From the column, “What About It, Bob?” By Bob Siegel
© 2002 by Bob Siegel All Rights Reserved
This article is not to be reproduced without written permission from the author.
“The streets of our country are in turmoil. The universities are filled with students rebelling and rioting. Communists are seeking to destroy our country and the republic is in danger, yes danger from within and without. We need law and order, without law and order, our nation cannot survive.” 1
Sounds like any present day American politician running for office, doesn’t it? Those were the words of Adolph Hitler in 1932. Perhaps, as you read this, your head is shaking and you say to yourself, “If only the people had known his true intentions. If only they could have seen how this man was exploiting problems to create the cruelest dictatorship in history.”
For years, many of us have been fascinated by Science Fiction stories about people who travel back through time in an attempt to stop some major catastrophe. If you were allowed a journey to Pre-Nazi Germany, what would you say? What would you do? How would you warn an unsuspecting people of the tyranny that was sneaking up around them, disguised like a charming pied piper?
Actually, you don’t need a time machine. Present day America shares many traits with Pre-Nazi Germany.
“Oh come now. We’re a completely different culture and a very diverse people.”
We are a different culture in some ways. But there are still many chilling parallels between what we see in America today and what was going on in Germany before Hitler took over.
The German people felt isolated from the world and hated by many countries in the aftermath of World War I. Their economy was troubled. They were short on patriotism and lacking in unity. Many factions and political parties were battling for the soul of the country, including the Communist and Socialist parties. The Weimar Republic was viewed as a disappointing government, and people were loosing faith in their leaders. Many conservative Germans were afraid that a new, liberal menace from within might change the landscape of the country.
Sexual morality was also at an all time low as highlighted by the sleazy cabaret shows. The city of Berlin served as a base for homosexual activism during this time as it had been since the end of the nineteenth century. Germany’s first gay organization, The Scientific Humanitarian Committee was established by activist Magnus Hirschfeld who also created the Institute for Sexual Research that sought to present homosexual behavior as normal and healthy.2
For the most part, churches were ineffective in turning back the winds of loose living and few even tried. Filling the void left untouched by Christianity, was a rising interest in the occult, (witchcraft, astrology etc.)
Does any of this sound familiar? Now, consider a less obvious, but very important analogy: Humiliation over loss of a war. With Germany, it was World War I. With us, it was Vietnam. No, we were not conquered or defeated in Vietnam, but we abandoned the mission after ten years of fighting and thousands of dead American soldiers. Therefore, Vietnam is viewed as the first war Americans ever lost, and we still haven’t recovered. Even our recent victory in Iraq is plagued with the fear that a protracted stay will create another Vietnam.
All of this made things ripe for the Nazis. Keep in mind that no one had ever heard of Nazis before. They came in the name of nationalism, without horns and without pitchforks. The big fear was Communism, a legitimate fear to be sure, and one of the factions dividing Germany, but their abilities were exaggerated by Hitler and used as an excuse to come to power.
“OK. There may be some similarities. But America has a constitution filled with checks and balances! And this constitution was put in practice to protect our republic from takeover by dictators like Hitler.”
Germany also had a constitution under the Weimar Republic, laced with rights and liberties for its citizens.
Hitler swore an oath to this constitution when he came into power.
“I will employ my struggle for the welfare of the German people, protect the constitution and the laws of the German people, conscientiously discharge the duties imposed on me and conduct my affairs of office impartially with justice for everyone.” Jan 30, 1933 3
Wow! A man of the people! Almost brings a tear to your eye, doesn’t it? But even as he spoke, Adolph The Compassionate had plans to overthrow the very constitution he was swearing to uphold.
Of course, anybody reading the already published Mien Kemp, could have already known just exactly what he planned to do. It has been said that if you listen to an evil man long enough he will sooner or later tell you his true intentions.
How was this possible? How could a man speak of both peace and tyranny at the same time? Actually, it was quite easy. The wicked talk was so vulgar, the ideas so outrageous, that intelligent people failed to take him seriously. They refused to believe that the land of Beethoven, Brahms and Luther could ever fall prey to a war-mongering despot. Hitler’s scapegoating of the Jews, Communists, and others was viewed as mere fuel for the naive masses, a minor political ploy, a means to an end. Any freethinking, civilized person knew that the philosophy of Adolph Hitler would never reach fruition. Meanwhile, Hitler was good for the economy and that’s what was most important. “It’s the economy, stupid.” Germany saw some of its greatest prosperity under Hitler and to top it all off, he even made the trains run on time!
