Leading by faith

I want to continue my series on leadership, and move in another direction from the last post. My first profile was of George Washington, America's first General, Commander in chief, and President. There is no doubt that without Washington's heroics America would probably not exist in the form that it does today. Certainly Washington displayed leadership in the bravest, most courageous way possible. I want to highlight a different kind of leadership, and a different kind of person today. This person was a leader by faith, he did what he thought his faith would dictate. He risked everything for his faith, and did it simply because it was the right thing to do. His legacy lives on through theology, history, and politics. He was not only able to capture the hearts and admiration of Christians but also of people of other religions and generally society as a whole. My second profile in leadership is German professor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

I selected Bonhoeffer, because I think that he offers such a contrast and differing leadership style to the other people that I want to discuss. Bonhoeffer, a prodigy by all definitions of the word. He had his doctorate degree from the University of Berlin in his early twenties, and went on to study at Union Theological Seminary in New York, where he was able to cultivate much of his theological rhetoric. While Bonhoeffer served in many different church's and church organizations around the world, he is most often remembered for his work in the "Confessing Church" and his adamant opposition to German National Socialism (Nazism). The Confessing Church was essentially an underground church movement that preached in resistance to Hitler and the Nazi party. Throughout his time in Germany during WWII, Bonhoeffer is known for his attempts to try and help Jews escape to Switzerland and after he was jailed his apparent attempts to assassinate Hitler.

It is through Bonhoeffer's struggles and trials that we learn so much about his leadership. When he was jailed for his opposition to the Nazi party, Bonhoeffer continued to write, and some of his greatest works came from this period. Bonhoeffer, had not only a lot to say about theology and faith, but also about politics. On numerous occasions he wrote about what needed to happen in the reconstruction of Germany after WWII. Bonhoeffer knew the inevitability of his death, yet he still continued to have the faith that he had always had. The faith that guided his life. He continued to believe that this was the purpose for which he was here. Everyone may not agree with everything that Bonhoeffer did or said (I know there are some things that I question), but that should not take away from the brilliance and courage that Bonhoeffer showed in standing tall for his faith.

I felt compelled to include Bonhoeffer in this series because I think that he is a great leader. Not because he got up and gave speeches in front of thousands of people, or because he won heroic battles, but because what he did and what he accomplished lives on through his works and his legacy. Although what is so fascinating about Bonhoeffer is not only what he accomplished as a religious figure, but also what he accomplished as a social and political figure. Bonhoeffer wrote a lot about life before Hitler, and as I stated above, he had his opinions about German reconstruction. Bonhoeffer exemplifies leadership for me as a Christian because he was not afraid to look adversity and death in the face, he put his faith first. Bonhoeffer truly lived and died for his faith.

Sadly Bonhoeffer was taken much to soon from this world, as he was hanged on April 9th 1945 at Flossenburg Concentration camp. Bonhoeffer was among the last killed at Flossenburg, as the U.S. 2nd Calvary liberated the camp only a week and a half later. Bonhoeffer's leadership and legacy live on through his writings, and I can speak for myself and many others, that I am so glad that they do.

I would recommend that everyone take a look at some of Bonhoeffer's works. I think that no matter what your place or avenue in life is, you will find his work inspiring and profound.

"The ultimate question for a responsible man to ask is not how he is to extricate himself heroically from the affair, but how the coming generation shall continue to live."
Dietrich bonfire, After Ten Years (December 1942)