christian moral action (6)

Question 1

Confessing Church

Answer 1

born by pastors, Bonhoffer and Barth who rejected the nationalist church. Bonhoffer worked to make ecumenial links between other churches

Question 2

Finkenwalde

Answer 2

underground seminary started by Bonhoffer to train ministers of the confessing church. illegal in 1937. Bonhoffer banned from teaching. focused on a simple life that would lead to the right action.

Question 3

obedience

Answer 3

Bonhoffer felt that being Christian was responding to the call of Jesus and submit yourself Jesus’ way of life. For bonhoffer religion isnt a list of things to believe, but things to do.
‘one act of obedience is worth a hundred sermons’

Question 4

civil disobedience

Answer 4

therefore following Jesus leads to view duty to god is more important than state. Bonhoffer spoke out publicly against the Nazis and this required disobedience towards the state because inaction was just as bad as evil

Question 5

duty to God is more important

Answer 5

• doing nothing to combat injustice just as bad as doing evil
• any apporoach that is ‘bottom up’ should always put God’s protectio of oppressed above state
• where fundamental christian messages are challenged is where duty to God is neeeded

Question 6

duty to state is more important

Answer 6

• “Give back to Caesar and what is Caesras and to God what is God’s” mark 12:17
• If humans are falle beings then they need to be ordered by fallen beings
• “there is no authority except that which God has esablished” Romas 13:1

Question 7

good Christian life

Answer 7

Bonhoffer thought this was when bible/Jesus centralised. He said christians will only know the will of God when completing the action.

Question 8

leadership

Answer 8

leadership of Jesus though action first. Bonhoffer thought a true leader was someone who kept their followers focused on God rather than on them.

Question 9

true Christian leader

Answer 9

someone who remebers that they are mainly a follower of Jesus, live close to their people and know God is the ultimate leader.

Question 10

centrality of Jesus

Answer 10

Bonhoffer thought God shown through Jesus. believed Jesus the sole mediator and any attempt to live life needs to be done through Jesus

Question 11

Barmen declaration

Answer 11

written by the Confessing church oppose German, Jesus is the way to God and any other leader is a thief.reli

Question 12

Christians can know God’s will

Answer 12

• Bonhoffer said that in every action you can know God’s will.
• If Christians approach life as community then ethics come communal action, communities check decision
• catholics would say we can know god’s will through use of reason

Question 13

Christians can NOT know God’s will

Answer 13

• humanity is fallen and can never understand God’s will because relationship broken
• Godhas given us free will and its not neccesary to know his will in every instance
• Bonhoffer’s view came from his interpretation of the Bible but from other methods. how can there be one direct will

Question 14

religionless christianity

Answer 14

believed the religion would only function if it moved away from previous trappings. he though it had become too focused on tradition that it had lost the true message.

Question 15

rusty swords

Answer 15

christianity needed to be freed from previous trappings

Question 16

finklewade view

Answer 16

looked at how christ could be seen at the world around them and belived all christians should be profits of the word

Question 17

Bonhoffer presents a realistic view on christian life

Answer 17

• it makes sense that christian life should be centered around God
• makes sense that a well formed conscience could make informed views about the world
• in line with Bible, acts 2:42-47 says church life should be based in community

Question 18

Bonhoffer presents a UNrealistic view on christian life

Answer 18

• Finkelwade may have been realistic for those training for ministry but not in a family
• different christians express their faith differently
• christianity is about a commitment to god not to a community

Question 19

cheap grace

Answer 19

belived that grace was given freely to all. But he thought christianity had lost sight of this and thought they could buy it through services. Bonhoffer condemed those who took grace with no believer requirements.

Question 20

costly grace

Answer 20

understanding that grace is the cost of Jesus’ life and it needs to cost whatever it takes. True dicipleship should be prepared to give up as much as Jesus did.

Question 21

solidarity

Answer 21

look at life ‘bottom up’, meaning we can best understand how to act ‘in the moment’. solidarity isnt just having empathy but walking alongside them.

Question 22

church and solidarity

Answer 22

Bonhoffer thought the church needed to stand up against Nazi injustice and Bonhoffer returned from USA to live beside his countrymen

Question 23

Strengths of Bonhoffer’s discipleship

Answer 23

• Bonhoffer seems to understand that all humans are made equally
• challenges those churches that do not emphasise work of christians in the world
• Bonhoffer makes sense of the need for christians to be both of this world and seperate

Question 24

Weaknesses of Bonhoffer’s discipleship

Answer 24

• unrealistic in his expectations cause all will be prepared to suffer when most live a normal life
• grace really is freely given and that is part of God’s generosity
• Bonhoffer neglects the importance of spiritual life and relationship with God

Question 25

Bonhoffer puts too much emphasis on suffering

Answer 25

• lived in a unique time so his theology came out if unique experience
• Jesus’ won suffering was said to be once and for all
• ignores the fact Jesus rose from the dead

Question 26

Bonhoffer DIDNT put too much emphasis on suffering

Answer 26

• emerged from his understanding of the oppressed within society
• suffering comes out of solidarity which is Jesus’ approach
• costly grace proves his emphasis on suffering is enough

Question 27

How Bonhoffer might be relevant today

Answer 27

• Christians today undergo persecution so relevant
• as society gets more materialistic religionless christianity makes more sense
• emphasis on spiritual disciple is timeless
• Jesus should always be central

Question 28

How Bonhoffer might NOT be relevant today

Answer 28

• Bonhoffer’s emphasis on the Bible might not be relevant
• written in extreme circumstances
• Bonhoffer’s emphasis on acting in the moment cant help a world losing morals
• too many pressures on modern people to fully conform with Bonhoffer