Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas
I have read lots about Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and lots by Bonhoeffer; I've even see the movie! However, Eric Metaxas has brought together much new material, and provided lots of context for this enthralling biography. It is extremely long, 608 pages, but cleverly written in short sections and an engaging style, such that it is an easy read.
The publisher claims that this is the first major biography in 40 years and includes material not previously compiled in a broader treatment, including:
"¢ Fresh insights into his time at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York. Metaxas draws a straight line between Bonhoeffer's sympathy for Negroes to his defence of Jews in Nazi Germany.
"¢ An examination of Bonhoeffer's phrase: "religionless Christianity", providing the context, and criticising its appropriation by the "God is dead" movement.
"¢ A detailed account of Bonhoeffer's 1939 visit to the US, when he made the life-changing decision to return to Germany, to rejoin the resistance movement which ultimately led to his execution.
"¢ An explanation of his involvement in several plans to assassinate Hitler, including the Valkyrie plot, and also his connection with "Operation 7", involving the smuggling of Jews to neutral Switzerland.
"¢ A full description of Bonhoeffer's romance with 18-year-old Maria von Wedemeyer, in the final two years of his life (enabled by the 1992 publication of her personal correspondence with Dietrich).
Bonhoeffer is a universally admired theologian, pastor and martyr; author of well-known works including Ethics, The Cost of Discipleship and Life Together. He initiated and trained up pastors for the Confessing Church which opposed Adolf Hitler and Nazi policies, including the persecution of Jews.
He attempted to make the worldwide church aware of the threat posed by Hitler, particularly to the Jews, before the war started. After the outbreak of war he negotiated with the British leader Churchill via the Bishop of Chichester, George Bell, at considerable personal risk, indicating there was a resistance movement in Germany. However, his attempts at brokering a diplomatic solution proved futile.
Metaxas gives insight to some of the imponderables of the Second World War, for example why German Christians did not rebel en mass against what was happening. Metaxas explains that Hitler successfully appointed sycophantic clerical leaders who swore allegiance to him on behalf of the church. He also moved to isolate and discredit Bonhoeffer's alternative Confessing Church movement.
Another common query is why the German resistance movement did not attempt to remove Hitler from power earlier. Metaxas explains that Bonhoeffer and others felt that simply assassinating Hitler would not destroy the Nazi movement; and might sink the country into anarchy; allowing a more unstable leader, such as Goebbels or Himmler, to take power.
They had wanted the cooperation of the British government and military for a coordinated movement against the Nazi regime. When it was obvious that this cooperation would not happen, there were several attempts on Hitler's life, many involving Bonhoeffer's extended family.
In July 1944 the Valkyrie plot failed. Bonhoeffer had already been in jail for almost 18 months over charges of money laundering (which was really a scheme to get financial resources to Jews smuggled out of Germany). In the revelations and retributions that followed, his brother Klaus and his brother-in-law Dohnanyi were both executed for their involvement in the plot.
As the US forces closed in to liberate concentration camps and military prisons, Bonhoeffer was smuggled out to Flossenburg Concentration Camp where he was hung on 9 April, 1945.
What is impressive about Metaxas' work is his ability to give insight to the relationships and theology that influenced Bonhoeffer. Dietrich's close friendship with Eberhard Bethge is revealed as a significant source of encouragement and spiritual formation. His romance with Maria is told tenderly through the letters they shared.
It is in the area of theology that Metaxas is less assured. Bonhoeffer initially studied under the historical-critical liberal Adolf von Harnack; but was also very influenced by Karl Barth. Metaxas' description of the difference between Harnack and Barth as the difference between Intelligent Design and Darwinian evolutionists confuses rather than enlightens. Sometimes there is an over-simplification of complex ideas.
However, the tracing of Bonhoeffer's development from a neo-orthodox position, to a loving personal relationship with Jesus, to the development of a reasonably systematic theology along evangelical lines is well documented.
I especially enjoyed reading of the chrysalis of a practical and creative theology: "Bonhoeffer was not interested in intellectual abstraction. Theology must lead to the practical aspects of how to live as a Christian." He made his students sing in class, and took them on weekend retreats to model Christian living.
Metaxas seems sometimes to quote too liberally from the journals and letters he has access to, too much detail from travelogues for example, however, some will be attracted by such depth.
The quoting of poems, verse and semi-formed theological ideas, as well as personal letters, provides Metaxas with some ethical dilemmas. It is clear that Bonhoeffer had not imagined how widely his personal thoughts and correspondence would be disseminated. While still alive he tended to be private and restrict circulation of material. However, many of the original sources for Metaxas have already been published in some form.
What is clear, and challenging, is the almost uniform witness of others to his fine character, particularly his generosity, wisdom, calmness under pressure, gentleness and encouragement. Several described him simply as "a beautiful man".
It is hard to imagine the evil Bonhoeffer witnessed and chronicled, the deprivations he himself suffered, his frustration and anger at the impotence of the church and general German population in the face of a violent and corrupt government, the pain and suffering as his family was ripped apart making their stand, his sadness as thousands of his acquaintances and those he taught were cut down in their prime, his aching spirit as God's name was defamed and misused.
However, Metaxas has captured the context well and Bonhoeffer's voice continues to admonish us:
Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.
May God give us the courage, strength and words to speak out on behalf of those who have no voice, no status, no rights, no recognition. May he give us the conviction to make a stand as a church, as a community, and as individuals if necessary.
