Bonhoeffer wrote to his brother in law, Rüdiger Schleicher, the following:
“If it is I who determine where God is to be found, then I shall always find a God who correspond to me in some way, who is obliging, who is connected with my own nature. But if God determines where is to be found, then it will be in a place which is no immediately pleasing to my nature and which is not at all congenial to me. This place is the Cross of Christ. And whoever would find him must go to the foot of the Cross, as the Sermon on the Mount commands. This is not according to our nature at all, it is entirely contrary to it. But this is the message of the Bible, not only in the New but also in the Old Testament…” (Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Prophet, Martyr, Spy, 137, emphasis mine)
Luke is a pastor-theologian living in northern California, serving as a co-lead pastor with his life, Dawn, at the Red Bluff Vineyard. Father of five amazing kids, when Luke isn’t hanging with his family, reading or writing theology, he moonlights as a fly fishing guide for Confluence Outfitters. He blogs regularly at LukeGeraty.com and regularly contributes to his YouTube channel.
Amen!