Unit 1012 Cover Photo

Unit 1012 Cover Photo

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

BOOK REVIEW ~ BONHOEFFER: PASTOR, MARTYR, PROPHET, SPY (WRITTEN BY ERIC METAXAS)


            Unit 1012 recommends victims’ families and victims’ rights activists to read this book by Eric Metaxas called, ‘Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. This book speaks about Christianity and also about the German Resistance against Nazism. 
 
         We pray that there will be more Dietrich Bonhoeffers and less Helen Prejeans in this world, meaning that we want people who care for goodness than approve of evil.

            Please see this article from the writer, Eric Metaxas: 


Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
Eric Metaxas
Posted: Apr. 09, 2013

Just over 68 years agoApril 9, 1945—a German pastor paid the ultimate price for his fearless stand against the Nazis, and specifically Adolf Hitler.

This founding member of the Confessing Church and author of The Cost of Discipleship was led on that day to the hangman’s noose at a concentration camp, just two weeks before American soldiers liberated it.

His name was Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and he’s the subject of the groundbreaking, bestselling biography by Eric Metaxas, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy. (It’s also a recent Christian Book of the Year award winner and is on sale at TheBlaze Books for just $7.99).

Metaxas—one of Glenn Beck’s favorite authors who also penned the bestselling Amazing Grace—here paints a vivid picture of one of the greatest heroes of the twentieth century in this deeply moving, exhaustively researched narrative. Bonhoeffer is a story of moral courage in the face of the monstrous evil of the Third Reich.

After discovering the fire of true faith in a Harlem church, Bonhoeffer returned to Germany and became one of the first to speak out against Hitler. As a double-agent, he joined the plot to assassinate the Fuhrer. And when he could have stayed safely in the U.S., he chose to return home to help the cause, was arrested, and ultimately lost his life at age 39.

Here’s what Bonhoeffer said about his decision to face the danger:


I have come to the conclusion that I made a mistake in coming to America. I must live through this difficult period in our national history with the people of Germany. I will have no right to participate in the reconstruction of Christian life in Germany after the war if I do not share the trials of this time with my people… Christians in Germany will have to face the terrible alternative of either willing the defeat of their nation in order that Christian civilization may survive or willing the victory of their nation and thereby destroying civilization. I know which of these alternatives I must choose but I cannot make that choice from security.


A video trailer for Bonhoeffer:

BONHOEFFER Trade Paper - By Eric Metaxas
Uploaded on Aug 15, 2011
From the New York Times bestselling author of Amazing Grace, a groundbreaking biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, one of the greatest heroes of the twentieth century, the man who stood up to Hitler.

A definitive, deeply moving narrative, Bonhoeffer is a story of moral courage in the face of the monstrous evil that was Nazism.

After discovering the fire of true faith in a Harlem church, Bonhoeffer returned to Germany and became one of the first to speak out against Hitler. As a double-agent, he joined the plot to assassinate the Führer, and was hanged in Flossenberg concentration camp at age 39. Since his death, Bonhoeffer has grown to be one of the most fascinating, complex figures of the 20th century.

Bonhoeffer presents a profoundly orthodox Christian theologian whose faith led him to boldly confront the greatest evil of the 20th century, and uncovers never-before-revealed facts, including the story of his passionate romance.

*2011 ECPA Book of the Year

*2011 Canterbury Medal by the Becket Fund recognizing courage in the defense of religious liberty

*2011 Christopher Award winner highlighting the power of faith, courage, and action


Since his death, Bonhoeffer has grown to become one of the most fascinating, complex figures of the 20th century. Bonhoeffer presents a profoundly orthodox Christian theologian whose faith led him to boldly confront the greatest evil of the 20th century and uncovers never-before-revealed facts, including the story of his passionate romance.

Some of Bonhoeffer’s best-known quotations:


“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.”

“When all is said and done, the life of faith is nothing if not an unending struggle of the spirit with every available weapon against the flesh.”

“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

“We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.”

“Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility.”


Here’s a revealing interview with Metaxas on the details of Bonhoeffer:

Author Eric Metaxas on Bonhoeffer, The Prophet and Spy - CBN.com
Uploaded on Jul 19, 2010
Scott Ross talks to Eric Metaxas on his new biography of Dietrick Bonhoeffer, the pastor who plotted against Hitler... The Christian Broadcasting Network CBN http://www.cbn.com



Related: The poster of Bonhoeffer that hangs in Glenn’s studio is available to purchase. The image features Bonhoeffer’s quote, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak, not to act is to act.” Get your copy today by clicking here.


No comments:

Post a Comment