Ethics By Deitrich Bonhoeffer

[Meg]

The foundation of the ideas studied in his book, Ethics, is the damage done by the knowledge of good and evil (see Genesis chapter 3). In being deceived to attempt to become like God, Bonhoeffer has discovered that man has become his own god. In other words, Bonhoeffer describes the ultimate subjective morality, and how this destroys unity with ourselves, with one another, and ultimately with God Himself.

Bonhoeffer explains why the interaction between Jesus Christ and the Pharisees seems unrelated at best, and in absolute conflict in other ways (which he freely admits it was), but he explains why. In an approach that seems almost indirect, he uncovers what Paul says in Galatians 3:1-5

1You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? 5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

and also in Galatians 3:28

28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Bonhoeffer explains that the perceived knowledge of good and evil is based on our own conscience and personal preferences, doubts and fears. Because we can and do manipulate our own conscience, humanity can, and all too often does justify ourselves based on ourselves. This is why the indwelling Holy Spirit is so necessary (my conclusion). This is also how forgiveness towards one another is so important.

Bobhoeffer's Ethics is surprising and intense. He remains firmly in Scripture, directing us to God in a way I have seen nowhere else.

If we hope to overcome self condemnation and condemnation of others around us, Bonhoeffer gives us some valuable keys to how to achieve this through Scripture by way of a very candid glimpse of how we perceive ourselves, each other and God Himself. This book is well worth the effort it takes to comprehend.

[mattfivefour]

Thanks, Meg. I have added Bonhoeffer's Ethics to my library.

[Meg]

Let me know what you make of it. Parts of it are a little over my head, but most of it is just outstanding, especially his chapter on the Pharisees. I have read a couple of books on Jesus' confrontations with the Pharisees, but nothing I have ever seen makes sense out of the Gospels and why Jesus was the perfect Man like Bonhoeffer does.

While I'm at, do you know of anything that discusses Neitzsche's impact on the church?

[mattfivefour]

Nietzsche had absolutely no impact on the true Church. He despised Christianity and, indeed, God. He believed that God as father was merely the ultimate in parental repression and that, in fact, "He" was merely a projection of society's desire to keep people in subjection to authority. He said that when men become aware of this and begin to take control of their lives through their intellect then they will become ubermenschen, or superior humans, who will alone be worthy of ruling. In fact, he believed that the average human being was worthless and fit only to serve these ubermenschen. I would suggest that Nazism found its philosophical foundation in Nietzsche.

[Meg]

Nietzsche had absolutely no impact on the true Church. He despised Christianity and, indeed, God.

Bonhoeffer seems to have had reason to believe that Nietzsche had actually influenced the German theological environment. By the time B studied at Berlin U, the attitide was closer to Nietzsche than to say, John Macarthur. Bonhoeffer might have had to struggle against a current of secularized theology that reduced the Lord and the Bible to a dead intellectual concept, that was the first thing I noticed in the Bio.

He believed that God as father was merely the ultimate in parental repression and that, in fact, "He" was merely a projection of society's desire to keep people in subjection to authority. He said that when men become aware of this and begin to take control of their lives through their intellect then they will become ubermenschen, or superior humans, who will alone be worthy of ruling. In fact, he believed that the average human being was worthless and fit only to serve these ubermenschen. I would suggest that Nazism found its philosophical foundation in Nietzsche.

Having done a quick google on Nietzsche, I totally agree. I was wondering what part he played in the secularization of Europe in the earlier phases. I'm pretty sure he was popular in the 60's and 70's, I had heard of him but never got interested, since he was portrayed as negative and dark (I already had enough problems!) But from the sound of it, he had a whole lot of influence on the German Third Reich, and possibly on the German intellectual landscape at large, contributing to the credibility of Hitler in the minds of the German people at the time (1930's.)

[mattfivefour]

Notice I said "Nietzsche had absolutely no impact on the true Church." He had a great impact on man-made churches—that is to say, man-made church organizations, and on intellectuals and theologians who did not have the Holy Spirit residing within. Much of the secularization of the theologies of church organizations was rooted in his ideas.

[Meg]

Notice I said "Nietzsche had absolutely no impact on the true Church." He had a great impact on man-made churches—that is to say, man-made church organizations, and on intellectuals and theologians who did not have the Holy Spirit residing within. Much of the secularization of the theologies of church organizations was rooted in his ideas.

Thanks, thats what i thought. What I found so compelling about the Metaxas bio was the overview of how the church was influenced by the Reich. I think thats why the book is a bestseller right now. These are compelling issues that impact our world today. Any reading suggestions?

[king'sbloomingrose]

By Bonhoffer? My dad highly recommends B's book Life Together. It's about Christians and community. I'm trying to make my way thru B's bio by Metaxas...it's a long slow read but it's worth it I think.

[Meg]

By Bonhoffer? My dad highly recommends B's book Life Together. It's about Christians and community. I'm trying to make my way thru B's bio by Metaxas...it's a long slow read but it's worth it I think.

Thx, I got Bonhoeffer straight. I have Ethics here now, Metaxas bio, and Cost Of Discipleship should be here any day. What I'm going to be digging in this year is how the German Church got taken in by Hitler, and hopefully expand into the secularization of Europe. This is the third time the Holy Spirit has given me something to study during a calendar year. The first was Exodus and the life and prayers of Moses in 2007, the second was Ecuador and the famous missionaries in 2008. Last year I studied under Mattfivefour here at RF (seriously) God's been very decent about letting me find my own way and search out my own questions.