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Anna has sent the last post referring to our study conference for theology students, which wouzld have taken plane these days in Wroclaw, if it hadn't been for the pandemic. We would have participated in Worship at the Protestant congregation right next to our conference hotel. But we are hopeful that we will be able to do this next year.If your are interested, send an e-mail to hahn@eaberlin.de and we will put your address on our mailing list.
When our conference topic “(No) Cheap
Grace. Discipleship today”, was chosen in 2019, about Bonhoeffer and with
theological curiosity, but quite harmless, the conference
team did not
know that it could not take place
because of a
global problem. A situation that, in some sense, was described as “like
in wartimes".
Like in a war - because of a virus.
Who would have thought that this will be the first
thing that comes to mind, to draw a parallel between our time and the time of? And can we give an example
of Christian discipleship in times of crisis?
Sure, there are elementary
differences between these two wars, but on the level of
our sense of freedom
or the sense of the kind of dependence that human community
requires, it is not so farfetched. In the case of this
"biological war", it is not so hard to find parallels. After
all, no war could ever stop Christians from celebrating Christ’s Resurrection.
I can understand this
comparison with a war situation, but with difficulty and only to a point. Of
course, you need to protect yourself, be ready to fight (finding a vaccine), and never give up your motivation (that this crisis will
eventually be over).
But I want to keep clearly distance myself of any hatred that might rise in me, or of being
motivated by fear. I do not want
to experience
any anger growing in me. Because those are the worst
driving forces. They would make us lack what matters, as Bonhoeffer would say.
We choose the discipleship, which also
means opening ourselves for new horizons.
These are very simple ways to follow Christ, and by it we learn that in
such situations we never remain without Christ, and there is also the possibility to be there for our fellow human beings at all times. In simple gestures we find
the resource or source for discipleship. Like
nowadays, a
sign of Christian discipleship could be to not stock up on food or medicine, because by this we become
more aware of the hope for the next day, that Christ promised us.
Another kind of discipleship can be
to do whatever consequently and consciously, e.g. washing our hands
can have great results. This virus also lives by contact; not
that a virus is more capable of contact than we humans?! So, for example, think carefully and write a
list of who are the people in my life over 60 that I like and love. Absolutely
call and visit them - of course, after thoroughly washing your hands. Right now, the disciple of Christ can also be someone who is there for others.
Another thing that connects us in
this situation is that we are now suffering together. Suffering may sound too strong, or
inappropriate to describe everyday life in Corona times, but it still feels like
it. I do not know how long
this situation will last, whether or not there is another lockdown ahead of us. But
we can choose whether we want to
experience these
sufferings because of something or with someone. Suffering because
of a virus in life, in my opinion, would be a pity. Or I can interpret this on a completely different
level: that in suffering with and for our fellow human beings together, we follow Christ: According to Bonhoeffer, that is what
Christian disciple ship means in the end: following
Christ on his way to the cross for us.
Thus, the theology of Bonhoeffer has made me consider new aspects about how I follow Christ. I would be very happy if we could all experience this as a community, in 2021 in Wroclaw, free again, and with singing.
Annaméria Seres
It is interesting to note that Bonhoeffer also lived in time of crisis. His thoughts on discipleship come from that context, so it is really timely to ask ourselves what it means for us today. In my immediate surroundings it is about being a calm presence - not just for others, but also myself. Yes, there is fear and uncertainty, but there are also so many things to that are still there to ground us and carry us through each day. And maybe not just during crisis, but at all times our biggest challenge remains to live our ordinary lives faithfully and intentionally.
AntwortenLöschenI read a colun in my newspaper by a young mother who reflected on recent demonstrations against Corona-restrictions. She remembered howcertain things were so much her daily life that doing without them now she felt her life crumble to pieces even while she was aware that she was still privileged, as in living in Germany where she was paid even as her Job was temporarily lost. Going to work and then meeting with friends had been her life. Taking her child to Kindergarten and oicking her uo again likewise. She wrote she needed a long while until she realized that being with her child all day was not just a burden and that the telefone can actually keep one connected as well. I think for some the challenge was that unless we work in essential job, we were doomed to do basically nothing and stay home. Greetings from Berlin. Tamara
AntwortenLöschen