Theology on Mission

S10: E12 Bonhoeffer, Resistance, and the Role of the Church with Michael DeJonge

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What does real resistance to an unjust state look like—and can the church still embody it today?


In this episode, Dave Fitch and Mike Moore sit down with Bonhoeffer scholar Michael DeJonge to explore the famed theologian’s approach to resisting authoritarian power. Drawing from his article How to Resist an Unjust State and his books on Bonhoeffer's theology, DeJonge unpacks the Lutheran roots of Bonhoeffer’s political vision and why his legacy resists easy appropriation in today’s culture wars.


📖 Suggested Resources:


  • How to resist an unjust state? Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his theology of political resistance
  • Bonhoeffer on Resistance: The Word Against the Wheel
  • Bonhoeffer's Theological Formation: Berlin, Barth, and Protestant Theology


    • 🎙️ In This Episode:


    • The historical truth behind Bonhoeffer’s involvement in plots to resist Hitler
    • Why Bonhoeffer’s theology of resistance goes far beyond assassination debates
    • A deep dive into Lutheran two-kingdom theology—and how Bonhoeffer revised it
    • How the church can speak into state injustice without being co-opted by political power
    • Lessons for resisting both passivity and polarization in today’s divided landscape


      • 📌 Highlights:


      • [00:08:00] Did Bonhoeffer support violence? His participation in anti-Nazi plots clarified
      • [00:14:00] Bonhoeffer’s “authentically Lutheran” resistance—and why it still matters
      • [00:27:00] Evangelicals, Trump, and the preservation/redemption split—dangerous echoes
      • [00:38:00] The meaning behind “jamming a spoke in the wheel”
      • [00:44:00] From preaching to presence: Why Bonhoeffer built community to resist


        💡 Takeaway:


        Bonhoeffer’s legacy isn’t about mimicking the past but learning how to discern our moment.


        Resistance begins not with outrage but with the church being the church—formed, faithful, and ready to speak a word against injustice when the time demands it.

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