian Moral Action Flashcards
Bonhoeffer set up a church, where was it, what was it called, and what did it stand for?
The Confessing Church
Stressed the importance of Discipleship and the sacrifice and suffering it entails
Breakaway from Nazi control over other churches in Germany
What was the “German Christian Church”
Opposite of Confessing Church
Protestant churches that adopted Nazi ideology, and gave it strict control over their religion
Viewed Hitler as on par with Jesus - (goes against ten commandments “worship no god other than me”, also Jesus was a Jew)
Wore brown uniforms like the SA
Had no ministers with Jewish ancestry
Removal of old testament as it is Jewish scripture
What did Bonhoeffer accuse German Christians of not doing?
Confessing their faith
Being true to their discipleship
Following commands of God
What was Bonhoeffer’s seminary?
A place in the town of Finkenwalde where he would train preachers to preach for the confessing church, in secret
It was shut down in 1937 by the Gestapo
What is meant by discipleship?
Exclusive obedience to the leadership of Jesus and the will of God
Changing how you live in order to live correctly
Only real display of faith
Act upon God’s call
Single-minded obedience
Suffering and Sacrifice, as Jesus did
What was Bonhoeffer’s book called?
The Cost of Discipleship
What is meant by Obedience?
Being loyal to God in our actions
Bonhoeffer was extremely obedient, banned from public lectures, joined plot to assassinate Hitler in 1944, openly referred to Hitler as the “anti-Christ”
Committing civil disobedience when the law contradicts with God’s will
What’re the issues surrounding the ideas of Obedience?
In Bonhoeffer’s time, when going against the Nazis, civil disobedience appears noble
In a modern era, with our ideas of terrorism, performing acts of civil disobedience for the will of God is very dangerous idea
What is meant by Grace?
A gift given to everyone from God, comes from his desire to save all sinners
Two types - Cheap Grace: Performance grace, criticises the idea that Christian life should be easy e.g. saying you’re a Christian but not changing how you act
“Cheap Grace is the deadly enemy of the church.”
Costly Grace: Making changes to our lives and decisions for Jesus
e.g. Volunteering in your church
“It is costly because it costs man his life, but it is grace as it gives a man the only true life.”
What was meant by Solidarity?
The purpose of Christianity is to be in a relationship with God, through living an existence for others
Bonhoeffer returned to Berlin just 21 days after reaching safety in America, as he believed it was right to go feel the suffering with the others
He passed on information to the Allies, and smuggled Jews into Switzerland to safety
