Introduction to Christian Moral Action
In this chapter, we explore how Christians decide how to act in the world. While earlier chapters like "Christian Moral Principles" looked at the rules (like the Bible or Love), this chapter focuses on a specific example of Christian Moral Action in practice. We will focus entirely on the life and radical ideas of the German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. His life provides a powerful case study of what happens when religious belief meets a political crisis.
Why is this important? Bonhoeffer lived in Nazi Germany. He had to decide whether a Christian's duty was to obey the government or to resist a murderous regime. His answers changed the way many people think about "living out" their faith today.
1. Duty to God and the State
For Bonhoeffer, the relationship between a Christian and the government (the State) was complicated. He believed that the State is given authority by God to maintain order, but that authority is not absolute.
The Two Duties:
- Duty to the State: Usually, Christians should obey the law to keep society stable.
- Duty to God: A Christian’s primary loyalty is always to God.
The Conflict: Bonhoeffer argued that if the State stops doing its job—if it starts causing injustice instead of preventing it—the Christian has a duty to stop obeying. He famously said that Christians shouldn't just "bandage the victims under the wheel" of an unjust state, but "jam a spoke in the wheel itself." This means active resistance, not just helping people who are hurt by bad laws.
Quick Tip: Don't worry if this seems radical. Bonhoeffer wasn't saying people should break laws for fun; he believed resistance was a responsibility when the State's actions went against God's will.
2. The Cost of Discipleship
One of Bonhoeffer’s most famous ideas is found in his book, The Cost of Discipleship. He believed that being a follower (disciple) of Jesus should change your life entirely. He divided "grace" (God’s forgiveness and love) into two types:
Cheap Grace
Cheap grace is the idea that because God is forgiving, we don't really need to change our behavior. It is "grace without discipleship."
Analogy: Imagine a friend who always lets you borrow money and never asks for it back, so you keep spending recklessly because you know they will bail you out. That is "cheap" friendship—it doesn't require anything from you.
Costly Grace
Costly grace is the "treasure hidden in the field." It is costly because it calls us to follow Jesus, which might mean changing our lifestyle or even risking our lives. It is "grace" because it gives us true life, but "costly" because it demands our total commitment.
Analogy: Imagine a person who risks their job to report a bully at work. It "costs" them their security, but it is the "right" thing to do because of their values.
Key Takeaway: For Bonhoeffer, if your religion doesn't cost you anything, it probably isn't real Christianity.
3. The Church as Community and Spiritual Discipline
Bonhoeffer believed that Christians shouldn't just be individuals; they must live in a community. This community provides the strength needed for moral action.
Finkenwalde
In 1935, Bonhoeffer led an illegal seminary (a school for priests) at Finkenwalde. Because the Nazi-controlled state church was teaching things Bonhoeffer disagreed with, he created this secret community to train pastors properly.
At Finkenwalde, he focused on spiritual discipline. This included:
- Daily prayer and meditation.
- Living together in poverty and service.
- Silent reflection.
- Brotherly confession (admitting sins to one another).
He believed this discipline was like "training" for a soldier. If Christians didn't practice being holy in private, they wouldn't have the courage to stand up to the Nazis in public.
4. The Confessing Church
When the Nazis came to power, they tried to merge all Protestant churches into one "Reich Church" that followed Nazi ideology (including removing the Old Testament because it was Jewish). Bonhoeffer and others refused to join.
They formed the Confessing Church. This was a movement of Christians who "confessed" that Jesus Christ was their only leader, not Adolf Hitler. It was a bold act of Christian Moral Action because it was a direct rejection of the government's control over religion.
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't assume the whole Church resisted the Nazis. Many Christians actually supported the regime. The Confessing Church was a minority group of "confessing" believers who stood apart.
5. Sacrifice and Solidarity
Bonhoeffer’s theology eventually led him to Solidarity—the idea of standing "shoulder to shoulder" with those who are suffering. He believed that the Church is only the Church when it exists for others.
- Solidarity with the Jews: Bonhoeffer was one of the few church leaders to speak out against the persecution of Jewish people from the very beginning. He believed Christians had to share the suffering of their Jewish neighbors.
- Sacrifice: This solidarity eventually led to the ultimate sacrifice. Bonhoeffer joined a plot to assassinate Hitler. He was arrested, sent to a concentration camp, and executed in 1945.
He believed that sometimes, to do God’s will, a person might even have to "take sin upon themselves" (like the sin of killing) for the sake of the greater good. This is the ultimate example of moral action being about doing rather than just thinking.
Quick Review Box
Who: Dietrich Bonhoeffer (German Theologian).
Key Concept 1: Cheap Grace (easy religion) vs. Costly Grace (following Jesus at a price).
Key Concept 2: Solidarity (standing with the oppressed, especially the Jews).
Key Concept 3: Spiritual Discipline (practiced at the illegal school, Finkenwalde).
The Resistance: The Confessing Church (refused to follow Nazi rules).
AO2: Thinking Critically
To get the top marks, you need to evaluate these ideas. Ask yourself:
- Is Bonhoeffer’s idea of "Costly Grace" too extreme for modern Christians who live in peaceful countries?
- Was he right to join a plot to kill Hitler? Does "Thou shalt not kill" always apply, or can a Christian break a commandment to stop a greater evil?
- Can a church really be a "community" like Finkenwalde in today’s busy, individualistic world?
Summary: Bonhoeffer teaches us that Christian moral action is not just about following rules. It is about a costly commitment to God, living in disciplined community, and showing solidarity with those who suffer, even if it requires personal sacrifice.