This book is completely wrecking my ability to be a comfortable Christian. The chapter on “Single-Minded Obedience” is one of the most hard hitting pages I have ever read. In the chapter Bonhoefer contends that we must take the scripture and commands and teaching of Jesus literally. We have a tendency to ’spiritualize’ the Jesus teaching to soften the impact and allow us wiggle room to “evade the obligation of single-minded, literal obedience.”
” We must not do violence to the Scriptures by interpreting them in terms of an abstract principles…”
When Jesus called Peter or Levi to “follow me”… there was not time to 2nd guess or determine the pros or cons. It required single-minded obedience.
Mat 4:19-22 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Mark 2:14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
In the moment when we given a command by Jesus, in scripture, do we say “Yes, Lord” or do we turn away sorrowful knowing that we have put something before the Jesus…
Mat 19:22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
