What does it mean to follow Christ at all costs? For Dietrich Bonheoffer, it ultimately meant losing his life for being part of an attempt to assassinate Adolph Hitler. Six decades later, Bonhoeffer’s writings are still influence individuals and whole churches. Professor and former pastor Mark Devine asks of these writings, what does Bonhoeffer might say to us today? |
Dr. Devine begins Bonhoeffer Speaks Today with a thorough biography of the German theologian’s life. The following four chapters cover various aspects of Bonhoeffer’s theology. Chapter two address the will of God and how we know it. Dr. Devine uses the Bonhoeffer’s work to criticize the contemporary elevation of personal experience to practically the same authority of Scripture.
In Chapter Three, Dr. Devine expounds on Bonhoeffer’s
doctrine of community. He concludes that we must return to Christ as the center
of our communities, recognize its spiritual existence, and fulfill priesthood
toward one another through confession and brotherhood. In the fourth chapter,
issues of the Christian witness of relevance of the Gospel are addressed to the
point of defending the Gospel against liberal compromise to the culture.
Finally, Dr. Devine reflects on what Bonhoeffer can teach us about freedom,
suffering, and the eternal hope.
Having no previous experience with Bonhoeffer’s work,
I found Bonhoeffer Speaks Today to be an enlightening read. Mark Devine
sticks to issues that are relevant without watering anything down. Perhaps
because Bonhoeffer’s theology is so practical, the book is insightful without
being academically demanding. At no point, however, was there any real
disagreement with the German theologian. This leaves me wondering what might
have been left out of the book. Regardless, I learned much from this book and I
believe it will be useful to every person who picks it up.