“Be open to the changes in your own life. Work to change minds. And change hearts. That’s the central calling of the gospel — to proclaim and practice metanoia — a change of mind and heart that draws us more deeply into the love of God.” THIS THIS!
This is so powerful. I’ve often thought about how much easier it is to cast ourselves in the Bonhoeffer role — already courageous, already on the “right side” of history — than to face the harder truth that most of us are closer to Niemöller. We have blind spots, prejudices, loyalties that keep us quiet until the suffering comes knocking at our own door.
And yet, as you name here, that makes Niemöller’s story even more relevant. If someone as compromised as he was could experience metanoia — a true change of mind and heart — then so can we. That is the gospel’s disruptive grace: it keeps cracking us open to see those we once dismissed or feared as kin.
I know in my own story, the shift from internalized racial labels to recognizing myself as an image-bearer of God didn’t happen overnight. It was halting, messy, sometimes reluctant — the kind of slow breaking open that you describe in Niemöller. Which makes me think: maybe the church’s deepest work right now isn’t only to raise up Bonhoeffers, but to walk with today’s Niemöllers — people who need space, patience, and witness to learn how to change.
Niemoller was often quoted to me growing up by both my educator stepmother and our history and civics teacher of senior high. I didn’t learn about Bonhoeffer for a long time after that.
In my own journey, I guess I blame Sesame Street for my belief that everyone deserves acceptance and understanding. Well, maybe a little bit of not being neurotypical and taking “Jesus Loves the Little Children” to heart - if he loved everyone equally, shouldn’t I?
That said, church affiliation and election year sermons taught me a terrible misunderstanding of God’s justice. Until a Sunday School class reading through prophecy (which I always avoided because of fire and brimstone sermons from Revelations), I thought God’s justice was “accept Jesus or burn in hell.” When again and again I read as God said that his justice was care of poor, widowed, orphan and alien within your gates; that it was important to be the voice and defender of the voiceless, I realized that my Christian values were greatly missing the mark.
Then, in my personal journey, and illness I had symptoms of from childhood and had long accepted as “my own version of normal” finally became completely unmanageable, and I could no longer work. I was raised in a family which was, unfortunately, racist, and also had a lot of judgment for anyone accepting any kind of government benefits aside from social security in old age. Suddenly I became one of “those” people “working the system” and “talking advantage” of hard working people in my laziness.
Since then, I have been in acute kidney failure twice when put into positions where I couldn’t allow myself bad days to do nothing (my husband’s end of life with stage 4 cancer, and helping to care for an infant). I have been convinced that I can’t work safely. Worse, I am one of those widows and orphans at this point.
I have decided, though, to participate in places I can, and have made arrangements for care for my pets if I am arrested at some point. I am inspired by Bonhoeffer, but I guess you would classify me as a Niemoller - I never judged anyone by their origins, definitely embraced immigrants, but people on the edges of survival always got a good Calvinist, “what sin is in your life that keeps you from being able to take care of yourself?” quiet judgment for probably the first 30 years of my life (now on the wrong side of my mid 50s, according to my doctor). ❤️
After the meeting on February 28 between the presidents, I am more convinced that you are correct. I was saddened to see Mr Vance and Mr Trump ambush Mr Zelensky. As a country, we have no honor.
It might also be worth noting that Maine governor Janet Mills is quoted in Dr. Heather Cox Richardson’s “Letter from an American” yesterday. She doesn’t quote Rev. Niemöller, but what she says sure echoes him. https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/february-21-2025
Yeah, with all the Walter Wink stuff that's going to be in tomorrow's sermon, there's just too much. Niemöller will need to wait for another week for his reprise.
Oh Diana, Thank you so much for this! I have been struggling with people in my life who need to hear this message- family members have been digging their heels in even though they know he has come for some of mine-even though they claim to be Christians who should care for all of God’s children whether they are mine, theirs or someone else’s. February is my birthday month too and 2 years ago when I turned 60 I began to reevaluate long held beliefs and principles. I was rethinking long held religious beliefs and one my children was beginning to discover who they were. They are a beautiful human being who simply because of their transgender identity has found themselves cast off by some who used to love them. It has been a long process for our family but we are committed to one another. Now,two years later , I am still learning, and speaking out bravely for those who are marginalized . What hurts the most in all of this is running into those who I thought would be allies and finding out they are foes. This gives me the courage to change their minds!
Richard Hays has had his “Niemoller” moment with his recently published book “ The Widening of God’s Mercy” he co-wrote with his son, Christopher. He apologized to the gay community for his widely published “The Moral Vision of the New Testament” where he gave gay acceptance but not affirmation. He changed in his more recent book to a gay affirmation position with a well thought out theology to support it. He then recently passed away.
As our faith would teach us, it's a BOTH AND moment. Both Niemöller and Bonhoeffer.
“Be open to the changes in your own life. Work to change minds. And change hearts. That’s the central calling of the gospel — to proclaim and practice metanoia — a change of mind and heart that draws us more deeply into the love of God.” THIS THIS!
