Introduction
For anyone with even a vague familiarity with Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s biography, a study titled Bonhoeffer’s Life Together in Prison might seem to focus on Bonhoeffer’s time in prison and what Christian inmates today can learn from his experience. This assumption is understandable. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Christian inmate himself for a time, certainly “did his time well.” While confined in a Gestapo prison during World War II, he produced a remarkable body of poetry and theology. Bonhoeffer made the most of his time, using it to deepen his relationship with God, his friends, and his family. He even described his imprisonment as “a good steam bath for the soul.”
However, Bonhoeffer was not afforded the opportunity to share his life together with other inmates. For the most part, he lived in solitary confinement until the Nazis hanged him at Flossenbürg Concentration Camp on April 9, 1945. Yet, Bonhoeffer’s life and writings—crafted before his imprisonment as an enemy of the state—offer valuable insights for today’s Christian inmate.
Bonhoeffer lived a potent and impactful life. Despite its brevity, his life was extraordinarily productive and inspirational. In addition to the countless pages of theology, sermons, and devotions he left behind—works that remain widely influential—Bonhoeffer provided an enduring example of living a life larger than oneself. Whether we are on this earth for a short time or an extended one, Bonhoeffer demonstrated how to be impactful and to “do our time well.” It is this phrase, “doing our time well,” that I want to focus on in relation to today’s prison inmates.
I have been involved in prison ministry for many years now. I run a nonprofit organization focused on prisons, as well as my church’s efforts within the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. The phrase “doing my time well” (or a similar expression) is one I have heard countless times behind the walls of many prisons. Its meaning varies depending on the inmate. For someone with a short sentence, it often means laying low, staying out of trouble, and ensuring a clean release. For those with longer sentences, it might mean using the time productively—perhaps by taking rehabilitative classes or earning a GED. For inmates recovering from addiction, it could signify taking advantage of the opportunity to finally get sober and think clearly for the first time in years. For lifers who will never leave prison, “doing my time well” might mean contributing to a peaceful, well-functioning community, earning respect from others, and giving respect in return. The phrase is relative, but I believe Bonhoeffer has much to offer any Christian inmate striving to achieve it.
Through my work with hundreds of inmates each week and my study of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, I have often thought that his book Life Together could serve as a vital guide for Christian inmates. These men and women, by their very circumstances, are forced to “do life together.” Bonhoeffer’s insights could help them enhance their relationships with God and with one another. In Life Together, Bonhoeffer wrote, “The Christian cannot simply take for granted the privilege of living among other Christians.” Christian inmates have a unique—and dare I say privileged—opportunity to live and grow within a strong Christian community. The goal of this paper is to explore how Bonhoeffer’s Life Together could serve as a valuable tool for incarcerated individuals to strengthen their faith and relationships, and in doing so, to truly “do their time well.”
Additionally, I wanted to explore whether Life Together could be a foundational resource for launching future church campuses inside prisons. There are 22 state correctional centers in Oklahoma, and my church’s goal is to establish a well-functioning campus in each one. Each campus would include a structured church, godly inmate leadership, and an active Christian community on the yard. We have already achieved this at Joseph Harp Correctional Facility in Lexington, Oklahoma, though it took time to develop the necessary organization and spiritual groundwork. I wondered if Life Together could help inmates prepare spiritually and establish a framework well before the structures and technology we plan to bring their way.
To test this idea, four Christian inmates within the Oklahoma Department of Corrections agreed to study Life Togetherwith me over six weeks. They took detailed notes, met with me weekly, and shared their thoughts on how Christian inmates could implement the practical principles found in the book. Before introducing the inmates who joined me on this journey, it may be helpful to begin with a brief overview of Bonhoeffer’s life for context and support.
