Dietrich Bonhoeffer
If Not For You
f incon o e l b a ysical es cap r h u p t a s i e t r ri ec whethe r is the ability credibl s n i n e o i r t a a a s and cre ectacul majority of Human s p s n o e i r t c o m ea he r ceivabl . What is even e that t z i l n furthe o a e e v r e l d s a i n t a h t s or men thin oneself To take ting everyone . l i v i e w o t c to look is blind blindness affe superhuman y r t n u o e is one’s c g remove that ad thes e more h c n o o h t w n h i by help can see the lig ffer was a man ilar views y im oe these s s a tale for the that the h Bonh c d i a r t e r e i p D . os this i o d wisdom nd was able t take in o t r a e l p b o a t a er as t in ord abilities rs. How he w e s e b to the pened. ge had p upon o a a t h s t e a h th ut t events e ages, b t a l u c ma these im
The Weimar Republic did its part to help create a path for Hitler to walk to power. This political organization is one of the reasons that Bonhoeffer’s tale of heroism and illuminating theological writings became a reality. He was able to make an inner sacrifice for the greater good and passed his wisdom to others who may not have been as morally strong. Letters have been found of his encouragement to other resistance members, which show true leadership in a tough setting. Acts of self-righteousness sometimes can get overlooked, but thankfully we know who was the moral backbone was of the resistance in Germany. The world may be a different place if not for Bonhoeffer.
In order to fully understand how Bonhoeffer became a crucial resister during Hitler’s reign, one must understand what factors allowed Adolf Hitler to squirm his way into the leader of the country. One of the main reasons was the Weimar Republic. They were the political party that took charge in the transitional time after World War I. The great inflation of 1923 brought hard times to the people of Germany. During this time the middle class lost their savings, jobs were not created, and social service and public spending ceased to live. The occupation of the Ruhr added even more pressure on the Weimar Republic. The Ruhr was the industrial center for Germany and it put the unions in a deprived disposition. What goes up must come down, and eventually the depression caused even more suffering to the German people. This acted as a stake to separate the industrialists and unions against each other even more.
Even though Germany was in bad shape that does not explain why a man who was a pacifist made such a leap in moral beliefs to consider assassination the answer to his problems. Bonhoeffer appeared to be a man of great moral strength, so why did he make a vast switch in beliefs? The answer is not black and white, it is grayer. There is not a real event that switched him in an instance, it was a process overtime. There was a realization through Jesus’ teachings that lead him to the ultimate decision to take another’s life. Larry L. Rasmussen gives detailed information that sheds light on Bonhoeffer’s greater understanding of Jesus’ teachings.
He says, “Whether it was deputyship as intervening on behalf of Jews , or the deed of free responsibility as the rationale for consenting to plans for assassination, or the acceptance of guilt as the hinge of his move from passive to active resistance, the lines lead back to the Gestalt Christi, to Christ whose very being is being-there-forothers,” (Rasmussen 37).
This gives an overview of what Larry Rasmussen’s case is in Bonhoeffer’s change in moral views. To put it simply, Bonhoeffer appears to have made the choice of assassination based on Christ and his teaching of being there for another individual no matter what.
The continual u nderstanding of Jesus’ teachin gs particularly helped Bonhoeff er in this final step of convers ion. He noticed that Jesus took upon himself the guilt of oth ers. Instead of blaming things on the Nazis, which no one w ould blame him for, he bore the responsibility o f Germany’s acti ons. In additio n to this he also to ok the burden of rectifying th e country. The act of killing is evil, but the resisters took th at weight upon their shoulders for the sake of those that need ed help.
Other elements also played an importan t role as Rasmussen points out. Ther e was a clear inclin ation to help out the Jews due to the persecutions. The free responsibility is more directed to wards the idea of co nspiracy. Rasmussen says, “In delinea ting the structure of responsible life Bonhoeffer interpos es a crucial elemen t m issing in that heritage and thus m issing during the ye ar s of the Third Reich, an omission with shuddering co ns eq was the deed of free uences This responsibility, the undertaking of a courageous ventur e that simultaneou sly violates the law of the civil order an s d conforms to the form of Christ in the world (reality) ,” Rasmussen 45).W hat the conspira were planning
tors was treason, which has legal conseque Bonhoeffer justifies nc es . the actions becaus e Christ’s laws reig supreme. This peri n od of time required national law breaki sake of a higher go ng in od. One must be re sponsible for anothe life. The acceptance r’s of guilt was the fin al step in the conv away from pacifism ersion .
