Video by Cory Malher of Stone Choir
The video critically examines the legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, unmasking his reputation as a “great Christian hero” of the twentieth century. The hosts argue that Bonhoeffer’s fame only emerged decades after his death, coinciding with Vatican II and the rise of postwar narratives about the alleged Holocaust. They contend that his image as a martyr and theologian has been elevated less because of his theological contributions and more because he fit the new “world religion” that venerates those who opposed Hitler and ancient Christian values. This, they suggest, explains why Bonhoeffer is celebrated by both liberals and conservatives alike, an unusual consensus in church history.
Central to the critique is Bonhoeffer’s theology itself. The speakers argue that although he used Christian terms like “resurrection,” “incarnation,” and “faith,” he redefined them in ways that undermined biblical truth. For example, he allegedly denied the virgin birth, questioned the historicity of the resurrection, and portrayed Jesus as a sinner rather than the sinless Son of God, among many other hericies. In doing so, they claim, Bonhoeffer hollowed out Christianity, leaving behind only a shell that sounded Christian but carried a fundamentally different meaning. They stress that this made him especially dangerous, since his subtlety allowed people to accept his words as orthodox while missing the denial of Biblical truths.
The podcast further highlights Bonhoeffer’s personal compromises and political actions. They note his involvement in German military intelligence and his role as a spy for Stalin, a traitor and conspirator in the plot to assassinate Hitler. This placed him in direct violation of biblical commands against murder and made him a hypocrite, especially as a pastor who should not have been engaged in such acts. They also point to contradictions in his personal life and writings, arguing that he sought self-justification and drifted into despair near the end of his life. His “religionless Christianity,” they say, was ultimately an embrace of humanism rather than faith in God.
In conclusion, Bonhoeffer has been wrongly canonized as a saint in modern Christianity. His teachings were corrosive, undermining the creeds, the authority of Scripture, and the fundamentals of the faith. His popularity today reveal the apostasy of much of the modern church, which celebrates figures who deny essential doctrines while opposing the will of his own countrymen. Their warning is clear: Christians must measure every teacher against Scripture itself, for Satan too can quote Scripture, and clever men like Bonhoeffer can lead many astray with words that sound holy but conceal a false gospel.
Outline: Critical Examination of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I. Introduction
- Podcast episode on Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
- Hosts frame him as a “sacred cow” and even a “golden calf” of 20th-century religion.
- Comparison to Martin Luther King Jr. (similar teachers, theology, and politics).
- Bonhoeffer seen as subtle and intelligent, making him harder to critique.
II. Rise of Bonhoeffer’s Reputation
- Bonhoeffer largely unknown as a theologian until the 1960s.
- Popularity rose alongside Vatican II and Holocaust narratives.
- Accepted by both liberals and conservatives, an unusual phenomenon in theology.
- Portrayed as the most important Lutheran theologian since Luther (challenged by hosts).
- Elevated as a martyr of the “new world religion.”
III. Theology and Writings
- Bonhoeffer redefined Christian terms (incarnation, resurrection, crucifixion).
- Accused of denying:
- Virgin birth.
- Sinlessness of Jesus.
- Bodily resurrection.
- Authority of creeds and dogma.
- Used “myth” to dismiss biblical miracles as unhistorical.
- Influenced by Karl Barth, Bultmann, and liberal theology.
- Emphasized “religionless Christianity,” stripping Christianity of doctrine and metaphysics.
- Taught that omnipotence and other attributes of God arise only through human selflessness.
- Denied eternal moral precepts, claiming Scripture had no binding ethical commands.
IV. Political Involvement
- Served in German military intelligence during WWII.
- Acted as a courier for resistance movements; later accused of treason.
- Involved in assassination plot against Hitler.
- Hosts stress this was a violation of the Fifth Commandment and inappropriate for clergy.
- His actions portrayed as hypocritical and self-justifying.
V. “Religionless Christianity” Concept
- Advocated reinterpreting terms like faith, justification, and sanctification in “worldly” terms.
- Shifted focus away from personal salvation to societal concerns.
- Echoed Nietzsche’s “God is dead” question, wondering what comes next.
- humanism cloaked in Christian language.
VI. Hypocrisy and Decline
- Abandoned regular Bible reading near the end of his life.
- Letters reveal despair and inconsistency with his earlier theology.
- Accused of betraying his own people and fiancée.
- Constructing a false religion while undermining the true faith.
VII. Broader Implications
- Bonhoeffer upheld today as a hero primarily for opposing Nazis.
- His martyrdom functions in the “new world religion” as proof that “Nazis bad” replaces the true Gospel.
- Many pastors admire Bonhoeffer, revealing deep apostasy in the church.
- Christians are to test all teachings against Scripture.
- Conclusion: Bonhoeffer was not a true Christian but a destroyer of faith.