Column: Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Theologian paves path to persevere through trials

Tyler Maxey, Journalist

February 7, 2025

Tyler Maxey takes a deep dive into the inspirational courage of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

“Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe, but He’s good.” – C.S. Lewis

This quote from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe refers to Aslan the Lion, the character in the story that represents Jesus. It reminds us that Jesus isn’t primarily concerned with our safety. That is hard to hear because I like to be comfortable. When making a decision, I am motivated to consider the consequences through the lens of comfort. The thing is, lately I have been realizing that the times in my life where I have grown is when I allowed myself to be uncomfortable. In fact, my growth seems to be directly related to how often I say yes to difficult circumstances. This willingness to be uncomfortable is evident in the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Bonhoeffer was a theologian in Germany during the rise of the Nazis in the 1930s. Increasingly, the Christian church was pressured to support Adolf Hitler and the Nazi government, to the extent of changing the Biblical text, censoring sermons and outright persecuting pastors and people who refused to comply. Throughout the rise of Nazi Germany, Bonhoeffer preached and protested against them. He started seminaries to teach the true Word of God because many of his colleagues had altered their Bibles to match Hitler’s message.

Bonhoeffer chose not to fight for the Nazis in the second World War, but rather joined the resistance that helped hide and smuggle Jews away from Nazi Germany. As his actions led him to be persecuted by the Nazis, Bonhoeffer retreated to go to America to protect his personal safety. He was safe in America, but Bonhoeffer was unsettled. At this point, he was faced with a decision. Stay safely in America and continue to write and teach or return to Germany and carry on preaching and helping there and risk further punishment, including death.

Now this anxiousness in Bonhoeffer may raise a question for us, why would Bonhoeffer be anxious about staying in the United States? Didn’t his presence in America provide him safety? These questions make sense to us, but Bonhoeffer had a different agenda. He had an uncompromising faith in Jesus Christ and believed that following God was not just a set of ideas to adhere to, but rather a full-fledged commitment to the person of Jesus.

Books on Dietrich Bonhoeffer have inspired Senior Tyler Maxey to explore the power of pursuing the uncomfortable life. (Julia Castiglione)

In Bonhoeffer’s book The Cost of Discipleship he described what being a disciple of Jesus means, “Discipleship means allegiance to the suffering Christ, and it is therefore not at all surprising that Christians should be called upon to suffer.” This faith stems from a verse in Matthew 16 where Jesus tells his disciples “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”

Bonhoeffer knew carrying his cross meant he could not stay in America. He believed Jesus wanted him in Germany. So, after spending just two weeks in the United States, Bonhoeffer returned to Germany and continued his ministry.

Bonhoeffer’s decision to go back to Germany and to continue fighting the Nazis eventually lead to his death, but I bet if we were to ask him if he has any regrets about that decision Bonhoeffer would say no. Bonhoeffer wanted to be a disciple of Jesus in every aspect of his life and he knew this faith would cause him trials and tribulations.

Not only am I challenged by his faith, but I am also challenged by the joy and peace he expressed in the midst of trials and tribulations. This joy and peace is made transparent in Bonhoeffer’s final words after being told he was going to be hanged. He calmly says, “This is the end for me, the beginning of life.” Even in hearing of his impending death, Bonhoeffer still set his eyes on Jesus and the new life that was waiting for him in Heaven. I want to approach difficulties in my life with that kind of faith. I know that may not always lead me to safety, but I trust that God is good. That is what Dietrich Bonhoeffer experienced.