Wonderful tribute to Pastor Bonhoeffer. Another fascinating figure, much less well known, is Dr. Ernst Lohmeyer. He was a great scholar who saved Jewish people, survived the Nazis, and was killed by the Soviet communists. My thanks to James Edwards for his superb biography. -A Lutheran Pastor.
During the Korean Conflict there was a South Korean pastor and his family captured by the Communist put in a pit with a bulldozer ready to cover them. All they had to do was renounce their faith, and they would be saved. They would not! They were buried.
The presiding Communist Officer was moved and disturbed most profoundly over time about what he had witnessed.
After the active conflict ceased he converted and was a moving force in the Christian Community in South Korea. Having such views in the North today puts you six feet underground.
CDR Sal, genuinely appreciate your bringing Pastor Bonhoeffer's story to my, and hopefully many others' attention. This is a different FBF, but struck a real chord with me. Someone who jumps on a grenade to protect his teammates is brave beyond measure. We all hope in the moment we could do what is right. Instinct and reflex are a product of training and shared sense of purpose, but below the level of considered, conscious thought, and occur in an instant. Pastor Bonhoeffer's faith motivated his choice to embark on a carefully and consciously considered journey that had a very predictable end. He did it anyway. By bringing him to our attention, you did him proud. Salutes to you both.
“A lot of the reason for the rapid loss of faith in Western Europe was the loss of stature of many churches that did not stand up”
still the case, imo. a lot of pagan/atheist vibe emanates from europe. there are exceptions, poland being one. you’re seeing that void being rapidly filled by the immigrant pops without a sturdy cultural structure to sustain.
Few indeed were the church leaders to stood up to Hitler, as few indeed stand up to the popular abominations of our age. You mentioned the decline of Christianity in Western Europe, but it’s had a pretty hard road in the USA, too…though there are signs that this may be changing!
Thank you for this uplifting reminder of Pastor Bonhoeffer’s moral courage. Also I will make an effort to learn about Dr Lohmeyer as comment by Sled Dog
Full concur. The man was no faux Christian tire-kicker. He was solid: lived his faith with complete confidence in God and a soul that understood that the sacrifice he would likely make would inspire many other unselfish and principled people. He wasn’t wrong.
And he is certainly a hero—one of 20th century’s greatest.
I often say to those who worry too much about being brave enough to do right: “Be a Boenhoffer.”
Bonhoeffer had this memorable line which gets the MAGA crowd all indignant: “Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by use of force. Evil always carries within itself the germ of its own subversion in that it leaves behind in human beings at least a sense of unease. Against stupidity we are defenseless...If we want to know how to get the better of stupidity, we must seek to understand its nature. This much is certain, that it is in essence not an intellectual defect but a human one. There are human beings who are of remarkably agile intellect yet stupid, and others who are intellectually quite dull yet anything but stupid.”
Why on earth would the "MAGA crowd" (whatever that is) "get all indignant"?
First, this is hardly a well-known/widely circulated quote. Second, you provide NO examples of how - or why - this quote would make some amorphous entity "indignant".
I've got a slightly better known quote from a fictional character for you; "Any man who judges by the lot is a peawit"
???...guess I'm dull and stupid, as I can't see the relevance of this comment. Perhaps one of our intellectual betters will enlighten us in a follow-up!
I can. It’s just another attempt by the arrogant left to smear anyone who doesn’t agree with them. So much easier than having a discussion. Maybe that’s why so many leftists cheered when Charlie Kirk was murdered. They hated him when he said Prove Me Wrong because they couldn’t.
Couldn’t be more disappointed to see this comment.
It reflects away from the purpose of the post which is a man of character and faith.
Second, I am proud to have voted for President Trump 3 times. And you don’t understand why.
There are zero Bonhofers on your side. Your side accuses the Trump admin of law fare yet that’s exactly what your side did against him and us for 8 years.
So any arrogant comments against us you could argue you’re being consistent but clearly, with him in the White House proves the strategy failed.
And I smile every day knowing this.
And I smile knowing your side can’t admit that the reason he’s in the White House is because you failed.
We MAGA crowd enjoy oh so very much your attempt at insults.
I also enjoy the strategy of removing illegals and getting the business community investing back in the US with the associated jobs that came with it.
In keeping with the maritime theme of the Porch, I would also like to mention Martin Niemöller. Lutheran pastor and another interned at Dachau and Sachsenhausen camps for the duration of the war, he was ordained in 1924 but had been a young naval officer in WW1.
The world needs more Bonhoeffers and fewer "Summer Soldiers" and "Sunshine Patriots" as Thomas Paine called those who shrink from service to their country (and to humanity).
Wonderful tribute to Pastor Bonhoeffer. Another fascinating figure, much less well known, is Dr. Ernst Lohmeyer. He was a great scholar who saved Jewish people, survived the Nazis, and was killed by the Soviet communists. My thanks to James Edwards for his superb biography. -A Lutheran Pastor.
During the Korean Conflict there was a South Korean pastor and his family captured by the Communist put in a pit with a bulldozer ready to cover them. All they had to do was renounce their faith, and they would be saved. They would not! They were buried.
The presiding Communist Officer was moved and disturbed most profoundly over time about what he had witnessed.
