Bonhoeffer's explanation that Christians are to be obedient and actively challenge injustice is radical and dangerous?

Answer 1

Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran during Nazi rule. Hitler had him hung, executed.

Bonhoeffer is known for saying following Christ means partiicipating in His suffering and death. Bearing his cross. Like Christ, Bonhoeffer died for following Jesus' example, to defend the weak, the vulnerable, in his time the Jews and those subjected to euthanasia.

Bonhoeffer believed Christians should be obedient unto death, to defend the poor and marginalized. He lived and died following that surprisingly sincere belief.

That's fairly "radical" and "dangerous" to one's health. It's seemingly an invitation to suicidal behavior. following examples of Christian martyrs during the early years of Nero and Roman Caesars. Or those in Fox's Book of Martyrs

Bonhoeffer also called abortion murder. God gave life, and abortion was killing & murdering God's creation. Hitler promoted abortion of non-"Aryan" ethnic or religious groups.

Today, Jane's Revenge might kill Bonhoeffer, but he'd die willingly.

Some argue Bonhoeffer followed German atheist Nietzsche's "God is dead" "theology" but what Bonhoeffer claimed was dead was the visible church, orthodox religion, a dead shell of its former self, like the WW2 era Pope who joined with Hitler. And possibly today, Pope Francis joining with Xi in China. Were Bonhoeffer alive today, in China, he'd likely be Leader of the underground church and sentenced to death by Xi, much like Hitler had Bonhoeffer hung. or like Mao killed Watchman Nee and other christian and religous leaders.

Bonhoeffer was a slave to Jesus, as Paul described himself, and who also likely died in Rome, executed.

That's all a very radical type "pacifism" slave like "turn the other cheek" Jesus type Christianity, sheep going to the slaughter, willingly. very "dangerous" to one's health, wealth and life, far more dangerous than smoking tobacco cigarettes.

Bonhoeffer was like Martin Luther King, speaking out at the risk of arrest and death to defend the persecuted and oppressed. Bonhoeffer said to remain silent and not speak out against evil was itself Evil.