Christian Moral Actions

Question 1

Barmen Declaration

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Confessing Church

Answer 2

movement in German Church of resisting Nazi program and
their takeover of church

Question 3

Bonhoeffer’s unhappiness

Answer 3

unhappy that the CC was not prepared to voice criticism against the treatment of jews

Question 4

Dicipleship

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Costly grace

Answer 5

grace followed by obedience to God’s command and discipleship , it demands a response of sacrificial discipleship and a total abandonment to God

Question 6

Cheap Grace

Answer 6

Grace that is offered freely, but is received without any change in the recipient, and ultimately is false as it does not save

Question 7

Solidarity

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

“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.”

Question 9

The disciple burns his boats ..”

Question 10

” I must try to wrestle the steering wheel from the hands of the driver”

Question 11

Christians and the Nazi party

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Finkenwalde

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Duty to state

Answer 13

obeying the rules of the state

Question 14

Duty to God

Answer 14

most important comes above duty to state - obey God and His rules

Question 15

Civil disobedience

Answer 15

A nonviolent, public refusal to obey allegedly unjust laws

Question 16

Sacrifice

Answer 16

A life of sacrifice is set apart and distinctive for B . Christians should be willing to sacrifice much

Question 17

Does B place too much emphasis on suffering - Yes

Answer 17

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.

Question 18

Does B place too much emphasis on suffering - No

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Should christians practise civil disobedience - yes

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Should christians practise civil disobedience - No

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Is it possible to know God will - yes

Answer 21

revealed theolgy
religious experience
answered prayers

Question 22

Is it possible to know God will - no

Answer 22

If God doesnt speak to us
we cant be sure of his will
mental illness / hallucinations
natural distasters
the fall

Question 23

Is bs theolgy relevant today - yes

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Is bs theolgy relevant today - no

Answer 24

bs account for suffering says we should set aside local law and be obedient to God could be problematic

Question 25

Bonhoeffer

Answer 25

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor, neo-orthodox theologian and anti-Nazi dissident who was a key founding member of the Confessing Church.