Heroes of the Faith: Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Heroes of the Faith

by Michael Van Dyke

Born into a prominent German family, Dietrich Bonhoeffer died in a Nazi prison camp. The son of a physician, Bonhoeffer decided to follow his heart and went into theology. As social conditions worsened in Germany, he traveled abroad, but felt himself drawn back to his native land to resist Adolf Hitler's programs. Ultimately, after much mental struggle, Bonhoeffer became involved in a plan to eliminate Hitler. His resistance efforts led to his arrest by the dreaded Gestapo, and Bonhoeffer was hanged on April 9, 1945, just weeks before the end of the war in Europe.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Christian, World War II, Christianity, History

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2001

Reviews

[Tuuli Platner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book, lots of great insights into the thinking and theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer - the flip side of this was that there was less 'story' to this book than a biography would suggest. I felt van Dyke should have tried to research more thoroughly the life of Dietrich, it feels as though he limited himself somewhat to the letters, books and sermons that Bonhoeffer wrote.

[Kristy Hetzel]

Tried to do this as a read-aloud but ended up throwing in the towel and finishing it alone. Not the easiest book to read in writing style, but certainly an interesting man.

[Wayne Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945) was a German Lutheran minister, theologian, and martyr. He was born into a prominent middle-class family at Breslau (Wrocław), the sixth of eight children. His father, Karl Bonhoeffer, an agnostic, was one of the most distinguished neurologists in Germany as a professor of neurology and psychiatry at the University of Berlin and the director of the psychiatric clinic at Charité Hospital in Berlin. His mother, Paula von Hase, was a granddaughter of Karl von Hase, a distinguished church historian and preacher to the court of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Bonhoeffer family was not notably religious, although Paula homeschooled the children until each was six or seven and read them Bible stories. Dieterich was an exceptional pianist and athlete but surprised his parents when he decided as a teenager to become a theologian and later a minister. After attending Tübingen University and the University of Berlin, Bonhoeffer spent a year in 1928–1929 as minister of a German community in Barcelona, Spain. He returned to the University of Berlin to work on his thesis then went to the United States in 1930 for postgraduate study and a teaching fellowship at New York City's Union Theological Seminary where he studied under Reinhold Niebuhr and met Frank Fisher with whom he attended the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem.
Following his return to Germany from America in 1931, Dietrich became a lecturer in systematic theology at the University of Berlin and was appointed a secretary by the World Alliance for Promoting International Friendship through the Churches, a forerunner of the World Council of Churches. However, with the Nazi rise to power and takeover of the German Church, Bonhoeffer became one of the founders of the opposition Confessing Church. Upon completing a two-year appointment with two German-speaking Protestant churches in London, England, he returned to Germany to conduct an underground seminary and published his best-known book, The Cost of Discipleship, a study on the Sermon on the Mount, in which he not only attacked "cheap grace" as a cover for ethical laxity but also preached "costly grace." During this time he became involved with the Abwehr German military intelligence organization, which was the seat of anti-Hitler resistance, in several plots to overthrow Hitler. Escaping to the United States in 1939, he soon regretted his decision and returned to Germany to continue his work with Abwehr, helping Jews escape to Switzerland. Eventually arrested in 1943 and imprisoned for a year and a half, Bonhoeffer was executed in 1945, just weeks before Germany surrendered.
I first became acquainted with the name of Bonhoeffer when a teenager by reading an article entitled “Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Qualified Disciple.” I do not now remember where I saw it or who wrote it. Later, I received a copy of The Cost of Discipleship from my great aunt and read it. More recently, we obtained the CD audiodrama Bonhoeffer: The Cost of Freedom from the Focus on the Family Radio Theatre series to hear while on car trips. So I thought that it would be nice to read a biography of Bonhoeffer. Eric Metaxas has recently written a definitive biography Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy published by Thomas Nelson, but I wanted something more suitable for children. I remembered that there was a biography of Bonhoeffer in the excellent “Heroes of the Faith” series by Barbour Publishing. We already had some of these 37 books, including ones about Sojourner Truth, Corrie ten Boom, Fanny Crosby, Frederick Douglass, George Washington Carver, and C. S. Lewis. Unfortunately, they are no longer available, but I found a used copy. I enjoyed reading it. Please understand that this is not a blanket endorsement of Bonhoeffer’s beliefs. He was a product of German liberalism, and while he gravitated towards Karl Barth’s neo-orthodoxy, he continued to promote the social gospel concept and ecumenism. There are many “heroes” of history with whose religious beliefs we may not always agree but may still learn from their convictions and courage in other areas. Certainly, we can appreciate Bonhoeffer’s resistance and opposition to the evil Nazi regime of Adolph Hitler.

[Dave E · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son's confirmation class read this, and so I did as well. A relatively short book that is part of the "Heroes of the Faith" series by Barbour Publishing, I took it to be intended for youth. It turned out to be a very good book about a theologian who wound up actively opposing the Nazis in 30's-early 40's Germany. Understanding the subtleties of his theology and philosophy was difficult for me, but he led an interesting life and it was interesting to see how he felt the organized church failed in a nationalist society...something not at all irrelevant in today's world.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Biography of Germany's most well-known Christian martyr of World War II. Certainly his life was inspiring, but what intrigued me most was the way that the Christian church acquiesced to the Nazi regime. His theological observations as a result of his disappointment in the church and his time in prison are very complex.

[Cindy aka "The Book Fairy" · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took me a little while besides being flat out busy as the reason! Sometimes it was rather deep with the theological writing that Dietrich penned himself, the story alternating with times. I could only read so much here n there as it was heavy and heartbreaking of course at how so many went alongwith the persecution of the Jewish citizens or were indifferent. So many powerful truths there as the desire for total control by government with a dictator at the helm, evil running rampant with their hatred towards not only towards the Jews, but any who dared to defy Hitler and be a dissenter. To stand up and be a voice for the injustice and oppression will most likely dangerous for those who are courageous enough to do so. Yet again, the statement that history always repeats itself is certainly evident after finishing this book!

[Melissa Brandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I told my uncle-in-law who loves history to choose a book for me. The first one was way too big, so he gave me this one instead. I'm glad he did. I never would have opened a book with this boring cover.

This was an excellent true story of a man who was determined to change history for Christ or die in the process.

This topic is so relevant to today, it's scary. This is a must-read for anyone who professes to be a Christian.

I learned so much about the Holocaust from Dietrich's story. I had no idea that Hitler rose to power by manipulating the churches, and that the churches were more devoted to their country than to God. Way too many churches acted on selfishness and fear.

My home church doesn't fly the American flag, and if I didn't fully understand why before, I sure understand now. This is why those of us who don't enjoy history ought to study it anyway. Otherwise, we may end up on the wrong side when history repeats itself.

Excellent, fast-paced read. There's nothing boring about this man.

[Peter Jon Showalter · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I learned: stand up for the voiceless, weak, and oppressed, even if it means sacrificing everything.

[Mikayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my apsalute favorite man but still good. I liked the style.