Bonhoeffer and Jeremiah 45

Jeremiah 45 says this:

1 This is what Jeremiah the prophet told Baruch son of Neriah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, after Baruch had written on a scroll the words Jeremiah was then dictating:² "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: ³ You said, 'Woe to me! The LORD has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest.' "

⁴ The LORD said, "Say this to him: 'This is what the LORD says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the land. ⁵ Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the LORD, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.' " (NIV)

Interestingly, Bonhoeffer read the last line as "I will bring evil upon all flesh; but your life will I give unto you for a prey (Beute in Luther's translation, thus NASB's "booty") in all places wherever you go." Bonhoeffer wrote from prison that he could not get away from this chapter. Bonhoeffer felt he was oppressed by Nazi Fascism and the idolatry of the Fuhrer. Yet, as a Christian, he felt that his lot was still with his people. Why? Bonhoeffer writes, "I shall have no right to participate in the reconstruction of Christian life in Germany after the war if I do not share the trials of this time with my people." (R. Neibuhr, Death of a Martyr, 1945).

Fact: Bonhoeffer died in prison before the end of the war, hung without a trial for his faith and resistance to the Nazis. He did not personally participate in the rebuilding of German Christianity.

However, he did have a role in the reconstruction of Christian life in Germany because of his on-going testimony, martyrdom story, and teaching influence within the prison walls itself.

He knew his life was forfeit if he stayed in Germany. He knew that God wanted him to stay. "Christians in Germany will face the terrible alternative of either willing defeat of their nation in order that Christian civilization may survive, or willing the victory of their nation and thereby destroying our civilization. I know which of these alternatives I must choose; but I cannot make the choice in security."

Indeed. I cannot make the choice in security. Seems like I make every choice as a matter of security. Am I really willing to live in a way that considers my life as "stolen goods" and only mine because it was spared? Actually, that is what Christ has done for me, right? My life was forfeit until Christ bought it. It is my life only because the one who ransomed it offers it--and that offer requires me to recognize who owns my heart, does it not? Those who are enslaved live for the master, without thought of security. Am I capable of this kind of abandonment? Can I leave security behind?

Bonhoeffer was capable of such thoughts and actions because of his God and his faith. "I am sure of God's hand and guidance. You must never doubt that I am thankful and glad to go the way which I am being led. My past life is abundantly full of God's mercy, and , above all sin, stands the forgiving love of the Crucified."

Ah. To be satisfied with God's love and calling. I am not capable of anything apart from Christ. If he is enough, then I will fulfill my service within his grace, under the shadow of the forgiving love of the Crucified.

NOTE: These quotes and ideas were derived from the reading G. Leibholz's "Memoir" in The Cost of Discipleship by D. Bonhoeffer.

Becoming a Faithful Man

I like the quote that GG (Gene Getz) provides on pg. 18 of The Measure of a Man. He is referring to two business managers who overheard one his discipleship studies. He notes their comments about the list of characteristics of a mature Christian.

"You know, . . . this is the first time we've heard this list of qualifications from the Bible. But we've learned from experience in hiring people for middle-management positions that these are the kind of men we're looking for. We want employees who have a good reputation. We don't want a man who is cheating on his wife or sleeping around, because chances are, he'll cheat the company. We certainly don't want a man who has all kinds of domestic problems. If he can't handle his own family, how in the world is he going to handle people in our steel mill?"

How indeed!

So, think about your own qualifications as a man of God (or child of God for you women out there). We must admit that we are all flawed, and yet God calls us to himself and asks us to serve. Why? Because we are worthy? Nope. Yet, God has a plan, and we are part of it, weaknesses and all.

And so, we are part of a bigger plan--a great adventure with God. And he calls us to be like him--more than we can be on our own. But we cannot be more without giving ourselves to God and allowing him to make more out of us.

Lemons need sugar to become lemonade.
Concrete needs sand and gravel in order to be a solid foundation.
Fuel needs oxygen and a spark before it becomes flame.

What other analogies would you add? And what do you need in order to become the man (or woman, for you women out there) that God wants you to be?

In the end, we need to realize that our current life is a reflection on our savior and our faith. We are called to be more like God. Are we really accomplishing that goal--is it even a goal for us?

I can't get Philippians 3:12: Not that I have already attained this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold for me.

What has he taken hold of? My first impression is my salvation and new nature. He has obtained this for me. Now, as Paul, I must strive to reach the fullness that Christ had already purchased for me in his blood. The victory is won--let the transformation begin!

Have I got a deal for you

Hey guys, got a box of books for Father's Day. The Measure of a Man by Gene Goetz is called a classic by John MacArthur, and many have been inspired to a deeper walk through it. After looking it over, it seems like an easy read that will challenge anyone who picks it up to a deeper walk with Christ.

"Books?!!!!" you might wonder out loud. Yep. These are great little paperback books that a perfect devotional and discipleship books. I am looking forward to exploring the book myself and want to invite anyone to join me. I think you will find the book to be very inspirational.

We are giving them out Sunday morning to all adult men who will be worshiping with us. Bring your father, or son(s), or brothers, or whoever so that they can get one of these inspirational books. And then join us in reading them together.

Biblical Illiteracy and Worship

I've heard it for years now: The old hymns have so much more theology and scripture in them. The new songs have no depth.

And the complaints go on.

So, today I read in the Baptist Standard: "The widely observed decline in biblical literacy among American Christians has paralleled a growing interest in developing new and enriched ways of worshipping. 'How can these two event--biblical illiteracy and a great passion for worship--be happening at the same time?' asked [Christopher] Teichler who teaches at an evangelical university in the Chicago area and blogs on music issues."

Great question. I have never thought of it in these terms--a relationship between worship and biblical illiteracy. In my Bible learning days, most of what I really learned about scripture was done on Sunday nights and in Sunday school. The worship event itself was more about music and experience. I have to admit that I remember very few things from the mouth of Dr. Criswell (could this be God's protection?). However, I remember many things from Sunday School teachers, discipleship leaders, and peer group discussions. Truly, all of the foundations set in my youth finally found realization in college classes and bible study. So for me, I find it difficult to be critical of modern worship in terms of biblical illiteracy.

Then, the article drops the bombshell: "If biblical literacy is so low at this point in Western history, then the God of the Bible is not the god being worshipped but rather a shallow and incomplete version of him."

OUCH!!!

I don't think it has much to do with worship style as much as it has to do with the overall culture that permeates our society. If we are not worshipping God, but a god who is shallow and incomplete, then it permeates all of our church culture and program and relationships, not just worship. Don't blame the upbeat, simple music of the day. Blame the upbeat, simple discipleship that our marketers tell us we need in order to grow churches. And blame ourselves for buying into a simple, easy Gospel. Now, I don't think we need to weigh people down with burdens we ourselves don't intend to carry. However, don't we all need to bear the cross? I do not want to be ashamed of the Gospel, but we all need to address what is at the heart of our Gospel. If we argue that we only need to carry part of the cross, or none of it, in order to follow Christ, then don't blame the music. We obviously need to read the Bible more and be obedient to it, regardless of the songs we sing.

Bottom line: if our music is shallow, it is a reflection of deeper problem--our discipleship is shallow.