BradTaylor

Bonhoeffer: Chapter 6 (Or, “Holy Flatulence”)

In the middle of reading this chapter, I laughed so hard I cried. And then I tried to read the part that was making me laugh to someone else, and I laughed even harder and tried even more. Metaxas briefly explores some rather hilarious writing that Martin Luther did later in his life, writing that was rather harsh when speaking of the Pope. I’ll let this serve as a spoiler, and you can read it for yourself on pp. 92-93.

This chapter details how Bonhoeffer finished his second postdoctoral dissertation at age 23 and became a lecturer at the University of Berlin. The story is also told how Bonhoeffer was chosen to eulogize Adolf von Harnack, even though their theological paths had so drastically diverged. Metaxas says “[Bonhoeffer] disagreed with Harnack’s liberal theological conclusions but agreed profoundly with the underlying assumptions that guided Harnack, and he rightly saw that these were more important than the conclusions to which they led” (p. 95). Earlier in the chapter, a friend of Bonhoeffer’s notes, “You could not be a friend of Dietrich’s if you did not argue with him.”

And it occurred to me that I don’t argue, or let anyone argue with me. Well, except about sports. But not about anything that matters. Bonhoeffer had this profound respect for his former teacher, even though they landed in vastly different theological places, and would only befriend people who would argue with him.

I think I need to argue more. Will you argue with me?