Dietrich Bonhoeffer – the Realism of Preaching1. Milestones for an Orthodox Preacher’s Proclaiming Culture An Introduction
Constantin Necula* This paper aims to successively present approaches to German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s thinking in the Romanian research area and to retain a series of milestones of his ample theological vision that could be relevant to the culture of an Orthodox preacher. I believe that the example of Bonhoeffer’s life and work are positive challenging models for the pastoral Orthodox thinking, due to his homiletic vision of life, somehow comparable with the vision of some theologians, who gave good Christian testimony during the difficult times of Romanian and European history. I dare to assert that Bonhoeffer’s thoroughness to elucidate the terminology of Christian preaching and to deal with specific topics of theology of reality that is active and directed to the service of a neighbor, as well as his manner of eschatologically embracing the Christian life, creates paths for the education of dialogue with Orthodoxy. Keywords: Bonhoeffer, Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, preaching, homiletics
Before dealing with different translations of and approaches to Bonhoeffer’s theology in the Romanian research area, it should be indicated the framework of his homiletic vision of life2. It is centered on the Living Word of God and promotes the balance between the sacramental dimension of the Word and its reforming dynamic role in the social context that help the Church to fulfill *
Rev. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Constantin Necula, Andrei Șaguna Faculty of Orthodox Theology, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania. Adress: Str. Mitropoliei 20, 550179, Sibiu, Romania; e-mail: parintele_necula@yahoo.com. 1 Realism of preaching refers to how the preacher assumes his preaching at the cost of his life. His preaching starts from the premises of real life and proposes a Christian vision of the world sometimes against the principles that animate it. One example would be that in Germany of that period, which was heading towards dictatorship and corruption of Christian values, Dietrich Bonhoeffer insists on freedom in Christ as a freedom of conscience. 2 By „homiletic vision of life” we understand one of the exigencies of life in Christ, springing from the preaching of the Gospel, sometimes hard to reach in everyday life, but fundamental as a landmark in the life of the Christian. Maximalism of Bonhoeffer’s life proves that the assumption of the Gospel, as in the case of his contemporaries, the Franciscan Maximilian Kolbe can be brought up to martyrdom. See: Fr. James, E. McCurry, Maximilian Kolbe Martyr of Charity, London, Catholic Truth Society 2013, p. 64. The unity between confession and life provides such an example that reveals their preaching to be a true fulfillment of the gospel of Christ.
RES 9 (3/2017), p. 410-425
DOI: 10.1515/ress-2017-0028