Lent 2025 Day 16

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Theologian and Writer
Luke 9:23-24 | Revelation 2:8-11

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945) was a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident whose legacy continues to challenge Christians today. Born into an intellectual and well-connected family in Germany, Bonhoeffer excelled academically, earning his doctorate in theology at just 21. A gifted thinker, he studied and taught in Berlin but was also deeply influenced by his time abroad, particularly at Union Theological Seminary in New York. It was there that he encountered the American Black church and the powerful theology of social justice woven into their faith. His experience among Harlem’s Abyssinian Baptist Church shaped his belief that Christianity could not be merely intellectual—it had to be active in fighting injustice.

Upon returning to Germany, Bonhoeffer became an early critic of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. When the state sought to align the church with its ideology, Bonhoeffer helped form the Confessing Church, a movement dedicated to preserving Christian integrity over nationalist loyalty. His passion for discipleship led him to establish an underground seminary at Finkenwalde, where he trained pastors not only in doctrine but in the radical obedience to Christ’s way of self-sacrifice and nonconformity to the world’s power structures. His writings from this time, particularly The Cost of Discipleship, challenged believers to reject “cheap grace” (grace that asks nothing of us) and instead embrace “costly grace” (grace that demands a life of true discipleship and surrender to Christ).

Bonhoeffer’s work became increasingly dangerous as he spoke out against the Nazi co-opting of Christianity. Eventually, he joined the German resistance and participated in a conspiracy to overthrow Hitler. Arrested in 1943, he spent two years in prison, continuing to write letters, theological reflections, and poetry. Despite knowing his execution was likely, he remained steadfast in faith, believing that God’s kingdom was greater than earthly power. On April 9, 1945, just weeks before the war’s end, he was executed at the Flossenbürg concentration camp. His final words before his death were, “This is the end—for me, the beginning of life.”

In Luke 9:23-24, Jesus calls His followers to take up their crosses daily. Bonhoeffer understood this not as a metaphor for personal struggles but as a radical call to live as Christ lived—to resist evil, to love sacrificially, and to be willing to suffer for the sake of God’s truth. For Bonhoeffer, discipleship was not about passive belief but about action, even when it came at great cost.

Revelation 2:8-11 speaks to those who suffer for their faith, promising that their endurance will not be in vain. The early church faced persecution under the Roman Empire, and Bonhoeffer saw parallels in his own time, as the church in Germany was tempted to align itself with oppressive power rather than resist it. He believed that true faith was proven in moments of crisis—not in comfort but in sacrifice. His life invites us to consider whether our own faith is a discipleship of convenience or one of true commitment.

Lent is a season where we reflect on what it means to follow Christ, even when it is difficult. Bonhoeffer’s life compels us to ask: Do we follow Christ only when it is easy, or are we willing to bear the cost of true discipleship?

Reflection:

• What does "costly grace" mean in your personal walk with Christ? 
• How can you embody courageous faith in the face of societal injustices? 
• In what ways can Bonhoeffer’s example inspire you to live out your faith more fully? 
• Where might God be calling you to take up your cross? 

Breath Prayer: Inhale: Lord, grant me courage... Exhale: ...to follow You faithfully.

May this Lenten season challenge us to embrace the true cost of discipleship, following Christ with unwavering commitment.

Amen.