Bonhoeffer on the Christian’s call to action

Finished reading Renate Wind’s biography on Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose life and mind are so complex that they stumble the modern reader attempting to caricature him in either conservative or liberal frames. In contrast to a recent biographical work by Eric Metaxas, Wind’s take has a liberal bent (consistent with the observation that she herself is a female pastor).

There has been criticism lodged at Metaxas for attempting to superimpose the American right-wing agenda on Bonhoeffer’s perceived beliefs on Christian ethics and relationship with government. I also hold reservations on whether Bonhoeffer would consider himself aligned with political conservatism -- if not merely due to the lack of compassion it has often presented itself with in the culture wars.

During the end of his life, he expressed reluctance to lord religion and insert the name of God into all issues (even in cases of Christian encouragement of comfort!) precisely because he wanted to so exalt the name of God and prevent the name from being stained as it was by the Nazi-supported Protestant church. Sounds familiar now with the public’s resentment of prayers offered without the corresponding action. If there has been any action, it’s a Christian university president calling on his students to resort to violence.

Bonhoeffer’s disdain for the church losing her way is reflected in this quote:

“Our church, which over these years has fought only for its self-preservation as though that were an end in itself, is incapable of being the vehicle of the reconciling and redeeming word for human beings and the world. So the former words must become powerless and fall silent, and our being Christians today must consist of two things: in praying and doing what is right among men.”

For Bonhoeffer, prayer and action were two sides of the same coin. He wanted to live and act “as if there were no God,” at least not the God that relieved him of acting. Because if Christians were to start doing those activities of compassion and loving our enemies, we would find ourselves a lot closer to God in desperate prayer.

Pray without ceasing

And don’t put that added pressure of “it doesn’t work until I’m broken because that’s when it’s most passionate” as if you’ve discovered some formulaic approach to 2 Corinthians 12:9-11. Brokenness is not a matter of the circumstantial or existential, but the spiritual reality is that we’re all broken. Right now. Status quo. Baseline. It is just a matter of realizing it.

It doesn’t matter who you are. Where you’re from. What you did. You are broken. Heed not the line, “I’m a good man, with a good heart” from John Mayer’s Shadow Days when your flesh is still bent and inclined towards destruction. How many other song references can I make lol.

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere (2 Corinthians 2:14). Prayer is effective so long as our hearts sincerely have the Matthew 6:9-13 posture.

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"Surprised by God"?

Perhaps I’m not a fan of the semantics that involve the word “surprise,” but in the contexts where worshippers ask God to execute something they would deem miraculous, it is almost like Satan putting God to the test (Matthew 4:7). Having written before about God’s will being abundantly clear in order that we be effective disciples, the Christian life is not about “surprises” but an everlasting, sustainable joy. Surprises, therefore, connote some vacillation of that joy.

Let’s take this presupposition: if you are a Christian, then you would agree it takes more “faith” not to believe in God than to believe, because God’s presence is much more obvious than his absence. Therefore, you are never really surprised when God answers prayers. I wasn't surprised on the mission field. Yes, there occurred many amazing coincidences and providential acts that brought much joy, because the God we prayed to was looking out for his name being famous (Psalm 115:3, Colossians 1:16). The Christian prays with the heart of making God famous and nothing else (Luke 6:9).

I’m not knocking on prayer for miracles, but oftentimes our definition of a miracle can be so man-centered. A restored limb benefits one person; a changed heart can transform communities and generations. Is not joy the ultimate goal? And is not joy consummately found in Christ? We have not because we ask not (Matthew 7:7-12).

Can we as a people celebrate at the end of our prayers even when nothing has occurred? David certainly did amidst his betrayals (Psalm 3:8). And have we not greater assurance than David - for the historical death and resurrection of the LORD Christ is rock-solid security that God will deliver us from the hands of our enemy!

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Feedback

Among good friends, a question that I believe should be more commonplace is: “Are there any improvements I can make in communicating?" Maybe married couples already do this. Ask genuinely and two things occur:

1. You serve your friends by allowing them an avenue to voice their opinions. If they have been around you a lot, your friends probably have things to say. You thus save them the agony of trying to discern an appropriate time to lovingly engage you and your quirks that annoy them (and that they probably repent over to prevent holding grudges in order to love you for your sake).
2. Your friend serves you by pointing out ways you can become a more thoughtful version of yourself, a more loving version of yourself, a better version of yourself.

And the final result is a strengthened friendship regardless because both parties have shown that the opinions of the other are of significant value. Try it.

