Catching Up with Bonhoeffer
By David Van Dyke
I was introduced to Deitrich Bonhoeffer at Fuller Theological Seminary. The writings of this man, a theologian who wrestled with the idea of religionless Christianity, captivated me and triggered a paradigmatic shift in my way of thinking.
Other moments that shifted my perspective were major life events: the death of my sister, an internship in the United Arab Emirates, meeting and marrying my wife, and the births of each of my children. So it came as a surprise to be so moved by the words of a man who died 24 years before I was born.
It started with a reading list in a required theology class. I was in my early 20s, newly married, and having my mind opened to family systems theory in my graduate studies in Marriage & Family Therapy. If I’m honest, the theology courses were difficult and felt tangential to my desired profession.
Until the class at Fuller entitled “Theology and Life of Bonhoeffer.” Professor Ray Anderson guided us through the books Life Together, The Cost of Discipleship, Ethics, Christ the Center, and Letters and Papers from Prison. I was increasingly inspired by Bonhoeffer’s depth of thought, but even more so by the way he lived his theology. Life experiences that shaped him included his close-knit family upbringing, the death of his brother during WWI, his theological studies, and his relationships in Harlem, NY. Each of these contexts influenced his ideas on how to do life together, have an authentic relationship with God, and live intentionally and ethically in a broken world.
The key theological insights from Bonhoeffer that played a crucial role in my personal and professional life:
Personhood: Humanity’s true identity exists in relationship, with God and others.
Sin: Humanity’s sin is a relational violation moving from being image-bearers (imago dei) to self-centered creators (sicut deus) and arbiters of truth (e.g. “my truth”).
Reconciliation: We need relationship with Jesus as an example of who God is, who we are meant to be, and faith in Him as the only path toward right relationship with God and others. Thus, Christ must be the center of our faith, our ethics, and our relationships.
Each of these biblically sound truths became vivid for me in the story of Bonhoeffer’s life and death. They reverberate through the way I think about my own relationship with God, my family, and my church community. They have also shaped my view of therapy as a relational process, and sharpened my call to respond to injustice.
This week I was fortunate to be reintroduced to Bonhoeffer’s story through a new film, “Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin.” Tara and I watched it in the theater and came out with so much to discuss. We talked about how easily our culture and our community can shape our thinking. We wondered if we would have been brave as Bonhoeffer and his family were to stand up against a fascist regime. We reaffirmed the life-changing power of travel and exposure to new perspectives. We felt ever more thankful that we are loved by God, who IS Love, Hope, and the Creator and redeemer of the world. And we were challenged to always respond to that Love by caring for the oppressed, loving our neighbor, and standing against injustice.
Still buzzing with thoughts about the movie, we reached out to writer/director/producer Todd Komarnicki. He graciously gave us time to talk in depth about the making of the movie and his own journey of faith. You can check out our conversation on With U Podcast.
Listen in, and let us know your thoughts!
