Christian Moral Actions Flashcards
Barmen Declaration
written by Barth Rejected the influence of Nazism on German Christianity e.g Jesus is the one true leader and the only way to God
Confessing Church
movement in German Church of resisting Nazi program and
their takeover of church
Bonhoeffer’s unhappiness
unhappy that the CC was not prepared to voice criticism against the treatment of jews
Dicipleship
B placed a huge emphasis on dicipleship , for B dicipleship was showing exclusive obedience to God and burning any other legal ties including Hitler and the NP
Costly grace
grace followed by obedience to God’s command and discipleship , it demands a response of sacrificial discipleship and a total abandonment to God
Cheap Grace
Grace that is offered freely, but is received without any change in the recipient, and ultimately is false as it does not save
Solidarity
The church must be for others “ the church is Her true self when she exists for humanity” . B showed solidarity when he came back to Germany from the Us to be alongside others suffering .B also says solidarity is seen in Jesus.
“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
The disciple burns his boats ..”
” I must try to wrestle the steering wheel from the hands of the driver”
Christians and the Nazi party
Bonhoeffer lived at a very testing time , German christians were divided by Hitler and the nazi party
some christians joined the nazi party( Reich church ) which meant incorporating nazism most of this went against general teachings of the bible
Finkenwalde
A community set up by Bonhoeffer to train ministers or pastors for the confessing church, allowing people to develop practical Christian living , was closed by gestapo in 1937
Duty to state
obeying the rules of the state
Duty to God
most important comes above duty to state - obey God and His rules
Civil disobedience
A nonviolent, public refusal to obey allegedly unjust laws
Sacrifice
A life of sacrifice is set apart and distinctive for B . Christians should be willing to sacrifice much
Does B place too much emphasis on suffering - Yes
B lived in an extreme circumstance
Most christians need to live their life in everyday circumstance
Its unhealthy to seek out situations that lead to suffering
Bs empahsis takes away from joyful messages like the resurrection
the new testament is full of reference to Gods grace being freely given.
Does B place too much emphasis on suffering - No
suffering is a part of life for everyone
Jesus told people to embrace their suffering take their crosses and follow him
suffering goes alongside solidarity the emphasis is on the whole picture
for B its more than just about suffering its about how christians interact with Jesus on all levels
If you take your eye off suffering you may become someone who does not act
Should christians practise civil disobedience - yes
God is loving and wouldnt want Hitler to be in power
Bible is evidence of Gods will
Examples like far right parties emerging in europe
Gov can be corrupt
Costly grace
one wrong action to prevent numerous wrong actions
Jesus practiced civil disobedience - sabbath day
Should christians practise civil disobedience - No
you could become a terrorist
civil war
we cant know God will
all authority is God given “ all authority comes from God.. those who have been placed in position of authority have been placed there by God”
B in an extreme situation
Is it possible to know God will - yes
revealed theolgy
religious experience
answered prayers
Is it possible to know God will - no
If God doesnt speak to us
we cant be sure of his will
mental illness / hallucinations
natural distasters
the fall
Is bs theolgy relevant today - yes
in western society there is an obsession with material benefit and self interest . Bs message challenges people to abandon self interest and live a meanigful life
bs message of solidarity seems relevant considering the current affair in the world e.g war and the poor
Is bs theolgy relevant today - no
bs account for suffering says we should set aside local law and be obedient to God could be problematic
Bonhoeffer
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor, neo-orthodox theologian and anti-Nazi dissident who was a key founding member of the Confessing Church.
