Hitler's Cross

1. Hitler's Rise: The Seduction of a Nation Through Nationalism and Economic Promises

"If he had died before World War II, one historian mused, he would have gone down in history as "Adolf the Great, one of the outstanding figures in German history.""

Hitler's initial appeal was rooted in his ability to tap into German nationalism and economic desperation following World War I. He promised to:

• Revive a collapsed economy
• Erase the shame of Germany's defeat in World War I
• Provide full employment and attractive vacations
• Build freeways and produce affordable cars

The Nazi propaganda machine skillfully portrayed Hitler as a messianic figure, a savior who could restore Germany's greatness. This image, combined with his charismatic speeches and the Nazi party's intimidation tactics, allowed Hitler to consolidate power rapidly, transforming Germany from a democracy to a dictatorship in just a few years.

2. The Cross vs. The Swastika: Christianity's Struggle Against Nazi Ideology

"Hitler offered himself as a messiah with a divine mission to save Germany."

Nazi "Positive Christianity" was an attempt to redefine Christianity to align with Nazi ideology. It involved:

• Removing Jewish elements from the Bible
• Portraying Jesus as an Aryan
• Emphasizing nationalism over traditional Christian values

The German Christian movement within the Protestant church embraced Nazi ideology, adorning altars with Nazi flags and giving the Nazi salute. This created a deep divide within the church, as some Christians recognized the fundamental incompatibility between Nazi ideology and true Christianity.

The conflict between the Cross and the swastika represented a struggle for the soul of Germany, pitting the humility and sacrificial love of Christ against the pride and violence of Nazism.

3. Bonhoeffer and Niemöller: Voices of Resistance in the German Church

"God's victory means our defeat, it means our humiliation; it means God's mocking anger at all human arrogance, being puffed up, trying to be important in our own right."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer emerged as a prophetic voice, calling the church to remain true to Christ rather than conforming to Nazi ideology. He:

• Opposed the Aryan Clause that excluded Jews from ministry
• Established an underground seminary to train pastors for the Confessing Church
• Eventually joined a plot to assassinate Hitler, leading to his imprisonment and execution

Martin Niemöller, initially supportive of Hitler, became a vocal critic of Nazi interference in church affairs. He:

• Helped form the Pastors' Emergency League to resist Nazi control of the church
• Spent seven years in concentration camps for his opposition
• Famously reflected on the dangers of remaining silent in the face of injustice

These men exemplified costly discipleship, risking their lives to stand for Christ against the tide of Nazism.

4. The Holocaust: Anti-Semitism's Horrific Culmination in Nazi Germany

"I do not look upon Jews as animals, they are further removed from animals than we are.… Therefore it is not a crime to exterminate them, since they do not belong to humanity at all."

The roots of Nazi anti-Semitism drew from various sources:

• Centuries of European Christian anti-Judaism
• Racial theories of Aryan superiority
• Scapegoating Jews for Germany's defeat in World War I

The "Final Solution" represented the systematized attempt to exterminate European Jewry. It involved:

• Dehumanizing propaganda
• Legal discrimination
• Forced ghettoization
• Mass shootings
• Industrial-scale murder in death camps

The Holocaust exposed the depths of human depravity and the dangers of unchecked state power, leaving an indelible mark on human history and consciousness.

5. God's Sovereignty: Divine Providence in the Midst of Evil

"Hitler could not have ruled except that it was "given to [him] from God." He would have had no power at all, unless it were granted from above."

The paradox of God's sovereignty in the face of evil is a central theological challenge posed by the Nazi era. Key points include:

• God remains in ultimate control, even when evil seems to triumph
• Satan and human free will operate within divinely set boundaries
• God can use even the darkest events for His ultimate purposes

The refining of faith through suffering is a recurring biblical theme. The Nazi era:

• Exposed the weakness of nominal Christianity
• Strengthened the faith of true believers who stood firm
• Demonstrated the power of the gospel in the midst of darkness

This perspective doesn't minimize the horror of Nazi atrocities but affirms that God's purposes will ultimately prevail, even through human evil.

6. The Church's Failure: Compromise and Silence in the Face of Tyranny

"Christianity in Germany bears a greater responsibility before God than the National Socialists, the SS and the Gestapo."

The German church's compromise with Nazism took several forms:

• Embracing nationalist ideology over biblical Christianity
• Accepting the Aryan Clause, excluding Jewish Christians from ministry
• Remaining silent in the face of Nazi atrocities

Factors contributing to this failure included:

• A long history of close ties between church and state
• Theological liberalism that had undermined biblical authority
• The doctrine of "two spheres" that separated political and spiritual realms

The church's capitulation serves as a sobering warning about the dangers of aligning Christianity with political power and nationalism.

7. Lessons for Today: Vigilance Against State Encroachment on Religious Freedom

"The goal is total control—the complete submission of the church to the arbitrary moral whims of the political establishment."

Modern parallels to Nazi-era challenges include:

• Efforts to remove religious expression from public life
• Redefining religious freedom as merely private belief
• Pressure to conform to secular ideologies in education and business

Strategies for resistance drawn from the German experience:

• Maintain clear separation between church and state
• Prioritize biblical fidelity over cultural relevance
• Be prepared for civil disobedience when state demands conflict with Christian conscience

Christians must be vigilant in defending religious liberty while avoiding the trap of seeking political power to impose faith.

8. The Power of the Cross: Costly Grace and True Discipleship

"When God calls a man, he bids him come and die."

Bonhoeffer's concept of "costly grace" challenges easy believism:

• Salvation is free, but it demands our whole life
• True faith results in radical obedience to Christ
• The cross means death to self and worldly ambitions

Implications for Christian living:

• Willingness to suffer for Christ
• Rejection of worldly measures of success
• Commitment to biblical truth over cultural accommodation

The power of the cross is demonstrated not in earthly triumph, but in faithful witness even unto death.

9. Heroism in Dark Times: Courageous Individuals Who Stood Against Evil

"There are times in which lectures and publications no longer suffice to communicate the necessary truth. At such times the deeds and sufferings of the saints must create a new alphabet in order to reveal again the secret of truth."

Examples of heroism during the Nazi era:

• Pastors who refused to take the oath of loyalty to Hitler
• Individuals who hid Jews at great personal risk
• Resistance members who plotted against the regime

Characteristics of these heroes:

• Moral clarity in the face of evil
• Willingness to sacrifice personal safety for others
• Faith that sustained them through suffering

These stories remind us that ordinary individuals can make extraordinary choices that shine light in the darkest times.

Last updated: November 18, 2024