THE FAITHFUL SPY - CHAPTERS 5-7

Sarah
Sep 30
2 min read

This book finishes out strong with lots of challenges for us to consider. I certainly can't tell you what God is calling you to in your life, but we certainly see the book circle back to the subject of action vs. inaction that Bonhoeffer was challenged with all the way back during his trip to America. What would he allow himself to do? Was there any difference between helping in the conspiracy and being the person that actually pulled the trigger to take Hitler out?

I can't imagine how difficult it was for Bonhoeffer to remain silent on his reasons for joining the Abwehr. So many people he knew must have thought he was betraying them, when in fact, he was digging deeper into fighting against the Nazis and Hitler.

Then the failed attempts at taking Hitler out. I had not realized that so many attempts were taken and orchestrated internally.

But it was Chpt. 7 and the Epilogue that really gave me pause.

Once again we see that Dietrich has the opportunity to escape, but doesn't do so because of the risk it would put his loved ones in. He determines that God has called him to obedience no matter the outcome.

His dream tells us what the outcome of his life is going to be. I found myself shaking my head in disbelief that two more weeks and he would have made it and lived.

Reading the author's notes at the end I really appreciated the juxtaposition of Hitler and Bonhoeffer. Hitler was so focused on power for himself while Dietrich was moved by the injustice done to others. He never had to act because he was the epitome of the Aryan race. He was a German through and through. However, he could not stand idly by while the innocent were persecuted and the church stood behind it.

I really hope this book challenged you in your faith and in your life. While I do believe the United States is the best country in the world to live, there is no doubt we are on a slippery slope to moral decay with no end to the ride in sight. Matthew 5:14-16 reminds us that we are "a city on a hill that cannot be hidden." We are to "let our light shine before men." As our world gets darker, that light is going to shine brighter and be more noticeable as a contrast to the darkness. Shine, my friends, shine!