Page 42 - FOUNDATIONS FOR LIFE; EXPLORING GOD’S UNIVERSE

Dietrich quickly became a lecturer and respected writer but God had a higher calling of

martyrdom for him.

When Hitler came to power, Dietrich was one of the few who understood this was an attempt to

shape and make history without God. Dietrich became a pastor and tried as early as 1933 to

explain to British friends the true nature of the struggle in Germany. Also in that year, he

spoke on radio denouncing a system, which made the Hitler like God. Dietrich was deeply

committed to show the teachings of Jesus.

In 1935, he formed an illegal Training College. Young ministers from all over Germany came

here to learn true brotherhood in following Jesus’ teaching. The Gestapo didn’t force it to

close until 1940. When war broke out friends urged him to escape the country and save his life

but he refused, saying, “I shall have no right to participate in the reconstruction of Christian

life in Germany after the war if I do not share the trials of this time with my people.”

The Gestapo (German police) arrested him along with his sister and her husband on 5 April

1943. In prison and concentration camp, he inspired many, even his guards, with his courage,

unselfishness and goodness.

During the terrible bombings of Berlin when men in prison became hysterical, Dietrich stood

‘like a giant before men’. A few days before allies would have set him free, Nazis hanged him

by order of Hitler. He died because he refused to deny or compromise what Jesus taught. His

most famous book is ‘The Cost of Discipleship’. Another about the Body of Christ was ‘Life

Together’. He was a great Bible teacher and thinker. Dietrich’s life helped many to think

straight in evil times. He demonstrated true discipleship of Jesus following his example even in

death.

(Foundations for Life) 31