If the Germans of that era seemed amazingly naïve, remember that many people today, after the fact, still don’t take Hitler seriously! The Institute For Historical Review actually teaches that the Holocaust never really happened, repeating the kind of tripe that we previously heard only from organizations like the Ku Klux Klan. But this new revisionism sounds far more fashionable, speaking in the name of scholarship with university audiences.4
The first step toward the Holocaust repeating itself is to convince people that it never happened in the first place, that the whole story was nothing but “Jewish propaganda.” Of course, that phrase, “Jewish propaganda” was instrumental in bringing about the first Holocaust.
But one doesn’t have to be a bigot to believe such lies. Most people today have trouble believing in any evil at all. Twenty-first century humans are under the impression that they have been morally evolving since the beginning of history. The idea of a holocaust in our enlightened, technologically superior time smacks into the face of our sensibilities as hard as the airplanes of 9-ll. That’s why we’re encouraged to talk with terrorists and “find out what they really want.” After all, it’s impossible that certain people might intend to kill us no matter what we do or say. Who would commit terror just because he enjoys doing evil?
That’s why a mother who kills her children is called insane. Follow the logic. “There could be nothing more unthinkable than for a mother to kill her own children. No mother would ever intentionally do that. What? You say this mother did kill her children? Oh…well then there must have been extenuating circumstances. Otherwise this would be an evil too reprehensible to imagine and of course there’s no such thing as evil. And so, she could not possibly have been thinking clearly. Therefore, the action itself automatically proves her insanity.”
Hitler was also called “insane,” a “mad man.” But he wasn’t mad. He was a very capable adversary who knew just exactly what he was doing. He accomplished his goals calmly and shrewdly in a very systematic manner.
It must be pointed out that Hitler came to power legally, one gradual step at a time. Hitler was elected as President Hinderberg’s chancellor under Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution, a section that allowed the presidency the authority to create a more autocratic type of government to protect the democracy from revolutions. The article was originally written to prevent the Communists from coming into power.
Later, Hitler talked Hindernburg into signing a law that would prohibit public meeting and censor publications that threatened public security. This neutralized the Socialists and Communists.
On Feb 27,1933, the Communists were blamed for burning the Reichstag building. This allowed Hitler to talk Hindenberg into signing even newer, bolder measures: “temporary” suspension of freedom of speech, press and assembly, topped off by the government’s right to check an individual’s mail, telephone, telegrams, etc. House searches were also allowed without a warrant. During this time, the death penalty replaced life imprisonment as the new punishment for arson, sabotage or freedom. And the definition of treason was re-written to mean “any viewpoint that disagreed with the Nazi Party.” As icing on the cake, the Enabling Act granted the government “emergency legislation for a specific period of time.” Translation: The government was now allowed to do things formally forbidden in the constitution.
Of course, our own, present day fear of terrorism has brought about the controversial Patriot Act. Many things about the Patriot Act are understandable and appreciated but the Act also allows government access to personal records such as E-Mail etc. With all due respect to the sincerity of our present administration, we may want to soberly consider how future, less moral leaders might use such unchecked power. The unchecked power in Germany finally merged the Presidency and Chancellor ship into one position, held by Hitler, and a new legal dictatorship was born.
What will happen to the church of America as our landscape increasingly resembles Nazi Germany? Probably churches will always be allowed to exist in America, so long as they remain “tolerant.” Likewise, Hitler was smart enough at first to not openly assault Christians. In fact, he promised to leave churches alone on the single condition that they refrain from political involvement. There was a taunt to this arrangement that many American Christians can perhaps relate too. So long as we have our morning service and special times of worship, so long as nobody interferes with the Wednesday night potluck or the Monday night Bible study, why be concerned? Churches tend to separate themselves from society with the exception of preaching the gospel. But Christ called us to be the salt of the earth, and if God’s people won’t speak out against evil, who will? For all intents and purposes, the church was asleep during Hitler’s takeover. Of course there were some who did object to what was going on, but for the most part, churches were too divided to offer resistance. In fact, Hitler encouraged a special “Faith Movement Of German Christians,” which made the church at large a united organization that would shadow the Nazi movement.
