Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor whose theology came of age, and flourished, during the early 1930’s. A time that began one of the darkest chapters in recent history. He preached that we live our lives at the foot of the Cross, and therefore in full view of the crucified Christ. It was because of this belief, and the manner in which he conducted his life, that he was considered the moral force behind a resistance unit hidden within the Abwehr or Military Intelligence. Led by Admiral Canaris and Bonhoeffer’s brother-in-law, Hans von Dohnanyi; they operated for over 10 years before being discovered and imprisoned in 1943.
He describes those years as follows… “the great masquerade of evil has played havoc with all our ethical concepts. For evil to appear disguised as light, charity, historical necessity, or social justice is quite bewildering to anyone brought up on our traditional ethical concepts, while for the Christian who bases their life on the Bible it merely confirms the fundamental wickedness of evil.”
This sounds far too familiar… and very insightful. For these words could well describe our current times. And that is a frightening thought.
The media often portrays present circumstances to those which began taking place in 1936 Germany, when Hitler first came to power. And while there are many similarities between those times and events, and our own, there are also many differences. We are very aware of the adage about history repeating itself. And have learned from the past.
After all, we live in a democratic society based upon the principles as put forth in the Constitution. That, ultimately is the supreme law of the United States with its Articles, Amendments and Bill of Rights. And no one person, or his sycophants, can usurp or over-ride the words and sentiments contained therein. Not even limited immunity as granted by the Supreme Court, can erase what is written and enshrined within this document.
Our democracy is not easily over-turned into an authoritarian regime. There is too great an awareness of such an end result, and too many people speaking out and standing up in outrage and resistance. They are, in effect, the spoke in the wheel. And it is that ‘spoke’ which will ultimately derail the destructive and harmful policies currently being instituted.
Still and all, this doesn’t mean we won’t have some difficult and alarming times ahead. We must be prepared and protect ourselves as we can.
In a New Year’s message dated 1943, shortly before being taken into custody and imprisoned, Bonhoeffer wrote these words of hope and encouragement to his fellow conspirators…
“I believe that God can and will bring good out of evil, even out of the greatest evil… I believe that God will give us all the strength we need to help us to resist in all time of distress. But he never gives it in advance, lest we should rely on ourselves and not on him alone. A faith such as this should allay all our fears for the future. I believe that even our mistakes and shortcomings are turned to good account… I believe that God is no timeless fate, but that he waits for and answers sincere prayers and responsible actions.”
And this is what we need focus on, as life weaves its erratic way under the present administration. The belief that good can come from evil. And that having faith in this, will grant us the strength and wherewithal to see these difficult days pass by.
Right now, we are going through a trial by fire. And the resulting heat, to say the least, is both uncomfortable and astonishing in its intensity.
However, stop and take note. What happens to a forest after one of those devastating wildfires that happen so often?
The ground actually becomes more fertile for new growth. For the heat from the fire releases nutrients previously locked away by vegetation. Some species of trees and plants need the heat in order to release the seeds they carry for further propagation. And sunlight is suddenly able to reach places that were previously buried beneath layers of heavy overgrowth. So, the forest slowly begins to refresh and renew itself. The cycle of growth and rebirth begins once again; that the life and well-being of the woodland may continue on as Nature intended. And sometimes… even better than before!
Are we any different? We too will continue on as life intends, and make of it what we can. Hopefully, for the better.
From the prophet Isaiah comes these words of the Lord…
“Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it and give heed to it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (43:19)
The firestorms of the present time will burn themselves out and a new thing will spring forth!
For as Bonhoeffer pointed out… “evil always carries the seeds of its own destruction.”
In the meanwhile, we will continue to be a spoke in the wheel. And once the storm passes, begin to rebuild by planting new seeds of light, charity, historical necessity and social justice. Whereby a society burned by destructive policies; hurtful and harmful directives, can begin again. Like the forest, in time to come, we too will experience a new cycle of growth and rebirth. A chance to better restore that which is good and productive across all segments of our communities.
Because we believed… and had such a faith as Bonhoeffer describes. If he could see a better day from within his prison cell, how much more can we…
“O Holy Spirit,
Give me the faith that will protect me
from despair, from passion, from vice;
Give me the hope that will deliver me
from fear and faint-heartedness…
For you love goodness, and reward it on this earth.”
D. Bonhoeffer
December 1943
Tegel Prison, Berlin
4 thoughts on “Faith Such as This”
Sorry just getting to “The Museful Mind” but it is beautifully written Faith Such as This. The thoughts written
about our times are so true. It is nice bringing in Bonhoeffer’s thoughts, “evil always carries the seeds of its own destruction.” The firestorms of the present time will burn themselves out and a new thing will spring forth!” Let
us pray and have faith that will be the case.
Bonhoeffer’s words are so relevant for us today… and offer much needed hope and comfort. God bless Anna Jean!!
As things seem, increasingly, to be falling apart around us, these words of optimism are so needed! Thank you for your clear-sightedness & your wonderful facility with language to bring us these words of hope & endurance!
Hang in Barb… over all in the fullness of time things will get better. Nature abhors a vacuum and at some point the pendulum will have to swing back the other way!