Germany was considered a Christian nation. In 1933 there were 14,000 Evangelical pastors. Sadly, thousands of these pastors swore their personal allegiance to Hitler, 800 did not and were arrested, some sent to concentration camps others executed. Did the people cry out in protest? Erwin Lutzer in his book Hitler’s Cross said this, “The majority of the people, including the professing Christian, no longer believed that Christianity was worth suffering for, much less dying for. They were willing to substitute Mein Kampf (book written by Hitler detailing his political ideology) for the Bible in exchange for jobs and the greater glory of Germany. “What people value is highly detestable in God’s sight.”
In 1945 the German dream had ended and Germany was lying in ruins. Helmut Thielicke ,a German pastor, said this to his congregation. “Denying God and casting down the cross is never a merely private decision that concerns only my own inner life and my personal salvation, but this denial immediately brings the most brutal consequences for the whole of historical life and especially for our own people. God is not mocked. The history of the world can tell us terrible tales based on that text.”
Casting down the cross. Hitler wanted to blend Christianity with the Nazi Agenda. He would not tolerate Christians who worshiped Christ exclusively. Hitler changed the name of Christmas to Yuletide, Christmas Carols and Nativity plays were banned from schools and Easter was turned into a holiday that celebrated the arrival of spring. Hitler knew that by removing the cross, Christianity would loose it power. Paul said this, “I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God. As the scriptures say, I will destroy human wisdom and discard their most brilliant ideas.” 1 Corinthians 1:18,19. Lutzer ends his book with these words, “The cross reminds us that the battle is not so much between church and state as it is within our own hearts. If Christ has all of us, if the Cross stands above politics and the world as Bhonheiffer has reminded us, we shall overcome regardless of the costs.”
Since the garden of Eden, we have been at war. Good verses evil. I will end with quotes from two of God’s Apostles. Peter tells us this, “So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. ---your faith is more precious to God than mere gold.” 1 Peter 1:6,7 And these are the words of Paul, “For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.” Philippians 3:18-21
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