This is the last posting I will place here until several days after Christmas.
Just last night I was reading a book that contains letters Martin Niemoller sent to others, mostly his wife, while in Moabit Prison. The book is entitled, Exile in the Fatherland: Martin Niemoller's Letters from Moabit Prison.
Christmas Eve and Christmas day of 1937, in his letter to his wife he outlines the steps of his days by what he understands his wife, children and Church are doing during the holy days. For instance he writes on Christmas Eve:
"The Christmas bells were ringing outside a half hour ago as I wanted to begin this letter. In the meantime they have become silent and I have had another lovely visit from Rev. Klett, who has difficult duties today. Now it is five o'clock and all of you will be coming home from Christmas vespers, preparing yourselves for the celebration."
His concern for wife and children as well as the Church are intertwined as he writes:
"The bells are beginning to ring outside now again (it is 5:30) and you will be proceeding to opening the 'gifts.' ...Who will recite the Christmas gospel? 'But there happened at the time ...' Thank God that Rosenberg has not been able to undo this and that these tidings will still live on when no one knows the 'general's' name anymore. 'The eternal light goes in here to us.' He comes to the troubled, the poor, the oppressed, to those who know 'no other gods,' - let us believe. He comes for our sake ..."
And so the promise of safety in Christ in the midst of oppression (though cloaked in careful language) is there to read. Christmas, the Incarnation the birth of the baby, the Lord of heaven and earth is that safety. Niemoller at one point writes about a Christmas newspaper; it is a very telling part of the letter. And for all historians and theologians interested in that era it confirms the paganism then mixed with Christianity.
Niemoller writes:
"Just now I was handed the Christmas newspaper. My eyes fell on the caption 'Sons of God.' I begin to read and am informed that the Galatians are supposed to have been Teutons. Up until now science said they were 'Celts.' But perhaps both or neither, so what! I am reading the close of the two columns.'That is ... the historical foundation for the exalted song that begins with Thor's hammer and sings the praise of an eternal life in this world by a child, that extends beyond the life in this world, and into which German man has has joined in from the first sound on.'
What did Jesus say to John 5:44: 'How can you believe, you that take honor from one another? And the honor that comes from God alone, you do not seek.' And Paul writes to the Romans in 1:24-26: 'Thus they have forsaken God, ... they who transform God's truth into lies and have honored and served the creature more than the creator who is praised in eternity.'
So we need not be surprised at this 'forsaking.' When God is robbed of the honor that belongs to to him, big words come of their own accord, masking naked fear and cowardice!"
Niemoller goes on to encourage his wife and all other Christians not to have a Pharisaical attitude when others are forsaking Christ and his honor. He writes:
"The great temptation for us Christians now is the Pharisee: I thank you, God, that I am not like ..." So may the child in the manger preach to us about the simplicity befitting those who receive peace from God purely through mercy. ...
Because we have not freed ourselves from fear and judgement through our faith, but instead have been taken with him 'out of fear and judgement' (Isaiah 53: 8) through the suffering of God's servant so 'that saved I can glorify joyously' (Psalm 32). and this glorifying of God should preach to those who have heard nothing thus far."
"By oppression and judgement He was taken away; and as for His generation, who considered that He was cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due."
May you all have a merry and Holy Christmas
No comments:
Post a Comment