For several weeks, been living in a gray fog denser than usual. Hence, fewer posts.
But a couple books on Bonhoeffer have penetrated the fog: Jeffrey Pugh, Religionless Christianity; Bonhoeffer, A Testament to Freedom. The latter is a collection of his writings, spanning his life. I take it to be a textbook for a college or seminary class.
Bonhoeffer excites me because of his vision. An excellent academician, theologian and pastor, he raised his voice against Hitler earlier than most.
He asks the question: how is Christianity discernible apart from the so called Christian culture of Germany? How do you follow Christ in such a world? Is Christianity even possible any more?
American Christianity urgently needs to ask these questions, because the Republican party most but all politics to a greater or lesser degree, is handmaid of the U.S. state.
I’m convinced the chains that bind us include property, privilege, and power.
Being poor would help the church see the world from below, the perspective of the underclass. Having no privileges or power also would help the church defrock itself of its collaboration with the principalities and powers.
A question I haven’t answered is: how do you hear God’s voice? The Internet has penetrated even the wilderness.
How do you cultivate silence and solitude?
How does blogging help you listen for the voice of God? Not to mention all the new technologies like the iPod and twitter.
I don’t know. But I think Dietrich knew how to discern God’s voice. I’m going to read these books with a hungry heart.
Oh, yeah, I’ve found daily devotions subject to the graying of life. But nevertheless, those daily psalms.
Somehow, God’s Spirit may break through.
Tags: Bonhoeffer, reading
John, I’m sorry to hear of the fog.
I’d like to answer your question about blogging. For me it has created a community of inspiration. I’m not simply alone with my thoughts but being moved by the Spirit’s moving of others, too. Without it, I would not know you, and that would be a sad thing.
It would be sad for me, too, Martha. I need to think about blogging as community….