"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." (Col. 2:8, NASB)
The Church of Jesus Christ historically has had to fight the seduction of the state to compromise, even amalgamate itself with the pervading social, political, and cultural order. Followers of Jesus Christ all over the world can learn from one of the most vicious examples of this, the experience of the German Church during the 1930s.
I have included below some excerpts from the "Barmen Declaration," which was the birth of the "Confessing Church," in Nazi Germany. Led by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the "Confessing Church" sought to be the Church of Jesus Christ, "in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation." During this time, what Shirer called Germany's "descent into Hell," there was a majority movement which arose within the German Evangelical Church, called the "German Christians." They attempted to amalgamate the German Evangelical Church with the Reich Church, a perversion of Christianity which arose after the victory of the National Socialists in the June and November, 1932 elections. In January, 1933, since no party had a clear majority, President Hindenburg appointed Adolph Hitler, the leader of the majority Nazi Party, as chancellor. In the midst of this great upheaval in German society, it did not take long before it became clear, as Bonhoeffer wrote, that the battle in the German Church was leading to "a large national church, with which we will then have to contend." The example of the "Confessing Church" in Germany during that period is an inspiring example to all who would, "deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow," Jesus Christ.
II. Theological Declaration Concerning the Present Situation of the German Evangelical Church
8.11 Jesus Christ, as he is attested for us in the Holy Scripture, is the one Word of God which we have to hear and which we have to trust and obey in life and in death.
8.12 We reject the false doctrine, as though the church could and would have to acknowledge as a source of its proclamation, apart from and besides this one Word of God, still other events and powers, figures and truths, as God's revelation.
8.15 We reject the false doctrine, as though there were areas of our life in which we would not belong to Jesus Christ, but to other lords-- areas in which we would not need justification and sanctification through him.
8.17 The Christian Church is the congregation of the brethren in which Jesus Christ acts presently as the Lord in word and sacrament through the Holy Spirit. As the Church of pardoned sinners, it has to testify in the midst of a sinful world, with its faith as with its obedience, with its message as with its order, that it is solely his property, and that it lives and wants to live solely from his comfort and from his direction in the expectation of his appearance.
8.18 We reject the false doctrine, as though the Church were permitted to abandon the form of its message and order to its own pleasure or to changes in prevailing ideological and political convictions.
Father, in Jesus' Name, grant me strength in the days ahead to stay true to You, Your Church, and Your Kingdom. Amen.
***********************
News, Commentary: www.apf327.blogspot.com
Devotional Archive: www.apfdevotionals.blogspot.com
Prophetic Video: www.antipasprayerforce2.blogspot.com
The Church of Jesus Christ historically has had to fight the seduction of the state to compromise, even amalgamate itself with the pervading social, political, and cultural order. Followers of Jesus Christ all over the world can learn from one of the most vicious examples of this, the experience of the German Church during the 1930s.
I have included below some excerpts from the "Barmen Declaration," which was the birth of the "Confessing Church," in Nazi Germany. Led by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the "Confessing Church" sought to be the Church of Jesus Christ, "in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation." During this time, what Shirer called Germany's "descent into Hell," there was a majority movement which arose within the German Evangelical Church, called the "German Christians." They attempted to amalgamate the German Evangelical Church with the Reich Church, a perversion of Christianity which arose after the victory of the National Socialists in the June and November, 1932 elections. In January, 1933, since no party had a clear majority, President Hindenburg appointed Adolph Hitler, the leader of the majority Nazi Party, as chancellor. In the midst of this great upheaval in German society, it did not take long before it became clear, as Bonhoeffer wrote, that the battle in the German Church was leading to "a large national church, with which we will then have to contend." The example of the "Confessing Church" in Germany during that period is an inspiring example to all who would, "deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow," Jesus Christ.
II. Theological Declaration Concerning the Present Situation of the German Evangelical Church
8.11 Jesus Christ, as he is attested for us in the Holy Scripture, is the one Word of God which we have to hear and which we have to trust and obey in life and in death.
8.12 We reject the false doctrine, as though the church could and would have to acknowledge as a source of its proclamation, apart from and besides this one Word of God, still other events and powers, figures and truths, as God's revelation.
8.15 We reject the false doctrine, as though there were areas of our life in which we would not belong to Jesus Christ, but to other lords-- areas in which we would not need justification and sanctification through him.
8.17 The Christian Church is the congregation of the brethren in which Jesus Christ acts presently as the Lord in word and sacrament through the Holy Spirit. As the Church of pardoned sinners, it has to testify in the midst of a sinful world, with its faith as with its obedience, with its message as with its order, that it is solely his property, and that it lives and wants to live solely from his comfort and from his direction in the expectation of his appearance.
8.18 We reject the false doctrine, as though the Church were permitted to abandon the form of its message and order to its own pleasure or to changes in prevailing ideological and political convictions.
Father, in Jesus' Name, grant me strength in the days ahead to stay true to You, Your Church, and Your Kingdom. Amen.
***********************
News, Commentary: www.apf327.blogspot.com
Devotional Archive: www.apfdevotionals.blogspot.com
Prophetic Video: www.antipasprayerforce2.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