After the active conflict ceased he converted and was a moving force in the Christian Community in South Korea. Having such views in the North today puts you six feet underground.
Thankyou. truly, a Fullbore Friday
⏰✍🏼 Real heroes are timeless…..
CDR Sal, genuinely appreciate your bringing Pastor Bonhoeffer's story to my, and hopefully many others' attention. This is a different FBF, but struck a real chord with me. Someone who jumps on a grenade to protect his teammates is brave beyond measure. We all hope in the moment we could do what is right. Instinct and reflex are a product of training and shared sense of purpose, but below the level of considered, conscious thought, and occur in an instant. Pastor Bonhoeffer's faith motivated his choice to embark on a carefully and consciously considered journey that had a very predictable end. He did it anyway. By bringing him to our attention, you did him proud. Salutes to you both.
Amen!
“A lot of the reason for the rapid loss of faith in Western Europe was the loss of stature of many churches that did not stand up”
still the case, imo. a lot of pagan/atheist vibe emanates from europe. there are exceptions, poland being one. you’re seeing that void being rapidly filled by the immigrant pops without a sturdy cultural structure to sustain.
Few indeed were the church leaders to stood up to Hitler, as few indeed stand up to the popular abominations of our age. You mentioned the decline of Christianity in Western Europe, but it’s had a pretty hard road in the USA, too…though there are signs that this may be changing!
Thank you for this uplifting reminder of Pastor Bonhoeffer’s moral courage. Also I will make an effort to learn about Dr Lohmeyer as comment by Sled Dog
Full concur. The man was no faux Christian tire-kicker. He was solid: lived his faith with complete confidence in God and a soul that understood that the sacrifice he would likely make would inspire many other unselfish and principled people. He wasn’t wrong.
And he is certainly a hero—one of 20th century’s greatest.
I often say to those who worry too much about being brave enough to do right: “Be a Boenhoffer.”
Thanks Sal 💪
Great Article Sal. Thanks for sharing.
Bonhoeffer was a true hero. Not many people even know about him and his sacrifice. Saw a very good movie on Angel about a year ago. A must see.
Thanks for posting Sal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZM90izJ8sI
Angel seems to be one of the few movie makers that make movies worth seeing.
I saw King of Kings in April. Brenda and I went to see Truth and Treason in October. We are planning on going to see David, in December.
I think we may do the same for David in Dec. Thnx.
A great man and a true Christian.
Bonhoeffer was truly an Apostle of Jesus Christ.
I would caution everyone, however to be aware of wolves in sheep’s clothing or even wearing a pastor’s collar. Jeremiah Wright comes to mind.
Bonhoeffer had this memorable line which gets the MAGA crowd all indignant: “Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice. One may protest against evil; it can be exposed and, if need be, prevented by use of force. Evil always carries within itself the germ of its own subversion in that it leaves behind in human beings at least a sense of unease. Against stupidity we are defenseless...If we want to know how to get the better of stupidity, we must seek to understand its nature. This much is certain, that it is in essence not an intellectual defect but a human one. There are human beings who are of remarkably agile intellect yet stupid, and others who are intellectually quite dull yet anything but stupid.”
Why on earth would the "MAGA crowd" (whatever that is) "get all indignant"?
First, this is hardly a well-known/widely circulated quote. Second, you provide NO examples of how - or why - this quote would make some amorphous entity "indignant".
I've got a slightly better known quote from a fictional character for you; "Any man who judges by the lot is a peawit"
???...guess I'm dull and stupid, as I can't see the relevance of this comment. Perhaps one of our intellectual betters will enlighten us in a follow-up!
I can. It’s just another attempt by the arrogant left to smear anyone who doesn’t agree with them. So much easier than having a discussion. Maybe that’s why so many leftists cheered when Charlie Kirk was murdered. They hated him when he said Prove Me Wrong because they couldn’t.
“Stupidity is a more dangerous enemy of the good than malice."
That might be as good a reason to explain Mamdani as any.
Couldn’t be more disappointed to see this comment.
It reflects away from the purpose of the post which is a man of character and faith.
Second, I am proud to have voted for President Trump 3 times. And you don’t understand why.
There are zero Bonhofers on your side. Your side accuses the Trump admin of law fare yet that’s exactly what your side did against him and us for 8 years.
So any arrogant comments against us you could argue you’re being consistent but clearly, with him in the White House proves the strategy failed.
And I smile every day knowing this.
And I smile knowing your side can’t admit that the reason he’s in the White House is because you failed.
We MAGA crowd enjoy oh so very much your attempt at insults.
I also enjoy the strategy of removing illegals and getting the business community investing back in the US with the associated jobs that came with it.
It don't bother me TDS man or woman, and I am MAGA.
I think you just made that up.
In keeping with the maritime theme of the Porch, I would also like to mention Martin Niemöller. Lutheran pastor and another interned at Dachau and Sachsenhausen camps for the duration of the war, he was ordained in 1924 but had been a young naval officer in WW1.
https://www.friedenszentrum-martin-niemoeller-haus.de/ausstellung/tafel1.html
Another real and courageous hero indeed! 🌊⚓🐬
The world needs more Bonhoeffers and fewer "Summer Soldiers" and "Sunshine Patriots" as Thomas Paine called those who shrink from service to their country (and to humanity).