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Eric Metaxas has a winner in his BONHOEFFER: PASTOR, PROPHET, MARTYR, SPY, published by Nelson Brothers in 2010. At almost 550 pages long, it gives the reader insight aplenty into the evolution of the theologian's thinking process concerning his involvement in the Resistance to Nazism in his beloved Deutschland. While he respected the stands taken by equally committed Christians who became combatants in Hitler's war machine, he also believed firmly in his being in the very center of God's will for his life by not only avoiding a combatant role but also by seeking to bring down the madman Hitler through various plots and conspiracies. As we know from the beginning of the book, his conspiracies to assassinate Hitler were unsuccessful (though the last of which, called Valkyrie, came remarkably close), and he was hung by Hitler mere weeks before the Allied forces liberated the last prison in which Bonhoeffer stayed. Metaxes nevertheless keeps up the tension through skillful weaving of information gleaned from extensive personal correspondence between Bonhoeffer and his many friends, his relatives, his co-conspirators and, toward the end, his wife-to-be, Maria, who visited her beloved fiance Dietrich in prison while living with his parents. Of interest to American readers is Metaxes' inclusion of Bonhoeffer's brief stay in America, before God called him back to Germany. Bonhoeffer's exposure both to the African-American church in New York City (Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem) and to the deep South in the U.S., impressed him indelibly as he witnessed a liveliness of worship and a deep commitment to the Word of God that were missing not only in Germany's state religion but also in so-called "liberal" Christian circles in America. Upon returning to Germany, he took with him numerous LP albums of Negro spirituals, which he played for his many ordinands in the illegal seminaries where he taught. Negroes in America encouraged him also to "tell their story" to the believers in Germany. Eerily enough, race relations in America bore a resemblance to German-Jewish relations, as evidenced by the prevalence of Hitler's ideology concerning the Aryan "master race". One difficulty in Metaxas' book is keeping all the players straight; there were just so many of them to keep track of! Nevertheless, he includes an index of names and topics, so there's no excuse for staying confused. While the author does not dwell on the atrocities of the Nazis (and the Gestapo and the SS), neither does he gloss over them. If you aren't familiar with the brutal excesses of Hitler's regime in places other than the all-too-familiar concentration camps, you will be sickened to learn of even more, and you'll perhaps wonder why more German Christians did not take the stand Bonhoeffer took, as a prophet, years before Hitler rose to power. Sadly, even during Hitler's brutal regime, many German Christians remained on the fence. Overall, the book is well worth reading. You will certainly be impressed by Bonhoeffer's courage and the thoroughness of his thinking which, incidentally, was not always as crystal clear as he would have liked. As with many Christians, past and present, He too suffered from occasional doubts and depressions, but he emerged from them confident in the God he served and whom he obeyed to the death.Read full review
This book's takes you through Bonhoeffer's struggles as he realizes the state church of Germany has become so secularized that Hitler had almost no resistance in rising to power. The historical content is presented masterfully in an easy to read format while showing the importance of being aware of what a government can do when it's population cares only about "feeling good" and "assumes" it's doing what's good for the masses. It is an excellent example of what should be learned from history and why it's so important for citizens to be aware of what it's government is doing and why they should be held accountable. Thank you, Eric Metaxas, for such a well researched source of history.
Author Metaxas looks at two paths of Bonhoeffer's life―theologian and spy―and shares a story of outstanding moral courage in the face of Hitler's horrific evil. The book is very moving. Metaxas used previously unavailable documents―including personal letters, detailed journal entries, and firsthand personal accounts―to show the reader aspects of Bonhoeffer's life and theology never before seen.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Although Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born in 1904, I somehow view him in a time warp...as if he's forever 39 years old or younger; I connect with him as a contemporary or as a parent to a child. Eric Metaxas was on CSpan2's Booktv segment, reviewing this book and I immediately ordered it.My life continues to be changed by it/him. If you have the slightest interest in history, especially WWII era, or religion/philosophy,anything German, or simply enjoy a good biography, this is a page-turner that will positively affect your thinking as well as actions---imho.
Excellent on several levels. Insight to Hitler's rise to power from inside Germany and bringing to light the many German's who opposed him. An excellent narrative of the blue print of a dictator gaining and keeping power. Detailed portrayal of Bonhoeffer's and many others' attempts to stall Nazi sole control of the German State Protestant church. Although a nonfictional biography, as he served as a conduit to get information to during the war to prewar ecumenical contacts, and then his connection with Hitler assassination attempts, made the second part of the book read like a novel. As an added plus, anyone desiring to build upon their faith the book is a must.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
