Bonhoeffer, Christ and Culture

Wheaton Theology Conference

by Keith L. Johnson (Editor), Timothy Larsen (Editor), Philip G. Ziegler (Contributor)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was one of the most compelling theologians of the twentieth century. A complex mix of scholarship and passion, his life and writings continue to fascinate and challenge Christians worldwide. He was a pastor and profound teacher and writer on Christian theology and ethics, yet was also involved in the resistance against Hitler which plotted his assassination. Bonhoeffer graduated from the University of Berlin and earned his doctorate in theology at the age of twenty-one. While pursuing postgraduate work at New York's Union Theological Seminary his life and ministry was profoundly influenced by his unanticipated involvement with the African American Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem during that time. Protesting the unconstitutional interference by Hitler of the established national Protestant church and the persecution of the Jews, and rejecting the alignment of the German Christian movement with the Nazi regime, Bonhoeffer became head of an underground seminary for the resisting Confessing Church in Germany. At the 2012 Wheaton Theology Conference, Bonhoeffer's thought and ministry were explored in stimulating presentations. Bonhoeffer's views of Jesus Christ, the Christian community, and the church's engagement with culture enjoyed special focus. Throughout it is clear that in the twenty-first century, Bonhoeffer's legacy is as provocative and powerful as ever.

Genres: Theology, Biography, Christian, Cultural

216 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2012

About the author

Keith L. Johnson (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary) is Associate Professor of Theology at Wheaton College, IL.

Reviews

[Ryan Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really interesting essays on different aspects of Bonhoeffer’s theology for modern times.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you noticed the spate of Bonhoeffer books on the market? I wonder if this reflects our longing for genuine heroes, the kind who finish well and are people of substance and integrity. Perhaps his ideas of "religionless" Christianity resonate with those who prefer to consider themselves "spiritual but not religious." What is more fascinating for me is the evangelical embrace of Bonhoeffer, who clearly loved and trusted Christ, but by no stretch embraced the wider spectrum of evangelical conviction. Particularly intriguing is the fact that this book represents the proceedings of a theology conference at Wheaton College, the citadel of evangelical conviction.

This collection of papers explores a gamut of concerns around Bonhoeffer. The book opens with an essay by Philip Ziegler on Bonhoeffer as a theologian of the Word of God, which is shorthand for the idea that Jesus Christ is God's Word to us. This is followed by a paper by Timothy Larsen on the evangelical reception of Bonhoeffer, which he would attribute both to Bonhoeffer's life and death, and his more popular books. What I found neither dealing with is Bonhoeffer's doctrine of scripture and its incompatibility with evangelical conviction, although Larsen does cite some of the early critiques of Bonhoeffer by evangelicals.

Several essays illuminate what has always been a question for me, which is how Bonhoeffer, who articulates pacifist ideals in The Cost of Discipleship could decide to embrace active resistance to Hitler including participation (minor) to assassinate him. Reggie L Williams essay on Bonhoeffer's exposure to the Harlem renaissance and the idea of a "black" Christ of resistance argues for how Bonhoeffer could part ways with the established church, and even his Confessing brethren to act against Hitler. Steven J Plant's paper on Bonhoeffer's politics introduces us to his ethic of responsibility for his life while being accountable to God. It seemed even clearer to me from this paper that there was a "double" character to his thinking that recognized both the necessity to act against Hitler and yet also recognized his accountability for the taking of life before God and that all he could do was cast himself on God's grace. In Lori Brant Hale's essay on vocation, we see that Bonhoeffer did not believe in an abstract ethic, but one worked out in concrete life and in social relations. The Reich changed all the conventions and to say "yes" to Christ and "no" to self in this context demanded some unusual choices.

Daniel Treier explores a connection I had never before made between Bonhoeffer and Jacques Ellul around their similar ideas about technology. Charles Marsh chronicles Bonhoeffer's increasing estrangement from "academic" theology. Keith Johnson explores what we can gain from Bonhoeffer for the Christian academy. Joel Lawrence explores Bonhoeffer's theology of the church as the community that exists for others, and that does so by practicing "death together" in its practices of confessing our sins to each other--one of the most challenging pieces of the book for me! Jim Belcher concludes the book by exploring the liturgies Bonhoeffer practiced at Finkenwalde, an illegal seminary training Confessing Church pastors, and how this sustained Bonhoeffer during his imprisonment and as he faced death.

This is a treasure trove for anyone interested in the life, work, and writing of Bonhoeffer. I found new insights for some of the questions I have about Bonhoeffer. However, I did find it curious that at an evangelical conference co-sponsored with an evangelical publisher, there was so little about the evangelical engagement with and appropriation of a theologian who was far from evangelical in some of his fundamental convictions.

[John Funnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent collection of essays peppered with “deep breath moments” to digest such profound points.

Modernity’s Machine was the stand out paper.

[Adam Shields · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short Review: Book Review: Bonhoeffer, Christ and Culture (2012 Wheaton Theology Conference Book) - Several very good papers. Four in particular I really liked. Tim Larsen's on why we read Bonhoeffer and how that came to be. Jim Belcher's very personal paper on the liturgy and how Bonhoeffer's work at the Finkenwalde Seminary was instrumental in spiritual development. Joel Larson’s chapter on using Bonhoeffer to construct a theology of the church based on others I thought was a very helpful look at how Bonhoeffer’s ecclesiology would fit into a modern Evangelical context. Similarly, Lori Brandt Hale’s chapter on how her college used Bonhoeffer’s theology of vocation as part of their all school curriculum was also quite useful as a model of how to use historic theologian for modern theological practice.

As with any conference book there are essays that are perfectly fine, but less connected with why you are interested in the subject. But overall a very good conference book.


Click through to my blog for a full review and links to videos from the Wheaton Theology Conference http://bookwi.se/bonhoeffer-christ-an...

[Timothy Hoiland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wheaton College has a way of putting together fascinating theology conferences. Though I’ve never attended any of them, I admit that on more than one occasion I’ve more or less salivated from a distance. This year’s theme was “Christian Political Witness” and reliable sources tell me it was a provocative, stimulating, and challenging event. A couple of years ago the theme was “Global Theology in Evangelical Perspective,” a topic that greatly interests me, to say the least. In years prior, the conference covered all kinds of ground, from racial reconciliation to the sometimes testy relationship between religion and science, and from ecclesiology to worship and the arts. One of the really cool things about these conferences – which have been taking place, from what I can gather, for more than twenty years – is that IVP Academic has published collections of the conference’s presentations-cum-essays, just about each year...

- See more at: http://tjhoiland.com/wordpress/2013/0...

[Billie]

Highly recommend

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each essay was enjoyable to read, interesting and informative. The essays covered quite a range of subjects, showing Bonhoeffer's relevance to many issues of today.