I found the recent presentation “Bonhoeffer and Resistance to Tyranny and Organized Stupidity” with Larry Rasmussen hosted by Fr. John Dear of The Beatitudes Center to be very informative. In the ensuing discussion after the presentation I learned of the connection from Bonhoeffer to William Stringfellow to Walter Wink and the theme of Principalities and Powers that we have been discussing.
The following summary was created by Google’s AI.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer and William Stringfellow were both influential Christian theologians who shared a commitment to social justice and a critique of institutional religion that failed to live out the demands of the gospel.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer:
- A German pastor, theologian, and resister to the Nazi regime.
- His most famous works include “The Cost of Discipleship” and “Letters and Papers from Prison”.
- He emphasized the importance of costly grace, which involves a commitment to following Christ in concrete actions and discipleship, in contrast to “cheap grace,” which offers forgiveness without requiring repentance or transformation.
- His theology centered around Christology, asking “Who is Christ for us today?” He argued that in Christ, God is not only present in the church but also in the world, addressing human beings in their “coming of age” secular context.
- Bonhoeffer’s understanding of ethics was inseparable from his Christology, emphasizing that Christians are called to live in the world, taking responsibility for its political and social realities, and acting in solidarity with those who suffer.
- He advocated for a “religionless Christianity,” where the gospel is relevant to a secular world without relying on religious frameworks.
William Stringfellow:
- An Episcopal lay theologian and lawyer known for his social activism and theological writings.
- He focused on the pervasiveness of “principalities and powers,” or systemic evil, in the world that diminish and dehumanize life.
- Stringfellow believed that being a Christian meant engaging in a lifelong struggle against these forces of death and destruction, a struggle for life realized through spiritual means.
- He interpreted biblical concepts like the Fall as the bondage of all creation to death, and the Resurrection as liberation from that bondage.
- Stringfellow’s approach to social justice was rooted in his theology, seeing acts of injustice and oppression as blasphemy, a repudiation of Christ’s Lordship.
- He was recognized for his ability to identify and analyze these “principalities and powers” in contemporary society.
Shared themes and connections:
- Both Bonhoeffer and Stringfellow saw a deep connection between theological convictions and concrete action in the world.
- They both challenged comfortable or complacent forms of Christianity that failed to confront injustice and the forces of death.
- Stringfellow drew inspiration from Bonhoeffer, particularly his concept of costly discipleship, and his resistance to Nazi ideology.
- Their work provides resources for a theology of suffering, recognizing the presence of God even in the midst of hardship and pain.
- Stringfellow’s memoir is seen as a way to deepen Bonhoeffer’s ideas on discipleship.
In summary, Bonhoeffer and Stringfellow offer a compelling call for a robust and engaged Christian faith that confronts the realities of the world with the power of the gospel, emphasizing costly discipleship and liberation from the forces of death and injustice.