Heritage of the Saints: Bonhoeffer in Rome

 When Deitrich Bonhoeffer turned 18, he had the opportunity to spend a semester of his theology studies in Rome. He became caught up in Michelangelo's art in the Sistine Chapel during his time there.

"I was hardly able to move beyond the Adam.  There is an inexhaustible abundance of ideas in the picture.  The figure of God reverberates with colossal power and tender love, or rather with the divine attributes that supersede these two human attributes that are often far removed from each other.  Man is about to awaken to life for the first time.  The meadow send out shoots in front of unending mountain ranges, thereby foreshadowing man's later fate.  The painting is worldly and yet very pure.  In short, one can't express it."  Bonhoeffer, Metaxas, page 51

 In 1998, my wife and I spent two weeks touring Italy. The tour began and ended in Rome, and due to circumstances, we were able to stay an extra day in Rome at the end of the tour. Not only did we have time at St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, but we were also in St Peter's Square to see the Pope come to the window and address those gathered in the Square. The experience, as Bonhoeffer stated, "one can't express."

Three years after his time in Rome, Bonhoeffer had the opportunity to attempt to express his experience and its impact on him to a group called the Thursday Circle in which he participated. In attempting to summarize his thoughts, he wrote a short paper that stated, in part,

"With admirable power, it has understood how to maintain unity in diversity, to gain the love and respect of the masses, and to foster a stong sense of community...We adhere to the same confession of faith, we pray the same Lord's Prayer, and we share some of the same ancient rites.  This binds us together...The designation Catholic or Protestant is unimportant. The important thing is God's word." Bonhoeffer, Mataxas, Page 57

 Deitrich's summary words resonate through the centuries, from Paul's writing to the Galatians. In Galatians 3:26-28 Paul tells them and us today,

"For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

 Is this where our greatest challenge and greatest advance lie as followers of Christ? Combining the thought and writing of Bonhoeffer and Paul, there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither Catholic nor Protestant, neither denomination nor sect. It is unimportant, as we are all one in Christ Jesus.

We are within a couple of weeks of entering the Hebrew month of Elul, a time of repentance. Elul is a time when we posture our hearts for Techuvah—to repent, confess, and return to God. We renew our positions as all one in Christ Jesus.

Matthew Henry in writing for his commentary on Galatians 3:26-28 further causes us to consider the words of Bonhoeffer and Paul at a much deeper level.

"That this privilege of being the children of God, and of being by baptism devoted to Christ, is now enjoyed in common by all real Christians. The law indeed made a difference between Jew and Greek, giving the Jews on many accounts the pre-eminence: that also made a difference between bond and free, master and servant, and between male and female, the males being circumcised. But it is not so now; they all stand on the same level, and are all one in Christ Jesus; as the one is not accepted on the account of any national or personal advantages he may enjoy above the other, so neither is the other rejected for the want of them; but all who sincerely believe on Christ, of what nation, or sex, or condition, soever they be, are accepted of him, and become the children of God through faith in him."

 Is this an area of our lives where we need to prepare to our heart in Teshuvah?  Do we need God to examine our hearts 

• Do I set myself above others who have been baptised in Christ Jesus?
• Do I believe that my acceptance by Christ Jesus is based on a national advantage?
• Do I believe that my acceptance by Christ Jesus is based on a personal advantage?
• Do I believe that my acceptance by Christ Jesis is based on a denominatinal advantage?
• Do I believe others are rejected by Christ Jesus because they do not share my advantage?
• Do I believe that my sex gives me a special advantage before Christ Jesus?

It is time to do Techuvah—to repent, confess, and return to God.

Join us in returning to our position as "all one in Christ Jesus."