A New Year’s Hymn

I have been intrigued by Dietrich Bonhoeffer for most of my adult life, having read several biographies and a couple of the major works credited to him, beginning with Life Together (1938).  In Life Together Bonhoeffer reflected on the importance of Christian community and the challenges and joys of living in community with other believers, especially during tumultuous times. 

The Cost of Discipleship (1937) is perhaps Bonhoeffer’s most famous work, in which he explored the concept of costly grace and the true meaning of discipleship. Both Life Together and The Cost of Discipleship were directly related to his resistance to the rise of the Nazi regime and to the capitulation of the state Church’s clergy to the dictates of Adolph Hitler. 

His resistance led to the Gestapo, in 1941, forbidding Bonhoeffer to teach, write, or publish. He was required to report his whereabouts and activities to the Gestapo every month. His resistance coupled with his knowledge of plots to assassinate Hitler led to his imprisonment in April 1943. He remained in custody until his execution on April 9, 1945, at the Flossenbürg concentration camp just two weeks before it was liberated by the Allies.

Bonhoeffer had become engaged to Maria von Wedemeyer on January 13, 1943. While in prison, he was allowed to write letters to Maria. His December 19, 1944 letter (written from the Gestapo prison in Berlin during heavy Allied air raids) included a poem he wrote that started with “Von guten Mächten” (English: “By Gracious Powers”). With an eternal perspective, the poem is laced with peace, hope, and confidence in God – evidence of an unwavering faith amid his dire circumstances. 

The poem was published posthumously in The Cost of Discipleship under the title “New Year 1945.” Set to music in the 1950s, Von guten Mächten has become a widely sung hymn in German-speaking lands at the turn of the year. I share it with you as we enter into a new year. Bonhoeffer’s deep faith, hope, and trust in God in the face of adversity are worthy of consideration at the inception of any new year!

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Von guten Mächten (By Gracious Powers)

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Postscript: You might be interested in diving deeper into Bonhoeffer’s life. In addition to his writings listed above here are some more resources:

• Ethics, (completed in 1943, published posthumously). This work represents Bonhoeffer’s reflections on Christian ethics and the responsibilities of Christians in the face of moral and political challenges.
• Letters and Papers from Prison (1951) – Compiled posthumously, this collection includes Bonhoeffer’s letters and reflections written while he was imprisoned by the Nazis.
• Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, by Eric Metaxas. A really good and easy to read biography.
• The 2000 film, Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace (I’m watching in the background as I write this 🙂)

Note: I credit our pastor, Bjorn (fluent in German), for his enlightenment regarding this hymn, unbeknownst to most American Christians. It certainly was to me!