Standing With God in Gethsemane's Darkness: Bonhoeffer's Call to a Faith of Solidarity in Suffering

Homebrewed Christianity

Dr. Tripp Fuller | Theologian, Philosopher, Minister

Religion & Spirituality, Christianity

4.6 • 612 Ratings

🗓️ 18 April 2025

⏱️ 22 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This is an audio version of an essay on my substack, Process This. In it, I unpack Dietrich Bonhoeffer's theological reflection on Jesus' experience in the Garden of Gethsemane, which he sees as a central metaphor for authentic Christian faith. I struggle with Bonhoeffer's conviction that true Christianity isn't found in religious performance or institutional power but in standing with God in suffering. Following Bonhoeffer's interpretation of Jesus's question, "Could you not stay awake with me one hour?" I explore how he sees Jesus calling believers to practice solidarity with those who suffer rather than seeking religious escape or comfort. According to Bonhoeffer, authentic faith emerges through presence in places of abandonment and vulnerability, where God is revealed not as a problem-solver but as one who enters fully into human suffering. I hope you enjoy it and consider supporting my work by joining 80k+ other people on Process This. If you want to read or watch the essay, you will find it here on SubStack. Theology Beer Camp | St. Paul, MN | October 16-18, 2025 3 Days of Craft Nerdiness with 50+ Theologians & God-Pods and 600 new friends. ONLINE CLASS ANNOUNCEMENT: The Many Faces of Christ Today The question Jesus asked his disciples still resonates today: "Who do you say that I am?" Join our transformative 5-week online learning community as we explore a rich tapestry of contemporary Christologies. Experience how diverse theological voices create a compelling vision of Jesus Christ for today's world. Expand your spiritual horizons. Challenge your assumptions. Enrich your faith. As always, the class is donation-based (including 0), so head over to ManyFacesOfChrist.com for more details and to sign up! _____________________ Hang with 40+ Scholars & Podcasts and 600 people at Theology Beer Camp 2025 (Oct. 16-18) in St. Paul, MN. This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 80,000 other people by joining our Substack - Process This! Get instant access to over 45 classes at www.TheologyClass.com Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	This is an essay from Trips Substack titled Standing with God in Githseminese darkness.
0:07.7	Bonhofer's call to a faith of solidarity and suffering.
0:12.7	For more content like this, visit process this.substack.com.
0:27.0	Awakening to the call.
0:34.1	Once I was called for a pastoral emergency to a cliff where a community member was contemplating ending his life.
0:36.4	He kept his bankruptcy secret, even to his family,
0:40.1	was struggling with a tail-spinning crisis of addiction. He could see no way out or through what was
0:45.7	ahead. There were no easy solutions, and to get up from the edge of the cliff was to willingly
0:51.8	walk into the catastrophe he built and was running from.
0:56.0	As a young minister, I felt completely inadequate at the moment, but he asked for me, and not one
1:01.3	of the much more wise clergy on staff. I remember being unable to be present at all, because my mind,
1:08.2	like his, was flooded by the enormous storm on his horizon. Somehow I managed to
1:14.1	get him to walk back to the church with me and meet up with our senior minister who was awaiting
1:18.6	in his office with three cups of fresh coffee on the table. He walked up silently and embraced the
1:24.7	man in a long, firm hug and asked us to sit down.
1:29.3	There was a period of silence, and when it was clear our friend didn't have any words, he said,
1:35.9	last year I visited the Holy Land. I was standing in the Garden of Gassimony, olive tree stretching
1:41.6	their ancient limbs overhead, imagining Jesus, asking his
1:45.9	disciples that haunting question, could you not stay awake with me one hour?
1:52.6	The disciples slept while their teacher faced darkness alone. I can't control the darkness.
1:58.8	I don't think God can. But I can still promise you as long as I am breathing,
2:04.7	this church will not go to sleep on you.
	...

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