Some Thoughts on Bonhoeffer

Recently I have been reading through two books on Bonhoeffer. The first being "Bonhoeffer Speaks Today" by Mark Devine and the second "Bonhoeffer Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy" by Eric Metaxas. While I have heard many a criticism among my fellow fundamentalists about Bohoeffer everything from resisting Hitler was against the will of God to others suggesting that he was not a born again Christian and still others questioning Bonhoeffer's early ideas about JEDP theory. While Bonhoeffer did name men like Carl Barth being one of his early inspirations we need to look at history in a deeper way to understand exactly what these men thought. Although the name Carl Barth certainly would put any good fundamentalist on edge we have to understand where Barth and Bonhoeffer were coming from. The were the first theologians after a long line of theologians that had strayed farther and farther from God's Word being the foundations of theology. Barth although still far off from the mark was trying to make a movement back to the basics if you will. It was not popular in a world of higher critics, who had basically reduced the Bible to a book of myths, to even suggest that the Bible had the answers for modern man. Bonhoeffer grew in his knowledge of the Bible. He allowed passages like the Sermon on the Mount to examine him not the other way around.

The truth is that is what I admire about Bonhoeffer instead of clinging to what he knew he allowed the Bible change his thinking about life and God. So often we get caught up in one particular idea or concept and we do not allow our selves to see he whole truth from the Word of God. We can make the word say most anything we want it to say but are we interested in what God wants to say to us through it. Throughout the life of Bonhoeffer you can see the evolution of his thinking as a theologian became a Christian. He said later in life: "When Christ calls a man he bids him come and die."

If you want to know about the truth of what Bonhoeffer believed and not simply what you are told I would recommend picking up "Bonhoeffer Speaks Today". It is a fairly short book that is easy to ready and will get you thinking about today's issues from a great, although not perfect, perspective.

Well-Driven Nails

I wanted to do another book review of a recently completed book Well-Driven Nails, The Power of Finding Your Own Voice By Byron Forrest Yawn. Yes another Yawn book and no I have not been yawning my way through them.

As usual for Pastor Yawn it is well written and he discusses things that are not often talked about in our circles. He makes some strong points about preaching and uses information from interviews with John Piper who emphasizes Passion, R.C. Sproul Clarity and John Mac Arthur Simplicity. It is great to hear the thoughts of these great men put into a concise and readable format. I must say there are a lot less colloquialisms in this book, and it tend to be just a bit more scholarly than Pastor Yawns other book, but you have to look at his audience.

There of course were some great quotes from John Piper on preaching which I have to share with you. One of my favorites being this one.

I just know that what I want is the gift of self-forgetfulness in what I would call a full engagement, a passion, a full zeal with what's there in the text, and the reality of God in and through the text. I want to see HIm, and know Him, be engaged by Him, be thrilled by Him, say it whatever effectiveness I can, and let the chips fall where they will...


It is important to prepare as best we can for a sermon. To search out the scriptures for the whole truth, but we ultimately have to leave it all in the hands of God. As I always say to myself "leave it all in the pulpit". In other words give it all I have holding nothing back and let God do His work through me. Maybe R.C. Sproul says it better than I can:

When I step into the pulpit I have a fundamental feeling of helplessness. The Spirit must accompany the word with power. Anything I bring is futile unless the Spirit accompanies it. My job is to be as accurate as I can be in my understanding and as dynamic as I can be in my presentation. But I have no confidence any of that will have any impact. It depends on the Spirit. It will have no effect otherwise.


All this being said presentation is so important. I used to have the concept the more boring I was the more spiritual I was, until I was convicted when some one basically said what John Piper says below. JP basically suggest that it can be a form of blasphemy if we present the word of God without the energy and excitment it should bring to anyone.

Oh Brothers, do not lie about the value of the gospel by the dullness of your demeanor. Exposition of the most glorious reality is a glorious reality. If it is not expository exultation - authentic, from the heart - something false is being said about the value of the Gospel. Don't say by your face, or by your voice, or by your life that the Gospel is not the Gospel of the all-satisfying glory of Christ. It is.


If you do presentations at all about God or His word I would recommend that you read this book. If you preach regularly you must read this book. It will help you greatly as you continue to sharpen and hone your skills for the glory of God. After all that is what preaching is about to glorify God and encourage other to do so as well.