Christian moral action

Question 1

What was happening to the church in Germany under Hitler?

Answer 1

The Nazis began to infiltrate the catholic church with Nazi propaganda.
Pastors of the confessional church were sent to concentration camps.
German children were indoctrinated and sent to Nazi schools.

Question 2

What was the Reich church?

Answer 2

A church under Nazi leadership that at6tempted to ban the use of the Old Testament.

Question 3

What was the confessing church?

Answer 3

A church which Bonhoeffer joined which rejected the way in which the German Christian church accepted Nazi ideologies.
It promoted an ethic of responsibly for others.

Question 4

What does Bonhoeffer believe about discipleship?

Answer 4

He believes that discipleship is to obey the leadership of Jesus and the will of God.
It encourages joining a life of risk and moving away from security.
It should be placed above the law and human responsibility.

Question 5

What is Bonhoeffer’s philosophy on following man made laws?

Answer 5

Discipleship means that all other legal ties should be burnt.
This is controversial as it means it is placed above laws.

Question 6

What does Bonhoeffer mean when he says that he will follow God’s will?

Answer 6

We cannot take God’s will and fit it around our lives.
A complete change in life and existence must take place to follow Jesus exclusively.

Question 7

What does Bonhoeffer mean by ‘single-minded obedience’?

Answer 7

When we are called by Jesus we should respond with obedience that is independent from reason - this is where faith is possible as we are able to step away from the attachments of life.

Question 8

What is a quote for Bonhoeffer’s rejection of man-made laws?

Answer 8

‘We do not walk under out self-made laws and burdens, but under the yoke of him…’

Question 9

What is cheap grace?

Answer 9

Grace that is offered freely, it is ultimately false as it does not save.

Question 10

What is costly grace?

Answer 10

Grace followed by obedience to God’s commands and discipleship.

Question 11

What does the ‘Cost of Discipleship’ teach?

Answer 11

Each individual has a responsibility to follows Christ’s example and to live a life oriented around living lie Christ would.

Question 12

What quote from ‘Cost of Discipleship’ shows that belief and obedience are interchangable?

Answer 12

‘Only he who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes’

Question 13

What quotes from ‘Cost of Discipleship’ show people must move away from security?

Answer 13

‘life of absolute insecurity’

‘the call to abandon the attachments of the world’

‘suffering must be endured’

Question 14

What does Bonhoeffer call cheap grace?

Answer 14

‘the deadly enemy of the church’

Question 15

What did the Barmen declaration state?

Answer 15

Jesus is the only true leader.

Christians must not follow any other revelation that does not come from Jesus.

Other ideologies do not have authority over a person’s life.

Question 16

Why did Bonhoeffer eventually reject the Barmen Declaration?

Answer 16

He felt as though it focused too much on belief rather than action.

Question 17

What was spiritual discipline for Bonhoeffer?

Answer 17

Prayer centered
Bible based
Communal
Action based

Question 18

What did the Finkenwalde community allow bonhoeffer to do and what was it?

Answer 18

An illegal seminary as only Aryan people could train at the institution.

Bonhoeffer was able to reflect on what it meant to be a Christian community.

Question 19

What are Niebuhr’s views on sin and human nature?

Answer 19

Sin is an inescapable aspect of life.
Humans have tendencies towards self-interest, pride and power.

Question 20

What are Niebuhr’s views on moral ambiguity?

Answer 20

He recognises the complexity of moral decision making.
Moral decisions choose the lesser evil than the absolute good.

Question 21

What are Niebuhr’s views on pragmatism?

Answer 21

Actions can often prevent greater evils.
Achieving justice requires engagement with political realities.

Question 22

What are Niebuhr’s views on hope and humility?

Answer 22

Humans naturally have a tendency to do wrong yet this should not mask this ability to do good.

Question 23

Why did Bonhoeffer relate to Niebuhr?

Answer 23

Both Niebuhr and Bonhoeffer take pragmatic approaches and understand that actions are the choice of a lesser evil.

Question 24

How does Bonhoeffer’s justification of civil disobedience reject Luther?

Answer 24

Luther believed that God was who put the government in place whereas Bonhoeffer believed that Christians should challenge the state in order to fulfil God’s duty.

Question 25

How did Bonhoeffer express the suffering of Jesus?

Answer 25

In his experiences against Nazism, in his imprisonment and eventual execution.

Question 26

What does solidarity mean for Bonhoeffer?

Answer 26

The church must be ‘for others’.
It must be expressed for all people - the oppressed, other nations and beliefs.

This is expressed through Jesus who interacted with political authorities ‘for others’.

Question 27

How did Bonhoeffer show solidarity?

Answer 27

When he chose to return to Germany to be alongside others and work with them.

Question 28

Bonhoeffer places too much emphasis on suffering.

Answer 28

He lived in extreme circumstances most need to live their lives in ‘everyday’ circumstances.

It may be unhealthy to seek out situations that result in suffering.

He encourages extreme behaviour.

Costly grace is unrealistic - God’s grace is mentioned to be freely given.

Question 29

Bonhoeffer does not place too much emphasis on suffering.

Answer 29

Suffering is part of life for everyone.

Jesus told people to take up their own crosses an follow him.

He is interested with Christians engaging with Jesus on many levels rather than just suffering.

Being the person who does not act at all is the starting point for Bonhoeffer’s theology.

Question 30

What is an institutional form of Christianity?

Answer 30

Too much focus on power and authority rather than being genuinely spiritual.

Question 31

What is a cultural form of Christianity?

Answer 31

Too concerned on preserving and maintaining pre-existing practices rather than living with faith today.

Question 32

What is a quote for St Teresa of Avila?

Answer 32

‘Christ has no body now but yours’

Humans stand in solidarity with Jesus.

Question 33

What quotes represent solidarity?

Answer 33

‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ’ - Bible verse

‘If one part suffers, every part suffers with it’ - Paul

Question 34

What does ‘No Rusty Swords’ mean?

Answer 34

The outworn ethical attitudes which the church has used and have no use today.

Question 35

How does ‘No Rusty Swords’ link to Niebuhr?

Answer 35

Niebuhr took a realistic perspective in terms of social ethics that looks at how humans have the inevitability to sin/ will have to choose the lesser of two evils.

‘No Rusty Swords’ would look at the current challenges and complexities of modern life in order to take a pluralistic approach.

Question 36

Bonhoeffer’s theology is still relevant today

Answer 36

Costly discipleship calls Christians to live their lives authentically and fully.

He highlights the importance of standing up against injustice and oppression.

He advocates for the marginalized and standing up against systemic wrongs.

There is still suffering in the world meaning his message of solidarity is still relevant.