Conversations: Eric Metaxas and Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Readers share their thoughts on Ministry Watch stories.

EDITOR’S NOTE: From time to time will publish letters and emails we get from readers, sometimes with a response, sometimes without comment. If you would like to share your thoughts about any of our stories or podcasts, please email us: [email protected]

The following letters refer to this story from Oct. 23:

Bonhoeffer Relatives and Scholars Issue Warning to Eric Metaxas, Project 2025

Thanks for Exposing Lies of Eric Metaxas

Thank you for exposing the lies and deception that Eric Metaxas and other “Christian” supporters of Donald Trump are using for their devious purposes. Keep up the good work you do.

Duane M. Lawrence, via email

Bonhoeffer “Warning” an Over-Reaction

I found the “warning” from Bonhoeffer relatives and “scholars” to be a bit of an over-reaction. They claim that Bonhoeffer is being used to inflame “Christian Nationalism.”

From what I have heard from Eric Metaxas on this topic, I do not see that. He is not advocating violence. I have not heard him refer to Biden as Hitler (however, the Democrats routinely refer to Trump as Hitler, with no evidence based on his first four years as president). They also refer to Angel Studios as a “right-wing evangelical production company. They apparently do not realize that Angel Studios is run by Mormons.

They also mention Project 2025 as misusing Bonhoeffer’s legacy. Being a supporter of the Heritage Foundation, which regularly publishes this kind of proposal for a coming conservative administration, I find this ridiculous. There is no reason they would mention Bonhoeffer. The Project 2025 effort is to help a new administration get off the ground quickly.

These obvious untruths tell me that the authors of this “warning” are left-wing extremists parroting their American counterparts talking points.

I appreciate your including at the end of the article input from Angel Studios, which in my mind counter some of the contents of the “warning.”

Would you consider inviting Metaxas to answer these claims?

Richard Day, Whitney Point, N.Y.

Warren Smith responds:

I have had Eric on the MinistryWatch podcast, though it was before this incident. I would love to have him back on the program. I’ll reach out and see what he says.

Hit Piece on Metaxas

Didn’t like your hit piece on Metaxas.

Dems try to eradicate babies faster than Hitler could eradicate the Jews. It’s a fair comparison and you don’t give any supporting reasons — like abortion.

I’ll be looking at your articles in a much different light from now on.

Jamie L. Rutt, Mount Joy, Pa.

Does Ministry Watch see conservative Christians as a threat?

This is a very strange opinion piece on Bonhoeffer by MW. It seems that MW sees conservative Christians as a threat to America by calling them “Christian nationalists” repeatedly, in a reprehensible way.

Smeitana marshals the opinion of liberal Christians to support his attack on these “Christian nationalists” as being a radical fringe group. I expect this from a Democrat media outlet, but not MW. What has happened to MW? My view of MW has been positive until now. Is MW showing its true colors now? I never thought I would see this kind of attack on Christians from MW.

Metaxas warned that he would be attacked by the mainstream Democrat media, but I didn’t think that it would come from Christian media as well. It is sad that MW is now promoting a Democrat position regarding the threat of Christian faith to the future of America.

Mike Nelson, via email

Ministry Watch is preserving Bonhoeffer’s legacy from Christian Nationalists

Please share my thoughts with Mr. Bob Smietana. I want to applaud Bob’s well-articulated article and Ministry Watch’s article about preserving Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s legacy from the Christian Nationalist movement.

I was raised in a politically and religiously conservative home. I was exposed to a steady diet of Focus on the Family in the mornings, Rush Limbaugh in the afternoon, and family discussions/debates over dinner about various social topics. These influences informed my lived experience and continued perspective as an adult. I am an ordained minister working with the addicted, homeless, traumatized and mentally ill.

I humbly accept that we are fallen creatures living within fallen systems in a fallen world and that no level of man-created theocracy will ever exist on this earth. Nor do I overemphasize America’s role in end-time prophecy. If America had a role, in my opinion, it was the catalyst for spreading the gospel to the remaining world — which it did at an unprecedented pace (until TV charlatans bastardized evangelism).

Bonhoeffer’s statement that his calling was to “suffer” created a paradigm shift in my philosophy — not in a victim mentality as portrayed across social media, but simply that the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness are worthy endeavors that have given hope to a dark, dark world. However, he gave his life on the side of a muddy road just days before being liberated because he understood that we are not of this world, and this world’s governmental systems are not our savior. I am thankful that Mr. Bonhoeffer’s family and theological support have tried to stop the appropriation of his sacrifice.

I have voted in every election for more than 30 years. For the third consecutive presidential election, I cannot, in good faith, vote for the chosen representative of either party. Traditionally, I have voted libertarian while living in a deeply red state where my vote didn’t matter. However, this time, the Libertarian Party chose a candidate who is so openly opposed to my personal moral stance that the American political system has abandoned this Christ follower. Come quickly, Lord Jesus,

Brandon Lackey, via email

Thank you

Thank you for publishing the article about The Bonhoeffer Society condemning Metaxas.

Ed McKinney, via email

Metaxas has lost his way

Fascinating report on Eric Metaxas today. I knew and communicated with Eric frequently for a short time around 20 years ago. I remember well the day we walked midtown NYC for a couple of hours and dreamed about what he/we could do in Christian media down the road. He at one time was a thoughtful writer who challenged me to be more engaged culturally and spiritually.

He has totally lost his way with the advent of Trump. He lost me forever when he cold-cocked a bicyclist outside the White House and ran away like a coward upon inflicting that most unrighteous act upon this equally unrighteous provocateur.

I was on Eric’s email distribution list for years. One day a few months ago, I wrote him a note, conveying my concerns about the new Eric who seemingly holds Donald Trump in an exalted and idolatrous level. I expressed my concerns diplomatically, as one confronting a brother. I never heard back, but it was not long after that I realized I had not been getting the frequent emails from him. Such courage.

Anyway, he’s lost his mind.  And possibly his soul.

DISCLAIMER: My comments on the former president should in no way be interpreted as an endorsement of the Democrat nominee. She’s a disaster. Our country is screwed either way.

Randy Swanson, via email