Dietrich Bonhoeffer: In the Midst of Wickedness

Christian Heroes: Then & Now

De: Janet Benge, Geoff Benge

Narrado por: Tim Gregory

Written for listeners age 10 and up—enjoyed by adults!

As Dietrich sang the German national anthem, he contemplated the devastation Hitler and the Nazis were perpetrating on Europe. Dietrich would do whatever he could to stop them, even if it meant pulling the trigger on the fuhrer himself. He had thought about it from every angle, and his conscience was clear.

Born into a loving family, Dietrich Bonhoeffer pursued a life as a pastor, teacher, theologian—and spy. He spoke out about the trouble in Germany when Adolph Hitler came to power, urging the Christian church to rescue disparaged people groups and resist Hitler's evil empire.

Accused of being a troublemaker, Dietrich continued on fearlessly in the midst of wickedness. His work as a spy in the German resistance and participation in a plot to assassinate Hitler led to imprisonment and eventual execution. But the lesson of his life story remains: "Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act."

©2012 Janet Benge and Geoff Benge (P)2023 One Audiobooks

The history aspect alone makes this my Benge fave

I know, this story isn't a fairytale ending in any way, shape or form. But, anyone that serves God with all their heart knows that life isn't always a bowl of cherries. Ok, so you've been warned, this isn't a happy-happy story.

After saying all that, it was interesting to hear about the 2 world wars from a German prospective. At the beginning of WWI, even the kids thought it was a happy, wonderful time to begin a war. But, as soon as you lose someone in a war, it's not so happy anymore. When Hitler began his march towards WWII, the attitude in Germany that wasn't pro-Hitler; was a very sad, here-we-go-again-attitude.

Although, hearing the line-upon-line march towards Nazism is hard to hear; hopefully it keeps us watchful for the same mistakes in our future. Hearing this story, reminds me to not always take the easy and safe road. Sometimes, you have to take the hard road that doesn't end in a happy ending, except it does end in an eternal happy ending. This bit of history is well worth your time and money to listen to.

Details

It was a very good background story of one of the most prominent modern day Christian evangelicals. His life, though very short, spoke volumes of what it means to walk the talk of Christianity.

Heart wrenching and well written

May we never forget. What a well written documentation of a Godly man. Amen

Informative, a great book!

I learned of the depth of Bonhoeffer's resistance to the Nazis and the ultimate price he paid, all the while serving our Lord Jesus Christ. A great audio book, informative, enjoyable, and a very sober ending.

AMAZING! MUST READ!

This book was AMAZING and HEART- WRENCHING! EVERY single person should learn from history and the dangers of not learning from history could be detrimental to millions of souls!

Pure Inspiration!

If you want to learn how to speak up for Christ, this is a must-read!

Engaging and compelling

This was a compelling story with an engaging performance. Intriguing and entertaining for all ages. Bonhoeffer is an example of someone who had a deep and personal relationship with God and it was manifested through his dedication and service to his family and his church.

Great biography

This was a great biography of a man who has become something of a hero of the Christian faith. The authors gave “just the facts” of Bonhoeffer’s life. And his commitment to justice and his opposition to Nazi evil was clear.

However it is less clear about his writings. I would have liked to hear just a bit more about them inserted in the book. I would think some recollections from family members post-war could have been fitting. At the end of the book it felt like something was lacking.

Having said this, it was clear what Dietrich’s commitment to Christ was about. And that is a great example to us all.

history can repeat, bad leaders, nationalism,…

We haven’t dodged this bullet quite yet…
Love, faith, community, kindness, personal responsibility & loyalty to God still trumps flag-waving nationalism, propaganda, prejudice, cruelty, selfishness. Herr Bonhoeffer modeled it.
Love to all.

Eye Opening

This was an inspirational recount of a man of unwavering faith and courage to live that faith in the worst of times. The accompanying historical details gave me a better understanding of that time and the harsh realities of war, wickediness, and the depths of depravity. Insightful and humbling.