Bonhoeffer was the moral backbone of the conspiracy because of his never ending wisdom and guidance he provided to the conspirators. He understood that there was a responsibility different from the one discussed earlier in this paper. This responsibility was to defend those unable to protect themselves. The protection was against lawless violence created by Hitler and the Nazis. His wisdom and clear guidance helped the resistance keep moving on even after failed attempts. He made sure that the other resisters were acting within good faith and righteous morals. He understood that with killing comes guilt and regret. The members of the resistance took this upon themselves in order to restore peace and justice to those who were affected by Hitler’s reign of terror. In the past, Christians were expected to mourn after war due to the sin of killing. Not only could the soldiers not consume the Eucharist right away, but they had to do penance for three years.
Dr. Kelly also shows evidence of how Bonhoeffer made the switch from pacifism. He says, “Bonhoeffer the German began to recognize the need to transcend the national setting of his faith and loyalty. It was a struggle with his own attachment to Germany, but eventually the struggle wrung form him a deeper commitment to principle of the Sermon of the Mount and a firm devotion to the cause of world peace. Paradoxically, this commitment led to a truer loyalty to Germany in the higher integrity of service to country he and his fellow conspirators would exemplify,” (Kelly 101). This has a connection to Rasmussen’s views on Bonhoeffer. Through a greater study of the Bible, Bonhoeffer was able to continue down the path of resistance and also strengthened his responsibility of Germany. People may say they will die for their country, but how many would sacrifice past views in order to take on the heavy burden of an entire country? There was no gold medal that these resisters were going to receive right away, they knew they would be seen as traitors to Germany and its people, but these few individuals recognized the bigger picture. Bonhoeffer let God show him the way and he in turn followed faithfully.
han they in God t g n is on o r t s hat God t h was it w a o f n ’s k r true . To siste not, but nything If the re a y a h s m li p it ed in com ome to succe could ac lot. To s e a c s n n e a d e fi on em ld we be your sid d gives one the c here wou n full W o . g G in in o a faith ay be d was a m r they m effer? He few have. The o h n o whateve B th that Dietrich ucial without and inner streng esistance was cr r m e of wisdo e provided to th eed. h e ucc s c t n a o guid did n y e h t h g u even tho
bone the moral back Bonhoeffer was s hi never acy because of of the conspir he providand guidance ending wisdom derstood irators. He un ed to the consp ty different a responsibili that there was r in this scussed earlie from the one di as to defend sponsibility w paper. This re lves. The protect themse those unable to violence against lawless protection was . His is ler and the Naz created by Hit ed the lp ear guidance he wisdom and cl after en moving on ev resistance keep th re at the s. He made su failed attempt ithin good were acting w other resisters He underteous morals. faith and righ guilt and h killing comes stood that wit stance bers of the resi regret. The mem der to or themselves in took this upon e who os th and justice to terror. restore peace of n ler’s reig it H by d te ec were aff pected to istians were ex In the past, Chr of killing. n si e to the du ar w er aft nsume mourn soldiers not co e th d ul co ly Not on t they had right away, bu the Eucharist There are r three years. fo ce an n pe to do support ments that also physical docu ne of the bo e moral back e rewhy he was th te effer wro som ho on B . ce an 1943 to resist conspirators in r he ot to s on flecti allengthis morally ch g on al em th help r lives. ing part of thei
He put the min ds and souls of the men involv place through hi ed in the right s reflections, w hether oral or w resisters unders ritten. The tood that they ha d a responsibilit the weak and in y to protect nocent from Hit ler and in doing sacrifice more th so had to an just their liv es. They put the entire country burden of an on their back so that light may on again of their be e day shine loved country. This was made the spiritual gu possible throug idance of Dietr h ich Bonhoeffer. Germany may no If not for him, t be where it is today, or viewed way it is now. in the same
There was one re flection entitled Who Stands Fast?, an d one part stoo d out from it. It stats, “Who stands fa st? Only the man whose final standard is not his reason, his prin ciples, his cons cience, his freedom, or his virtue, but w ho is ready to sacrifi ce all this when he is called to obedie nt and responsi ble action in faith an d in exclusive al legiance to God – the re sponsible man, w ho tries to make hi s whole life answ er to the question an d call of God. W here are these respon sible people?,” (C oles 111). This soun ds like a moral leader rallying the “tro ops” to keep pu shing on and take a st and against evil. He mentions sacrifi cing everything a man stands for in or der to do the m oral work of God.Bon hoeffer understo od that there would be more sacrifi ce than just a man ’s life. His reputa tion, conscience, and freedom would al l be sacrificed in or der to kill Hitle r. If they succeeded then they would be se en as traitors to th eir own countr y. They could be put in jail for their acti ons. Even though th eir mind may no t want to commit this assassination, th ey knew deep dow n in their souls it had to be done. Bon hoeffer was rem inding them of the true strength that w as needed, faith in God.