To what extent are Bonhoeffer’s teachings relevant today?
Bonhoeffer was a German pastor and preacher who lived through WW2, actively resisting
Nazi forces and promoting the cost of discipleship, costly grace, and community. It is often
debated as to whether his ideas and teachings are still relevant today, especially in multi-
faith societies, and I find his relevance only present when it comes to costly grace, all other
aspects are arguably limited to the time in which he lived. This is due to his theology only
really being applicable to Christians and being unable to address more complicated and
controversial issues such as terrorism as they directly addressed the role of Hitler and the
Nazis during WW2 and much of his teachings are centred around this.
One may argue that Bonhoeffer’s theology is not relevant today as he focuses on prominent
issues of the time. For example, he focuses on duty to the state and civil disobedience. In
this part of his teachings, he argues that it is a Christian’s duty to obey the state, unless the
state leader goes against the teachings of God, and then one can disobey them, in extreme
cases committing tyrannicide. Through this, one may argue that his theology is not relevant
today as it is centred around the issues of the time, notably the Nazi occupation of Germany
and Hitler in power. One may argue that today, we have much more complex and
multifaceted issues such as conflicts in the Middle East or terrorism, in which Bonhoeffer’s
theology arguably cannot be applied. In addition to this, the context of the state was that it
was totalitarian during the time of Bonhoeffer. In today’s western, liberal democratic
societies, how can Bonhoeffer’s theology such as civil disobedience be applied, relevant or
even moral? The answer is that they cannot. His theology worked extremely well during his
time as he addressed Christians on the radio using his theology and encouraging them to act
against Hitler and the Nazis, however it is simply not applicable today as we do not live in a
totalitarian state.
On the other hand, Bonhoeffer also argues for the theme of God and Christianity to be
present in stately affairs. Although he did not believe that Christians should run the state, he
argued that they should act as moral advisors and guide leaders to make moral political,
social, and economic decisions that are in line with Christianity and the will of God. This
maintains relevance today, especially in England where the Church and state are
increasingly separated, however it may develop Christian tolerance and encourage the
Church to act as the conscience of society and to challenge unjust laws and the lack of
spiritual values. This may well be useful in modern times as members of Parliament and
country leaders seem to have less of a care about lower class individuals as universal credit
is cut and little is done about the increasing cost of living crisis; the government may benefit
from the advice of the Church. Through this, one may argue that Bonhoeffer’s theology is
relevant today through his teachings in the Church’s involvement with the state and how
this still takes precedence today.
The cost of grace is another element which is arguably still relevant today within
Bonhoeffer’s theology. The cost of grace argues that Christians cannot simply expect
forgiveness for their actions due to Jesus’ sacrifice, but rather they must live their lives
according to the will of God and follow his Word and truly repent when they have sinned,
rather than simply expecting forgiveness as Jesus loves us. This maintains relevance for
Christians today as this is still a current issue. He also stresses the importance in avoiding
Bonhoeffer was a German pastor and preacher who lived through WW2, actively resisting
Nazi forces and promoting the cost of discipleship, costly grace, and community. It is often
debated as to whether his ideas and teachings are still relevant today, especially in multi-
faith societies, and I find his relevance only present when it comes to costly grace, all other
aspects are arguably limited to the time in which he lived. This is due to his theology only
really being applicable to Christians and being unable to address more complicated and
controversial issues such as terrorism as they directly addressed the role of Hitler and the
Nazis during WW2 and much of his teachings are centred around this.
One may argue that Bonhoeffer’s theology is not relevant today as he focuses on prominent
issues of the time. For example, he focuses on duty to the state and civil disobedience. In
this part of his teachings, he argues that it is a Christian’s duty to obey the state, unless the
state leader goes against the teachings of God, and then one can disobey them, in extreme
cases committing tyrannicide. Through this, one may argue that his theology is not relevant
today as it is centred around the issues of the time, notably the Nazi occupation of Germany
and Hitler in power. One may argue that today, we have much more complex and
multifaceted issues such as conflicts in the Middle East or terrorism, in which Bonhoeffer’s
theology arguably cannot be applied. In addition to this, the context of the state was that it
was totalitarian during the time of Bonhoeffer. In today’s western, liberal democratic
societies, how can Bonhoeffer’s theology such as civil disobedience be applied, relevant or
even moral? The answer is that they cannot. His theology worked extremely well during his
time as he addressed Christians on the radio using his theology and encouraging them to act
against Hitler and the Nazis, however it is simply not applicable today as we do not live in a
totalitarian state.
On the other hand, Bonhoeffer also argues for the theme of God and Christianity to be
present in stately affairs. Although he did not believe that Christians should run the state, he
argued that they should act as moral advisors and guide leaders to make moral political,
social, and economic decisions that are in line with Christianity and the will of God. This
maintains relevance today, especially in England where the Church and state are
increasingly separated, however it may develop Christian tolerance and encourage the
Church to act as the conscience of society and to challenge unjust laws and the lack of
spiritual values. This may well be useful in modern times as members of Parliament and
country leaders seem to have less of a care about lower class individuals as universal credit
is cut and little is done about the increasing cost of living crisis; the government may benefit
from the advice of the Church. Through this, one may argue that Bonhoeffer’s theology is
relevant today through his teachings in the Church’s involvement with the state and how
this still takes precedence today.
The cost of grace is another element which is arguably still relevant today within
Bonhoeffer’s theology. The cost of grace argues that Christians cannot simply expect
forgiveness for their actions due to Jesus’ sacrifice, but rather they must live their lives
according to the will of God and follow his Word and truly repent when they have sinned,
rather than simply expecting forgiveness as Jesus loves us. This maintains relevance for
Christians today as this is still a current issue. He also stresses the importance in avoiding