Let's go all Niemöller, @DianaButlerBass! :)
https://mmerikani.substack.com/p/martin-niemoller-1892-1984-first
This is so powerful. I’ve often thought about how much easier it is to cast ourselves in the Bonhoeffer role — already courageous, already on the “right side” of history — than to face the harder truth that most of us are closer to Niemöller. We have blind spots, prejudices, loyalties that keep us quiet until the suffering comes knocking at our own door.
And yet, as you name here, that makes Niemöller’s story even more relevant. If someone as compromised as he was could experience metanoia — a true change of mind and heart — then so can we. That is the gospel’s disruptive grace: it keeps cracking us open to see those we once dismissed or feared as kin.
I know in my own story, the shift from internalized racial labels to recognizing myself as an image-bearer of God didn’t happen overnight. It was halting, messy, sometimes reluctant — the kind of slow breaking open that you describe in Niemöller. Which makes me think: maybe the church’s deepest work right now isn’t only to raise up Bonhoeffers, but to walk with today’s Niemöllers — people who need space, patience, and witness to learn how to change.
I appreciate the article, but the title is terrible. We need the courage of both men.
Yes!!!
Niemoller was often quoted to me growing up by both my educator stepmother and our history and civics teacher of senior high. I didn’t learn about Bonhoeffer for a long time after that.
In my own journey, I guess I blame Sesame Street for my belief that everyone deserves acceptance and understanding. Well, maybe a little bit of not being neurotypical and taking “Jesus Loves the Little Children” to heart - if he loved everyone equally, shouldn’t I?
That said, church affiliation and election year sermons taught me a terrible misunderstanding of God’s justice. Until a Sunday School class reading through prophecy (which I always avoided because of fire and brimstone sermons from Revelations), I thought God’s justice was “accept Jesus or burn in hell.” When again and again I read as God said that his justice was care of poor, widowed, orphan and alien within your gates; that it was important to be the voice and defender of the voiceless, I realized that my Christian values were greatly missing the mark.
Then, in my personal journey, and illness I had symptoms of from childhood and had long accepted as “my own version of normal” finally became completely unmanageable, and I could no longer work. I was raised in a family which was, unfortunately, racist, and also had a lot of judgment for anyone accepting any kind of government benefits aside from social security in old age. Suddenly I became one of “those” people “working the system” and “talking advantage” of hard working people in my laziness.
Since then, I have been in acute kidney failure twice when put into positions where I couldn’t allow myself bad days to do nothing (my husband’s end of life with stage 4 cancer, and helping to care for an infant). I have been convinced that I can’t work safely. Worse, I am one of those widows and orphans at this point.
I have decided, though, to participate in places I can, and have made arrangements for care for my pets if I am arrested at some point. I am inspired by Bonhoeffer, but I guess you would classify me as a Niemoller - I never judged anyone by their origins, definitely embraced immigrants, but people on the edges of survival always got a good Calvinist, “what sin is in your life that keeps you from being able to take care of yourself?” quiet judgment for probably the first 30 years of my life (now on the wrong side of my mid 50s, according to my doctor). ❤️
This message is so important, and it needs amplification!
"Everybody counts or nobody counts." Michael Connelly via Bosch
After the meeting on February 28 between the presidents, I am more convinced that you are correct. I was saddened to see Mr Vance and Mr Trump ambush Mr Zelensky. As a country, we have no honor.
Thank you for this! I never knew their story.
I think some of this will end up in tomorrow's sermon, even though I preached about Niemöller recently: https://jeffsjottings.wordpress.com/2025/01/05/what-time-is-it/
It might also be worth noting that Maine governor Janet Mills is quoted in Dr. Heather Cox Richardson’s “Letter from an American” yesterday. She doesn’t quote Rev. Niemöller, but what she says sure echoes him. https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/february-21-2025
Yeah, with all the Walter Wink stuff that's going to be in tomorrow's sermon, there's just too much. Niemöller will need to wait for another week for his reprise.
Oh Diana, Thank you so much for this! I have been struggling with people in my life who need to hear this message- family members have been digging their heels in even though they know he has come for some of mine-even though they claim to be Christians who should care for all of God’s children whether they are mine, theirs or someone else’s. February is my birthday month too and 2 years ago when I turned 60 I began to reevaluate long held beliefs and principles. I was rethinking long held religious beliefs and one my children was beginning to discover who they were. They are a beautiful human being who simply because of their transgender identity has found themselves cast off by some who used to love them. It has been a long process for our family but we are committed to one another. Now,two years later , I am still learning, and speaking out bravely for those who are marginalized . What hurts the most in all of this is running into those who I thought would be allies and finding out they are foes. This gives me the courage to change their minds!
I am very grateful and deli to call an ELCA Lutheran my church home.
Richard Hays has had his “Niemoller” moment with his recently published book “ The Widening of God’s Mercy” he co-wrote with his son, Christopher. He apologized to the gay community for his widely published “The Moral Vision of the New Testament” where he gave gay acceptance but not affirmation. He changed in his more recent book to a gay affirmation position with a well thought out theology to support it. He then recently passed away.
Thank you for that new perspective!