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Symphony rocks hard at life whether she’s journaling in a coffee shop, instagramming pictures of subway stops or leading worship at her church. Since graduating with a degree in International Relations in 2013 she’s been splitting life between the bustle of New York City and the ‘burbs of New Jersey.

One of the most influential 20^th century theologians is a German pastor named Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He is perhaps best known for his martyrdom after working in the German resistance against Hitler and the Nazi regime.

While most people know of him as a martyr and theologian, they overlook his role as a disciple of Jesus. He worked to fulfill his calling in the areas and opportunities that God placed in his life. Even though I am sure Bonhoeffer’s writing and intelligence surpasses my own, I do know that the same Spirit and convictions pulse in my heart the way they did in Bonhoeffer as he struggled through life.

Often we look at martyrs and influential heroes throughout history and see an individual who has done great work. Then we compare our walk with God and theirs. Could our faith ever hold up to these amazing people? It is easy to forget that being a disciple of Christ means to “take up your cross and follow me” (Mt. 16:24).

This is the identity that God has given all of His followers. Yes, Bonhoeffer’s volume of theological work in addition to the praxis he took part in was significant. It was remarkable that he stood to defend the Gospel when the German church turned a blind eye to the oppression happening around them. In the end glory was given to God because of Bonhoeffer’s personal testimony.

There is Always a Cost

Through Bonhoeffer’s understanding of Scripture and who God was to him, he made a stand for righteousness despite the great cost of persecution, imprisonment, and eventually death. As Queen Esther, he chose to not be silent in the face of injustice and rose up to speak God’s truth (Es. 4:14). God gave Bonhoeffer and many other Christians during the Holocaust an opportunity not to be silent in a time such as that.

We may not all be called to the persecution of our flesh. However there are many other areas God has placed us in. Standing to follow Jesus and what He represents may require death, cost, or sacrifice. To truly pursue Christ means giving up what we want, whether what we want is good or bad. Our Father wants all of us, not just a ten percent tithe, our abilities and gifts, or our Sunday mornings/Friday evenings. That is why the Greatest Commandment is “love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Mt. 22:37).

“The messengers of Jesus will be hated to the end of time.

They will be blamed for all the division which rend cities and homes.

Jesus and his disciples will be condemned on all sides for undermining family life, and for leading the nation astray; they will be called crazy fanatics and disturbers of the peace.

The disciples will be sorely tempted to desert their Lord. But the end is also near, and they must hold on and persevere until it comes.

Only he will be blessed who remains loyal to Jesus and his word until the end.”  [The Cost of Discipleship]

Will you stand when God asks you to speak out in a time like this? Whether you gain recognition or not, risk persecution or not, will you rise up and die to yourself so God’s glory can be uncovered to all the earth?

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