Review of Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy

It’s not often I give five star reviews, but this book is well deserving of it. Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy is a must read for every Christian. I was struck by the similarities between the path of compromise, which the church took in the 1930s, that opened the door for Hitler’s rise, and the similar thought among liberal theologians today. While Hitler probably would have come to power without the church’s cooperation, he clearly would not have had the influence among the German people without the endorsement of the German Church. The spiritual void left in the hearts of the people when the church abandoned the foundation of scripture was quickly filled by the Reich doctrines that were introduced by the church. Without a solid spiritual foundation, the people had little discernment by which to identify the errors being propagated by the Nazi regime, and there were few willing to make a stand in the church.

Many of the misconceptions about Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life were cleared up by this book. Much of the book quoted directly from the letters of Dietrich and those close to him. Bonhoeffer’s love for the scriptures and unwillingness to abandon the truth made him an effective minister to the few people willing to acknowledge the dangerous path the nation was heading down. It also gave him the wisdom to accurately predict the actions of Hitler and the Nazi’s long before they openly made their plans known. His words, teachings, and lifestyle gave me a new found respect for this man.

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy is a lengthy book, but never once lost my interest. This book is a MUST read, and for those who will heed its warning, it serves as a reminder not to repeat history. The church is the gatekeeper of the culture, and if she doesn’t stand true to the Bible, there is little to restrain evil.

On the Word Turnings scale:

Readability and reader interest – 9

Content –10

Plot or Book Theme – 9

Overall Word Turning Value: 9.3

 

Eddie Snipes

To buy this book, click on the link below. If you are a Kindle user, the book is only $9.99.