Christian moral action

What is Christian moral action, and what is Bonhoeffer's stance?

• Christian moral action: Acting in accordance with Christian teachings, especially when it involves difficult or sacrificial choices.

• Bonhoeffer’s View: Moral action should be active, even if it risks suffering. He argues that silence in the face of evil is itself evil.

• Key Scholars:

  • Bonhoeffer: Advocated for acting according to God's will, even when uncertain.

  • Karl Barth: Bonhoeffer’s mentor, whose theology influenced his interpretation of the Bible.

What is the difference between cheap grace and costly grace according to Bonhoeffer?

• Cheap Grace: Grace without discipleship, sacrifice, or transformation. A belief without action.

  • Example: Catholic confession without change in behaviour.

• Costly Grace: Requires discipleship, personal sacrifice, and sometimes suffering for justice (e.g., civil disobedience).

  • Bonhoeffer’s Quote: "Grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ."

Why is Bonhoeffer's critique of cheap grace still relevant today?

• Relevance: In secular or nominal Christian contexts, grace is often seen as intellectual belief rather than a commitment to moral action.

• Evaluation: Bonhoeffer’s critique is valid in contemporary settings where faith is shallow and lacks transformative commitment.

• Counterpoint: Some argue grace should be inclusive and accessible without the need for rigid discipleship requirements.

  • Example: Karl Rahner’s view of grace as unmerited favour

How does costly grace relate to modern challenges?

• Point: Costly grace involves sacrifice for justice, as seen in figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malala Yousafzai, who risked their lives for righteousness.

• Evaluation: Sacrifice remains crucial today in fighting issues like racism, war, and climate change.

• Counterpoint: Some argue that extreme examples like MLK’s are rare, and most people do not face such severe trials.

  • Scholar: Richard Niebuhr warned against applying extreme ethical demands to the average person.

What is Bonhoeffer’s view on civil disobedience, and how does it relate to his moral actions?

• Point: Bonhoeffer believed Christians should disobey the state if the ruler acts against God’s will, even if it involves suffering or violence.

  • Example: His involvement in the plot to kill Hitler.

• Evaluation: This was relevant in Nazi Germany but raises ethical concerns today about violence in the name of God.

• Counterpoint: Sam Harris and Harvey Cox argue that this kind of theology could be misused by extremists, leading to dangerous actions.

  • Example: George Bush justified war in Iraq with Bonhoeffer’s theology.

Is Bonhoeffer’s justification of violence in moral action acceptable today?

• Point: Bonhoeffer justified violence (e.g., assassination of Hitler) when the state was seen as evil.

• Evaluation: In his context, this was a moral choice, but it is problematic to apply this today in modern democratic societies.

• Counterpoint: Paul Tillich argued that Christian ethics should always reject violence.

  • Example: Bonhoeffer’s call for violence conflicts with Jesus’ teachings of non-resistance in the Gospels (e.g., “turn the other cheek”).

How did Bonhoeffer view knowing and acting on God's will in Christian moral action?

• Point: Bonhoeffer believed that God’s will is often unclear, but Christians must act regardless, even if unsure of the right choice.

  • Quote: "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil."

• Evaluation: This reflects the Christian call to action but raises questions about certainty and ethical ambiguity.

• Counterpoint: Acting in violence (like Bonhoeffer) seems to contradict the Bible’s message of non-violence.

  • Example: Jesus’ teachings in Romans 13 (obey the rulers) conflict with Bonhoeffer’s calls for civil disobedience.

What is Bonhoeffer’s view on the Bible and how does it relate to knowing God’s will?

• Point: Bonhoeffer followed Karl Barth’s neo-orthodox view, which sees the Bible as a miraculous document that can guide moral action, but is not the literal word of God.

• Evaluation: Bonhoeffer’s method of meditating on the Bible with humility allows for a personal connection to God’s will, but remains fallible.

• Counterpoint: The risk is that people can misuse the Bible and claim actions (like violence) are God’s will without true discernment.

  • Example: Misinterpretation of Bonhoeffer’s theology, like the use of his ideas by extremists.

What is the final evaluation of Bonhoeffer’s theology on Christian moral action?

• Point: Bonhoeffer’s theology emphasises active resistance to evil, personal sacrifice, and following God’s will, even if it leads to suffering.

• Evaluation: His ideas remain relevant in fighting injustice but must be carefully applied today, especially regarding non-violence and the misuse of theology.

• Counterpoint: The radical nature of his views on civil disobedience and violence makes them difficult to apply in a modern, peaceful democracy.

  • Example: His theology is more relevant in extreme situations like Nazi Germany, but raises ethical dilemmas in today’s context.