In a column regarding Dietrich Bonhoeffer, shouldn't Cal Thomas have
been a bit more reserved in his praise of the theologian executed by the
Nazis?
Bonhoeffer should be honored for his stand against tyranny and for
modeling many of the values Christians strive to incorporate into their
own lives such as standing up for what they believe to be right even
when it is not the popular thing to do.
But in terms of belief and doctrine, Bonhoeffer is far from being the
ideal Christian many of our religious leaders uplift him to be.
According to Biblical Discernment Ministries, Bonehoffer undermined the
sinlessness of Jesus, downplayed individual salvation (instead equating
that eternal state with church membership), and suggested that Christ's
Resurrection was not so much an historical event but rather a
mythological one (a fancy way of saying that the event is probably just a
story from which we can draw inspiration but not likely one that
actually transpired).
In the Christian life, one's profession of faith must be backed by more than mere words.
However, since grace is by faith and that not of ourselves, neither can
one rely on one's works if there is not a solid doctrinal foundation
there to back up the eternality of such deeds.
It is when we downplay the objective reality of the Savior that we open
ourselves up to a wide variety of spiritual delusions that not only
endanger ourselves but also threaten those around us.
By Frederick Meekins