How can Dietrich Bonhoeffer's inclusion of non-Christians be explained theologically?
score:8
A common emphasis in Bonhoeffer's works such as "The Cost of Discipleship," "Life Together," and "Ethics" is the Church as a both a witness to Christ as well as a blessing to all people. Since the Church is the body of Christ she is called to bring his love to all people. (Goodreads has some good quotes from "The Cost of Discipleship" at: The Cost of Discipleship Quotes.
So, in the context of welcoming non-Christian prisoners into worship, I think this would have been an act of blessing and loving them; i.e. sharing in their pain and discomfort. Christ came to bless all people and made a particular effort to reach out to those who were considered "outsiders" by others. The Church, as the body of Christ, is called to do the same, both as an act of witness to the reconciliation we have in Christ as well as simply to be a source of mercy and blessing, showing the love of Christ through us.
So, in the three options you propose (i.e. worship as evangelism, a belief in universal salvation, a belief in interfaith worship under extreme circumstances), I think it is the first option, although not explicitly so. What I mean is that the Church, and particularly Lutherans (such as Bonhoeffer), trust in the Word of God to bring people to faith. So, Lutherans do not press people to "make a decision" or decide anything. Rather, the emphasis is on God doing the work to bring people to faith.
Bonhoeffer has, however, been criticized by some people for things such as this (because people perceive a universalist tendency in Bonhoeffer), as well as his participation in the plot to kill Hitler. (See, for example: WHO WAS DIETRICH BONHOEFFER AND WHAT DID HE BELIEVE OR NOT BELIEVE?)
From actually reading Bonhoeffer, I think the criticisms of him are due to misunderstandings of what he was actually saying, particularly by those who are not acquainted with Lutheran theology.
A good article that talks more about these issues is at: Bonhoeffer's Costly Theology.
A quote from the article which applies to this question is:
In Bonhoeffer's theology, there is an intimate relationship between Jesus Christ and the church. In his letters from prison Bonhoeffer spoke of Jesus as "the man for others." And in parallel fashion he wrote that the church is truly the church only when it exists for others. Just as Jesus lived his life completely for others (even unto death on the cross), so the church is to serve God by serving the world of need.
More post
- 📝 Was Jesus an alcoholic?
- 📝 Pertaining to Genesis 12:3 "I will curse those who curse you" is God referring only to unbelievers in Jesus?
- 📝 How should one reconcile a wrong against another person?
- 📝 When is the first documented case of Christians praying to the dead saints?
- 📝 How do different denominations defend their interpretations of Daniel 2's prophecy?
- 📝 Was Jesus' resurrected body the same as his glorified body that he now has in heaven?
- 📝 Are there one or two covenants in Exodus? Clarifying the role of the first set of laws compared to the second set
- 📝 Are there known uses of the title "Theotokos" in the second century?
- 📝 Would Jehovah’s Witnesses anointed with the Holy Spirit be unable to suffer demonic possession, whilst un-anointed Jehovah's Witnesses could?
- 📝 How should we judge the trustworthiness of a given Bible translation?
- 📝 Is there a Christology that states that Jesus inherited divinity?
- 📝 Is there a Catholic list of Old Testament sacraments?
- 📝 In Romans 8:1, what does "in Christ" mean?
- 📝 Why is Satan referred to as Beelzebub?
- 📝 Are people by nature good or are they inherently evil?
- 📝 Did Moses have more than one wife in his lifetime?
- 📝 Why use Yeshua instead of Jesus?
- 📝 What do I do when watching a video of someone praying?
- 📝 Do any major orthodox Trinitarian theologians or denominations hold that St. Paul was closer to a Biblical Unitarian than a Trinitarian?
- 📝 How do Reformed Calvinists interpret 1 Corinthians 10:13?
- 📝 Are there instructions in OT , specifying guidelines on maintenance of tombs?
- 📝 Are there or have there been Christian healing ministries that have documented healing cases with supporting medical records?
- 📝 How is the Son begotten?
- 📝 Jesus marks on Paul's body
- 📝 How do Christians that advocate libertarian free will interpret Romans 9:14-24?
- 📝 What significance did the "heart" possess in the ancient cultures contemporary with the biblical era?
- 📝 What was C.S. Lewis referring to in The Weight of Glory?
- 📝 As Christians can we support immigration control?
- 📝 The difference(s) between “The Way of the Cross” by St. Francis and by St. Alphonsus?
- 📝 Is a Saint Joseph the patron of men named Osip?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 How can Dietrich Bonhoeffer's inclusion of non-Christians be explained theologically?
- 📝 How is Matthew 18: 8-9 explained in the context of non works-based salvation?
- 📝 How does 1 John 2:19 fit with the teaching that Christians can lose their salvation
- 📝 How can Christians reconcile the request to prohibit same-sex marriage and the lawfulness of h*m*sexuality itself?
- 📝 In light of Mark 10, how can Christians in good conscience purchase luxury items?
- 📝 How can Saint Thomas Christians who are Catholic have confidence that St. Thomas sailed to Muziris?
- 📝 Did Christians actually debate how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
- 📝 How do Christians who believe that salvation can be lost interpret John 6:37-44 and John 10:11-30?
- 📝 How can Christians know if they are truly saved and that Jesus won't tell them "..Depart from me, I never knew you," on judgement day?
- 📝 How can Christians be assured they are truly saved and that Jesus won't say "Depart from me I never knew you." on judgement day?
- 📝 How can some Christians deny devils and Hell exist?
- 📝 If the Ten Commandments say “thou shalt not kill” how can a Christian fight in a war?
- 📝 How can the Son not know what the Father knows?
- 📝 How do Christians understand the omniscience of God in relation to the Uncertainty Principle?
- 📝 How can the sun be created after day and night?
- 📝 How do traditional Christians defend the teaching that Paul is an authentic apostle?
- 📝 How can we trust the Bible after it has been translated to another language?
- 📝 How can one overcome lustful desires?
- 📝 How could Jacob wrestle with God if no one can see God and live?
- 📝 How do Christians in support of gay marriage interpret anti-gay Bible verses?
- 📝 How can I tell the difference between the Moral law and other laws in the old testament?
- 📝 How would Reformed Christians deal with h*m*sexual marriage of individuals prior to their conversion to Christianity?
- 📝 How can a loving God make a deal with the devil?
- 📝 How can a Wholly Good God Deliberately Create Evil?
- 📝 According to the Bible, how should Christians meditate?
- 📝 How can things considered bad when done by humans become good when God does them?
- 📝 For how long did the early Christians share all their possessions?
- 📝 Are there any statistics that show how many scientists are Christians or otherwise believe in a personal God?
- 📝 How is it that someone who lived thousands of years ago can "represent" me?
- 📝 How is it that an unchanging and omniscient God can have "regret" as He did in Gen 6:7?
