christian moral action (6) Flashcards
Confessing Church
born by pastors, Bonhoffer and Barth who rejected the nationalist church. Bonhoffer worked to make ecumenial links between other churches
Finkenwalde
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.
obedience
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’
civil disobedience
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
duty to God is more important
- 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
duty to state is more important
- “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
good Christian life
Bonhoffer thought this was when bible/Jesus centralised. He said christians will only know the will of God when completing the action.
leadership
leadership of Jesus though action first. Bonhoffer thought a true leader was someone who kept their followers focused on God rather than on them.
true Christian leader
someone who remebers that they are mainly a follower of Jesus, live close to their people and know God is the ultimate leader.
centrality of Jesus
Bonhoffer thought God shown through Jesus. believed Jesus the sole mediator and any attempt to live life needs to be done through Jesus
Barmen declaration
written by the Confessing church oppose German, Jesus is the way to God and any other leader is a thief.reli
Christians can know God’s will
- 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
Christians can NOT know God’s will
- 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
religionless christianity
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.
rusty swords
christianity needed to be freed from previous trappings
finklewade view
looked at how christ could be seen at the world around them and belived all christians should be profits of the word
Bonhoffer presents a realistic view on christian life
- 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
Bonhoffer presents a UNrealistic view on christian life
- 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
cheap grace
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.
costly grace
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.
solidarity
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.
church and solidarity
Bonhoffer thought the church needed to stand up against Nazi injustice and Bonhoffer returned from USA to live beside his countrymen
Strengths of Bonhoffer’s discipleship
- 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
Weaknesses of Bonhoffer’s discipleship
- 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
Bonhoffer puts too much emphasis on suffering
- 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
Bonhoffer DIDNT put too much emphasis on suffering
- 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
How Bonhoffer might be relevant today
- 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
How Bonhoffer might NOT be relevant today
- 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
