“No class or group or party in Germany could escape its share of responsibility for the abandonment of the democratic Republic and the advent of Adolf Hitler. The cardinal error of the Germans who opposed Nazism was their failure to unite against it. ”
~ William L. Shirer
In honor of William L. Shirer, an American journalist, war correspondent, and author of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, who was born on this day in 1904.
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“Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the Cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life but in the thick of foes. There is his commission, his work. ‘The kingdom is to be in the midst of your enemies. And he who will not suffer this does not want to be of the Kingdom of Christ; he wants to be among friends, to sit among roses and lilies, not with the bad people but the devout people. O you blasphemers and betrayers of Christ! If Christ had done what you are doing who would ever have been spared’ (Luther).”
~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
In honor of Deitrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran pastor, theologian, and dissident anti-Nazi, who was hung by the Nazis at Flossenbürg Concentration Camp on this day in 1945.
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Today in Christian History, April 9
Dietrich Bonhoeffer>Quotes
“The first word of our preaching cannot be to call the young generation away from the Third Reich and to God’s kingdom, which is entirely different from it. A thousand times we made the mistake, to preach the second word before the first word. That is why the second word became not only incomprehensible but false.”
“The first word must be: The Reich (kingdom) is accomplishment of creation, fulfillment, and restoration of this life, answer to our questions, and salvation for our bodily and political miseries. Every historical liberation and recovery therefore is a previous indication, a hint to God’s kingdom.” (The second word should be) “Earthly regeneration is a parable, but just alone a parable of the things to come.”
~ Paul Althaus
In honor of Paul Althaus, a German theologian, who was born on this day in 1888. Also on this day, Adolf Hilter seizes control of the German Army and puts Nazi officials in key posts.
Resources:
Today in Christian History – February 4
Paul Althaus – A Representative of the Erlangen School
Theologians Under Hitler
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The Two Kingdoms Doctrine Gone Awry: The Case of Paul Althaus
A DEVOTED LIFE 