Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Brief Analysis

In addition to his commitment to travel across the globe to ensure that Christianity would continue to exist and thrive, Bonhoeffer also remained unafraid to suffer through whatever adversity he was faced with in an effort to be committed to his ideals, which he derived from his religion. Though he felt the ire of the Nazi party as early as 1933 , Bonhoeffer continued to preach his religion, and maintain his commitment to helping the church until his execution over a decade later. Despite enjoying his work with the Ecumenical movement overseas, and the safer places of worship and religious teaching that existed for him in America, Bonhoeffer decided to remain in Berlin through the worst of the Nazi regime, in order to “participate in the reconstruction

Between his worldwide travels and his persecution at the hands of the Nazi party, he experienced some of the most difficult trials any human could reasonably expect to face. While his case is an extreme one, it goes to prove his idea that Grace is not something that should come easily. Grace, which in a religious sense is understood to mean the unmerited favor of God, is one of the great gifts associated with being Christian . Bonhoeffer’s correct view is that cheap grace represents an attempt to reap the benefits of Christianity without bearing the costs of being a disciple of Christ, which means, “Cheap grace therefore amounts to a denial of the living Word of God.” Bonhoeffer correctly identifies that grace without the costs of discipleship is worthless, because costly grace, “calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life.” Grace is something that is earned throughout a lifetime, like in the way Bonhoeffer did in placing import on the value of community and others, and by committing to the continued existence of Christianity. Without any tribulations, Grace would be a meaningless concept that ignores the teachings of God through Jesus Christ. While Baptism entitles a Christian to the bliss of Grace, it also entails a lifetime of living according to the ideals and morals expressed by God and Jesus Christ. Dietrich Bonhoeffer again exemplifies the benefits of bearing the costs of discipleship. While in Nazi prison, where he must have known that death was almost certainly upon him, other prisoners were, “deeply impressed by the calmness and self-control Bonhoeffer displayed in even the most terrible situations.” Bonhoeffer was not merely granted such strength via Grace; rather he earned it