God and his ironies

We’re aware of the many opposites of God - in scriptures Matthew 20:16, 1 Corinthians 3:19, Luke 17:33 - and I’ve simply been cataloging how this plays out in real life.

• Had a conversation with friend who has gone through special education and found myself very annoyed talking to him. I realized this was because he talked all about himself and didn’t have any questions for me nor show interest in my life. The spirit at that moment hit me with the weight of hypocrisy where earlier in the evening I had been talking to people all about myself in times of fellowship. Except with me, I have neither disability nor shortcoming to find excuse in.
• I judged this person, honestly, for never being able to have a successful social life. Startlingly, he talked about a tenuous plan for marriage and how its more about sacrificing for the other person. Then proceeded to talk about organizing a hangout for the ministry. This person’s main priority was all about what he could give rather than what he could receive, in which the lord would find due delight.
• My father was being oppressive to my mom and I demanded he apologized, leaving fiery words in my wake. God would have it that I would be the one to first feel ashamed, and so therefore I was the first (and only) one to be humbled and apologize for my own sin in using words as a sword rather than a salve (John 18:10). Gah, that wasn’t the original plan doe!

His ways are indeed higher!

Isaiah: covenant prosecutor

In the beginning parts of his book, Isaiah accuses especially the leadership on what we might call “permissible sins,” or at least sins beneath the surface that are harder to detect. So I’m getting hit pretty hard on this one.

We have listed hypocrisy, selfishness, self-indulgence, and sarcasm (Isaiah 1:10-15, 5:8, 5:11, 5:19-20). Like any other sin, these sins produce both destructive fruit within the doer and also bring down ruin for anyone under the authority of these leaders. Frightening, yes for I will be held accountable to some, and so my attention is drawn to the special yet disturbing wrath that God has in store for those not keeping their end of the covenant: “These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations; I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring their fears upon them … The sound of an uproar from the city! A sound from the temple! The sound of the LORD rendering recompense to his enemies!” (Isaiah 66:3-4, 6)

The same spirit of the covenants is not altogether done away with the ushering in of the new one through Christ. Father, I who am prone to wander, I plead that the spirit keep my paths straight and intimately near my shepherding savior!

Jesus can be a hardbutt

Shallow inspection of his character will never do. Time to examine the heart of Christ.

Jesus correcting opponents:

1. Often did it quite publicly and humiliatingly. (Matthew 15:1-20)
2. Straight-up calling false teachers wrong. (Luke 11:37-53)
3. Name-calling, sometimes semi-racistly. (Matthew 7:6, Matthew 7:15, Matthew 23:33, Luke 13:32)
4. Compared people. (Matthew 8:5-13)
5. Called BS on seemingly good excuses. (Matthew 8:18-22)
6. Had an outright physical tamper tantrum. (Matthew 21:12-13)

Jesus correcting his elect:

1. His authority was important to him and at times needed to let others know. He calls his gosh darn mom "woman." (John 2:3-5)
2. Compared people. (Luke 10:41-42, John 21:22)
3. Used people's deaths to preach his agenda. Dude's mad cold. (Luke 13:1-5)
4. Embarrassment and condescension. (Matthew 18:1-5)

So would these actions be necessarily applicable to us? Not to disappoint Word of Faith adherents, but I think "no."

Here is a holy God among sinners that all deserve to be teared limb-from-limb for their constant disobedience. But instead, he delivers relatively light rebukes. And take note at how customized each one is; our God is so loving and personal. In contrast, as laypeople, our duty is to expunge the huge planks in our eyes as we gently restore our fellow sinning kindred. LORD, we worship you for your faithful mercies and discipline!

What church should I attend?

From Pastor John of Good News Church I attended this summer:

1) Don't base your choice on comfort. Ever thought that, perhaps, as a sinner what you consider comfortable God may consider uncomfortable?

2) Risk-benefit analysis is ill-advised. A good church will always cost you by asking you to give yourself in committed service. In that way, it is blessing you (ref. Beatitudes).

3) Christ-centered. A good gauge whether the church is not grieving the Holy Spirit is if Christ is the chief priority (John 16:14). Not morals, practical advice, fellowship events, cool worship - other religions have those. Not personalities or movements. Just Christ.

4) Marked with humility. Philippians 2:1-11 not only on an individual level, but does the body care for the church universal and form partnerships? Does it celebrate victories of other bodies or is it absorbed in its own happenings?

Now commit.