Words

Below is my reflection paper from this semester’s Theological Summit which dealt with Bonhoeffer and the kingdom of God. Any comments are welcome!

WINEBRENNER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

A REFLECTION PAPER SUBMITTED TO

THE FACULTY READER PANEL

IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR THE COURSE

IS-550 THEOLOGICAL SUMMIT

BY

KEVIN VILE

22 MAY 2007

To reflect is to think analytically, critically, and clearly on that which has occurred. It is a challenge to examine both the ideas presented and those that are affected by the ideas. This Theological Summit was especially challenging in both regards. The ideas were deep and the challenge to the individual and corporate Christian was immense. To understand how the Christian (both individually and corporately as the church) relates to the world, and to grasp the ethical implications of such a relation, is a life long undertaking. This paper is an attempt to begin a reflection that will undoubtedly continue.

At this theological summit we looked at how the kingdom of God relates to this world through Christine Schliesser’s discussions on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the documentary of his life. We analyzed Bonhoeffer’s concept of the One Christ-Reality, the conflict between the kingdom of God and the Nazis, and what it means to know and do the will of God. The concept of One Christ-Reality, and Bonhoeffer’s understanding of ethics were key components that eventually led him to make extreme decisions in light of the atrocities being done to the Jews by the Nazis. These are also key components that can aid the contemporary church in its attempt to live out the kingdom of God in this world.

The era from roughly 1930 to 1945 was an especially trying time for the church in Germany and one can easily become too critical of it. For the church to know the degree to which God desires it to be involved in this world’s affairs is not always easily accomplished. Still we must attempt to deal with the German church’s response to Hitler. The summit presentation showed how it struggled with understanding how the kingdom of God relates to the world. Should the church speak out against the atrocities being done, or should it concern itself only with its own internal matters? The church believed at the time that religion had authority only in one’s private life; it did not have anything to say to the public life of an individual which was dominated by the secular (Schliesser, Summit Lectures 2007). This division between secular and sacred was formed from a misunderstanding of the true nature of the kingdom of God. A misconception about Luther’s “Two-Realms” concept had so permeated the church that it could hardly mobilize itself against the Nazis. The majority of the church capitulated to Hitler, but there were some who resisted his control. The “Pastor’s Emergency League” and the declaration of the “Confessing Church” at Barmen are a couple examples of the attempts to stand against Hitler. Unfortunately these examples did little to publicly speak out against the murder of Jews. For Bonhoeffer the church was not involved enough. It was his concept of reality and its ethical implications that led him to decide to get involved.

Bonhoeffer’s correction of the Pseudo-Lutheranism of the German churches reveals a better way of looking at the kingdom of God. Bonhoeffer’s introduction of the One Christ-Reality (Christuswirklichkeit) brought these two realms (secular and sacred) together. He corrected the common misunderstanding of Luther’s “Two-Realms” concept by showing instead that these realms relate to the two ways in which God governs (Schliesser, Summit Lectures 2007). The private realm, therefore, is merged with the public, so that there is simply One Christ-Reality.

This concept of the One Christ-Reality frees the Christian, living in the kingdom of God, to interact on a public level with the world. One’s religion is not simply a private matter that does not interfere with public affairs, instead the kingdom of God, as revealed to the world through the community of God (the church), is to have direct affect on public affairs. Bonhoeffer demonstrated this clearly in his decision to become involved in the resistance movement against Hitler. His view of the One Christ-Reality made the Christian responsible, meaning the Christian’s life is lived in answer to the life of Jesus Christ (Schliesser, Summit Lectures 2007). Since Christ took the place of the other, Christians are called to do likewise. To live out the kingdom of God, then, is to stand up for the other. In Bonhoeffer’s situation, this meant standing up for the Jews. This involvement in the public arena led to ethical dilemmas for Bonhoeffer.

Bonhoeffer was faced with the difficult challenge of discerning the will of God in the level of his involvement. It was clear to him that in order to stop the atrocities being done against the Jews and other segments of society, he would have to lie, condone others to lie, and ultimately seek to kill Hitler which goes against the direct commands of God in Scripture. In the face of this impossible decision, he decided to become involved and accept the guilt that comes with his responsibility. Right or wrong, his view of responsibility forced him to act. Tempering this seemingly radical decision, he stated that it was made in an extreme situation, one that most people will never face (Schliesser, Summit Lectures 2007).

How, then, can the Christian live responsibly in a realm that is not separately defined as secular or sacred? What does the kingdom of God look like in the one Christ-Reality? The kingdom of God does not exist for itself, just as Christ did not come to earth for himself. For as Christ gave himself for that which was at enmity with him, those who are a part of the kingdom of God give themselves to that which is at enmity with the kingdom. Bonhoeffer stood up for those who could not stand up for themselves, even though they were not part of the church, and with that decision accepted the guilt of his actions. What does that look like today?

The advent of increased global communication places numerous matters of public affairs in front of Christians almost instantaneously. We know of similar atrocities happening in the world today. What should our response be to issues such as abortion, or the massacres in Darfur or in other places? How does the church display the kingdom of God in its response? These are difficult questions to answer and Bonhoeffer’s situation informs us that the direction is not always clear. Yet his situation also provides hope for the church today. Despite the uncertainty that may abound in our decision making process, God is at work, and God can use our actions as we seek to bring his kingdom glory.

Bonhoeffer points out that we must make a decision and act upon it. By the transformation of our minds, utilizing the heart, intellect, observation, and experience, combined with prayer and reading the word, guided by the principle of our responsibility for the other, we can discern the will of God (Schliesser, Summit Lectures 2007). The church, as well as myself individually, must seek ways to live out our responsibility for the other. Whether for the unborn child, the murdered victims in Darfur, or our neighbor across the street who has felt the pain of racism, we must act on behalf of the other. This is the only responsible action that those seeking to live out the kingdom of God in the world today can perform.

Still how that act is to be performed is of concern. Should the church take part in unlawful activities to prevent the murders of unborn children? Should an individual go on a hunger strike and face death to make others aware of the situation in Darfur? This is the difficult part. This is the part that involves a lifetime of reflection. This is the part where we must use all our available faculties to guide us. The Scriptures are paramount, but church history, current church leaders, prayer, and our own intellect also play a role. We can not act rashly, nor with little concern for the kingdom of this world, but we must not let conformity to the norms of this world dictate our actions. We must allow ourselves to be guided by God’s will no matter what the cost.

This last Theological Summit on the kingdom of God forces us to deal with the problems that arise when attempting to live out the kingdom in this current world. Bonhoeffer’s bringing together the sacred and secular under one realm, governed differently, along with his clues to knowing and doing the will of God can aid the church as it seeks to do just that. Each situation the church faces has its own challenges and requires continual reflection and rethinking to choose the direction that God intends. The way may not be clear, but God has assured us that he will direct our paths.