In his letter to Bethge dated June 8, 1944, Bonhoeffer writes: “The fact that the world has come of age is no longer an occasion for polemics and apologetics…” The problem with both liberal theology and the conservative response, is the world remains unaddressed by the gospel. Yet, as Bonhoeffer discusses throughout these letters, Christ is at the center of human life. Religion, for Bonhoeffer, artificially separates the Christian community from the world, when the point of true discipleship is to follow Jesus where he leads—back into the world of our neighbor. This episode explores these ideas, suggesting Bonhoeffer provides a way forward for the Christian community at this historical moment.
