March 13, 2024 - Good Morning! It's Wednesday, March 13.
What did you get for Christmas this year? Do you even remember? One thing I usually ask Santa for is books, and last December a friend gave me a book, a book of theology. Doesn't sound very festive? Maybe not, but it's the Christmas gift that's made the greatest impact on my life.
The book is by the 20th century theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German pastor who was born in 1906. His ministry career progressed like that of most pastors, until his world changed, until Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany in the 1930's. As Hitler initiated a regime of hate and repression, many people, many good people, many Christians, did nothing. But Dietrich Bonhoeffer stood up for his faith and had the courage to speak truth to power. Here are a few quotes from my Christmas book -
*Silence in the face of evil, is evil itself.
*Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.
*Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life.
*Comfort the troubled, trouble the comfortable.
*May God, in His mercy, lead us through these times; but above all, May He lead us to Himself.
Bonhoeffer, because of his statements, was threatened with arrest by the Nazis. He had the opportunity to escape to America, but instead, he stood his post. And in April,1945, just a few days before the Nazi regime fell, he became a martyr for his faith. Today, 80 years later, the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer continue to ring out with truth and power.
Meet you back here tomorrow,
Bro. David
dmathis@fbccenter.org
