The group claims that Christian nationalists “misuse Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s resistance against [the Nazi] regime to serve their own political agendas and appeals to violence, but they should not.” They write that Bonhoeffer actually warned against Christian nationalism.
The scholars, including leaders of the International Bonhoeffer Society, cite three examples of how Bonhoeffer’s “life and witness” are being distorted. First, they say, Metaxas and the movie “manipulated” Bonhoeffer’s life story through his participation in events such as the 2021 Jericho March. Second, they say Project 2025’s creators appropriated Bonhoeffer’s idea of “cheap grace,” using that as a “cheap trick.”
Finally, the scholars criticize the marketing of the “Bonhoeffer” movie, including a poster showing the theologian holding a gun. “The outcome of the [2024 U.S. presidential] election could be met with an unprecedented wave of violence,” the petition states. “Any attempt to invoke Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his resistance against Hitler as a reason to engage in political violence in our contemporary context must be strongly opposed.”
The theologians and historians conclude by warning against conflating Bonhoeffer’s times with modern-day politics. Aligning his religious teachings with an “America First” philosophy constitutes a “grievous” misuse, according to the petition. It notes that Bonhoeffer “refused to offer a Christian or theological justification” for the WWII-era coup attempt against Hitler.
Debate About Bonhoeffer Extends To Social Media
John Fea, who wrote about the controversy for Current, shared a link to his article. That prompted comments on both sides of the debate. “Bonhoeffer was a christian [sic] who stood up against evil, while Metaxas is promoting Nazism,” one person wrote. “The contradiction could not be greater.”
Another person said the statements from relatives and scholars don’t “point to any actual use of Bonhoeffer for the purposes they claim to be so onerous.” Instead, “Every statement made is a judgment upon conservative Christians in the United States in general and upon Donald Trump as a polltical [sic] player in particular.”
On Oct. 20, Megan Basham, author of “Shepherds for Sale,” wrote on X:
Give me a break – – if you want to criticize a book, fine. But according to the statement, we are not talking about Bonhoeffer’s spouse. Or his children. Or his grandchildren. The statement just says “direct descendants of his seven siblings.” If Billy Graham has taught us anything, it’s that even one’s grandchildren can’t be expected to uphold their legacy. This is just a PR attack on Metaxas.
One person then commented, “Why are they just criticizing Eric’s book now. I think we know why.”
Angel Studios shared with ChurchLeaders this statement from “Bonhoeffer” director Todd Komarnicki:
Any research would have shown that the movie “Bonhoeffer” is not based on Eric Metaxas’ book, and that the writer and the director of the film could not be further from being a Christian nationalist. The fact is Bonhoeffer doesn’t belong to any group. He is a singular voice of love, grace, justice and courage, and his voice is just as clarion now as it was during WW2. We should be listening to him (which our movie does) and not to all the voices trying to steal him for their own cultural grievances.
ChurchLeaders also reached out to Eric Metaxas and will update this article with any reply.
This article has been updated with a comment from film director Todd Komarnicki.
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