DeVine Illumination

Posted by Joe Thorn - 05/05/06

Mark DeVine, associate professor of Christian Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, recently paid WoG a gracious visit, and because of that I was introduced to his new book, “Bonhoeffer Speaks Today: Following Jesus at All Costs.” I received a copy of Ed Stetzer’s new book this week, so my attention is there at the moment, but Mark’s book is on my must read list. To whet your appetite, check out his recent BP article, Bonhoeffer Still Speaking. Here are two quotes from the article.

In a culture increasingly hospitable to isolation and anonymity, Bonhoeffer reminds us that God’s purposes center not on the Christian alone but on the Christian within the church, the body of Christ. Whereas churches compete in a Christian-consumer, winner-take-all landscape that affirms and rewards the spiritual shopper for spiritual products, promising to make him holy, Bonhoeffer proclaims an intrinsically relational discipleship where mutual interdependency between covenant-bound brothers and sisters defines the path to holiness and indeed to Jesus Himself.

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Bonhoeffer insists that the issue is not how to make the Gospel relevant to the world but rather to expose how irrelevant we have all become in our rebellion against the living God.

Great stuff. Check out the article, visit his website, and pick up his book.

4 Comments

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  1. I’ve read the book, and it’s quite good.

    Comment by Ariel — May 6, 2006 #

  2. This reference to Bonhoeffer is particularly interesting to me because of his willingness to recognize the evil in Hitler and give up his freedom, and eventually his life, to fight an unjust system that required absolute loyalty to its leadership. Another German theologian, Martin Niemolar, was not as quick as Bonhoeffer to recognize that evil. His famous quote, which I will not reproduce here, laments that when Hitler came after various groups of people he did not speak up because he was not one of them and by the time they came after him there was no one left to speak up for him. I in no way want to compare the horrors of Nazi Germany with what has happened in the SBC over the past 25 years, but the principle is the same. I see that one of the IMB trustees has made public his “concerns” about Wade Burleson’s positions as an IMB trustee including non IMB issues. When they came after Russell Dilday, Wade did not speak in his defense. When they came after Richard Jackson, Wade did not speak up. When they came after Milton Ferguson, Wade stood by and held their coats. Now that they are coming after him, is there anyone of influence left who will stand up for him?

    Comment by Jim W — May 7, 2006 #

  3. Joe, Mark was on FamilyNet Radio’s Mornings with Scott and Lorri, recently speaking on this topic. It was a very good segment. The program airs on Sirius ch. 159, but you can listen to the segment at:
    http://www.familynetradio.com/mornings/guest.asp?id=192

    The full list and downloadable files of those who have appeared can be found at:
    http://www.familynetradio.com/mornings/archives.asp

    Comment by Chris Turner — May 8, 2006 #

  4. Hey! Chris T. commented on my blog!! I look forward to hanging out at the SBC bro. Thanks for the link to the audio. I will check it out tonight.

    Comment by Joe Thorn — May 8, 2006 #

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