by Eric Metaxas
Copyright (c) 2011.
Audiobook.
This book has been on my to-read list for a while, and it feels good to finally cross it off. Bonhoeffer’s story is worth sharing. Educated as a theologian, raised as a scientist under a German psychiatrist, Dietrich Bonhoeffer lived his life in rejection of the German state-church which was coopted under Adolf Hitler. He is a reminder of what living a life in the Resistance is like.Along the way, Bonhoeffer pastored a few churches, founded a seminary, and wrote a few books to fill in the gaps of Lutheran theology. Often, Lutherans deemphasize works in favor of faith, a la their founder Martin Luther. As such, Lutheran theology sometimes needs to be prodded that a pietistic life can be a good thing. Bonhoeffer found this out and wrote about Life Together and The Cost of Discipleship by distinguishing between cheap grace and real grace, which is lived through a life of suffering.
Bonhoeffer eschews his Christian pacifism and conspired to kill Hitler in the middle of World War II. He was later hanged shortly before the Allies freed Germany and opened the concentration camps. As such, he lived his message and died resigned to the will of God. His story – a hero story that Metaxas likes to share – is worth a read.