Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote letters of encouragement and challenge while in prison in Hitler's Germany

“The consciousness of being borne up by a spiritual tradition that goes back for centuries gives one a feeling of confidence and security in the face of all passing strains and stresses.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote this in a letter from prison on this date, December 17, in 1943.   This was about a year and a half before the Lutheran pastor-theologian was hanged by the Nazis at age 39. His writings from prison have been widely distributed in the book, Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Letters and Papers from Prison.

 Born in 1906, Bonhoeffer became a lecturer in theology at the University of Berlin at the age of 25 in 1931. Among Protestants in Germany, he was a leading spokesman against Adolph Hitler’s rise to power. 

Based on Romans 13, he had been taught not to resist governmental authorities, but he determined that he could not remain quiet. In resistance, Bonhoeffer started an underground seminary in 1935. The next year, he was forbidden to lecture at the University. The Nazis closed the seminary and arrested 27 former students. In the wake of the closing, he wrote what has become probably his best-known book, The Cost of Discipleship, in which he deplored “cheap grace,” a grace which does not cost the claimant. A few years later, he would also be forbidden to publish his writings. 

Bonhoeffer in 1939 joined his brother-in-law and others in a movement to assassinate Hitler. Later that year, he came to New York City, where he could have stayed in safety, but he returned to Germany after only a few weeks to continue the resistance work. He said it was a mistake to come to America to escape the consequences of his efforts against Hitler. He felt, if he stayed away for the duration of the war, he would have no right to go back home when the war was over and take part in seeking to reshape German.

After working in Jewish rescue activities, he was arrested, first placed in prison in Berlin, then later moved to the Buchenwald Concentration Camp.  There he was executed less than a week before the Allied forces reached the camp.

A symbol of Christian commitment and courage for many, Bonhoeffer’s life should be an inspiration to every Christian. As we enter heartily into Advent, we can be caught up in the centuries-old “spiritual tradition” he mentioned in the quotation which begins today’s reading. May we have that “feeling of confidence and security in the face of all passing strains and stresses.”

Verse for Today

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).

Each day through New Year’s Day, January 1, 2013, inspirational thoughts will appear, in keeping with Advent, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.  These are from my book, Reflections for the Festive Seasons.  © 2002.  All rights reserved.