History of the Christian Church in Germany During WWII

Both above movements de-authorizing the word of God and then allowed other spiritual powers to take root in Germany. This may be most symbolized by two archeological artifacts which found its home in Germany’s capitol: Kaiser Wilhelm II.  brought the Pergammon Altar (Satan’s seat– Rev 3:17) to Berlin as well as the Ishtar Gate from Babylon (Gates of Hell) which definitely signifies a spiritual reign over this city.

Thirdly - the prevalent nationalist/conservative atitute of the church

• Before 1932, most evangelical Christians had very strong conservative, monarchist and nationalist views. They saw the dismantling of Wilhelm’s throne after WWI as a removal of moral stability. Some thought it was an end-time sign along with the first Aliyah waves which took place in the early 20’s. Many wanted a return of the Kaiser.

• On the other hand the Bolsheviks brought the communist revolution to Russia. They removed the Czars and started to persecute vehemently the churches. This threat from the Russian ‘atheist leftists’ was considered by most evangelicals as the most pressing threat for the Church. In Germany the communist won already 20% of the seats in the parliament.

  Many considered the conservative Nazis as a vanguard to the rise of communism. Some pastors did speak out against the Nazis as they called on churches to stop preaching from the ‘Jewish’ Old Testament, they refused to accept the call of the Gospel calling all men as sinners and in need of salvation. They taught that all people were basically good and the best needs to be brought out. This would happen through the spread of German culture and values (Deutschtum). Therefore most churches opened their doors to the Nazis in defense against the communists. They saw Hitler restoring morality in Germany – night clubs closed, homosexuality banned, communists persecuted, streets made safe etc….

• The Church fell for Hitler because they expected the danger was coming from somewhere else. They expected the enemy from atheist communism rather out of their own seemingly conservative circles.

• In 1936 a clause was added to some churches which said Jews were not welcome because they had killed Christ.

• Baptists and Elim never went along with this but could maintain some independence because they never spoke out on behalf of the Jews but they never helped them either.

• Others were imprisoned, like the founder of the German branch of the ‘Church of God’. 

• Many churches were registered organizations, and were thus required to keep laws to maintain status

• This is still a problem today and the legacy of the Holocaust has affected many of these movements.

4. Lessons to be Learned

• Rooted in the Word

• The word of God was downgraded and we must never let this happen in our own lives. Leaders today are trying to redefine Biblical values.

• Timothy says that the final consequence of the Word is love out of a good conscience (1.Tim 1:5). The film “The Weapons of the Spirit” tells the story of a village that Yad Vashem honored as entire village as Righteous Gentiles. A woman interviewed was surprised by a question asking why they did it. She said “Shouldn’t we Christians do this?” We must sharpen our conscience.

• II Thes 2:9-11 warns about the anti-Christ. He for sure is no better displayed than in Hitler. The passage warns the church that those deceived did not receive a love of the truth. This is what happened in the church in Germany (liberal theology etc.). The records show that some Baptists confessed to be “strangely attracted” to Hitler but something also warned them inside about him.

• We need a hunger for the Word of God.

• Filled with the spirit of God

• We need the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Jesus says that the Spirit  of truth will teach you and He will tell you things to come (Joh 16:13). We need the prophetic word of the Spirit that may even conflict with our own culture. I John 2:20 says that “you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.” (Note that this is said in the context of the appearance of the Anti-Christ.)

• 1.Pet 1:20f tells us that we urgently need the inspiration of God’s Spirit to understand the  prophetic word. There is also today in the church too much “own interpretation” of the prophetic word.

•  Germany had cut itself off from the Spirit and could not discern the times. We face times ahead that Germany was just a shadow of. We need a hunger for the Holy Spirit.

• Kingdom Identity

• We must have our identity founded in the Kingdom of God, not in our national identity. The agenda of the Kingdom of God needs to overwrite our national agendas. This was the mistake of the German Christians, and is today the Palestinian problem. They are Palestinians first and then Christians. The Bible frequently reminds us (I Peter 2:11; Heb. 11:13) that we are only pilgrims and strangers on this world. Our home is in Heaven.

We are connected with brothers and sisters even from other countries more than our own unbelieving countrymen. As children of God we will be in eternity