Before the Nazis of 1930s Germany began killing homosexuals, gypsies, the disabled and Jews, they infiltrated the Christian churches, both Catholic and Protestant. Christians became divided into 3 groups, the "brown shirt" Christians who owed their allegiance to Hitler not Christ and were allowed freedom of assembly, the nominal Christians whose lives went on as usual with time out for baptisms, confirmations and weddings as though nothing evil was going on, and the "confessing Christians" who attempted to keep in place the teachings of Christ and met and prayed in secret.
It wasn't difficult to divide them--they were already weak. The 19th century German theologians had pretty much decided that the Bible was a collection of fables, tales, and pieces of edited material from other ancient cultures. The Nazis then stepped in and declared the Old Testament was Jewish, and therefore, condemned it. Sort of declared it "hate speech" as it were. Wasn't to be read, taught or followed.
How far distant are we in 2012? How many pastors and priests in the pulpit today learned at the dead clay feet of 19th century German scholars at seminaries; how many Christians today think God's justice, peace, and blessings must come at the command and hand of the state through taxation, regulation and 501 C 3 non-profits which muzzle the church’s prophetic message?
From reading Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas.
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2 comments:
That's the same thing I say about people who play tennis or sail. There is always time to do what you enjoy. I'm actually an extremely slow reader--took me weeks of effort to plow through Bonhoeffer.
I appreciate this post very much. I have been bothered for many years by the potential of the government to hamstring the church, via the tax code. Always excellent posts from your blog.
blessings
Dan
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