Finally, pastors such as Martin Niemuller began to wake up and a new church was born in 1934 called the Confessional Church. Mostly Lutheran and Reformed Christians joined, and for a period of time, many clergy stood by this new uncompromising body. The Confessional Church stood up to the state and revival broke out in the land. As Bible sales increased, the Nazis became concerned. They imprisoned many pastors including Niemuller and the famous Dietrich Bonhoffer. The arrests were primarily limited to those pastors who openly spoke out against cruelty to the Jews or euthanasia for handicapped people. Others spoke out against the eugenic programs where selected unwed mothers were chosen for special cross breeding to create a super race. Not only were the outspoken pastors arrested but Church youth groups were discontinued as well, and many kids were enrolled in the Hitler Youth instead. In time, 85 percent of pastors in Confessional Church were taken into the armies. Some, like Bonhoeffer, were executed.
“Even if our government is headed down the road of church persecution, it seems that it wouldn’t happen until a long time from now.”
It might be a lot sooner than you think. Consider the philosophy behind our new and growing Hate Crime legislation. Hate, is a bad word; and therefore, a convenient word in the hands of activists with an agenda. Today, many people are calling the Bible a book of hate speech because of its comments about homosexuality and because of its “lack of tolerance” toward those who will not turn to Jesus. Already, a pastor in Sweden has been arrested and charged with a hate crime for calling homosexuality a sin from the pulpit.5 Our closer neighbor Canada, recently passed legislation that could forbid the public reading of certain “offensive’ portions of scripture.6 Many in America are voicing the desire for similar laws. Make no mistake about it; Christian freedom in the United States is being suspended by a thin thread.
“Well, even if we do loose our freedom, can anybody stop fate? Should we even try? Maybe this will be part of the Great Tribulation that ushers in the second coming of Christ.”
Christ will definitely return some day to rule this world and it may indeed be soon but we do not know for a fact that He is returning in our generation.
“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matt 24:36)
I’m always suspicious of somebody claiming to have more information than Jesus chose to give.
“Well, maybe we don’t know for sure that the Great Tribulation is upon us but wouldn’t any kind of persecution be good for the church? Don’t trials purify Christians and bring them together in greater unity?”
Actually, it is a myth that persecution is always good for the church. Certainly, we serve a God who can bring good out of bad situations. God does promise to be faithful and give us the power to take stands in the midst of fiery ordeals, but when trials come about before new believers can be discipled, before they can be taught to walk in the Spirit, the results are often disastrous.
Perhaps the most celebrated and glorified time in church history (beyond New Testament times) is the second and third centuries, when many Roman emperors launched attacks against Christianity. How often Christians have watched heroic episodes in movies and marveled at the unity and purity of this early church, “unstained by the corruption which often comes with freedom and control.”
It may interest you to know that the real Roman persecutions were a bit more complicated than Hollywood’s version. For one thing, persecution tended to come and go like the ocean tide, frequently changing when a cruel emperor was replaced with a nicer one and vice-versa. During times of persecution, many professing Christians compromised their faith and denied Christ. True, there were brave people as well, but they were the ones killed off, leaving the cowards to run the church when the next Caesar adopted a more benevolent policy and allowed churches to flourish again. When repentant people sought re-admission to the church, after having denied their savior, fellow believers weren’t always sure what to do with them. Did their denial mean that they had lost their salvation? Or had they never really been saved in the first place? Should they be re-admitted into the church? Should there be a probation period? It was a confusing mess!
We may indeed face persecution here in America, no matter how hard we try to avoid it. If so, let us pray to God for the strength to endure, but let us not cooperate with the process. Let us not sit back idly and accept the changing times without a fight.
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim 2:1-4
This passage makes two important points:
1) There is nothing wrong with desiring a peaceful life. Indeed, God wouldn’t be urging us to pray for peace if peace wasn’t His ideal.
2) Peace is evidently conducive to the spreading of the gospel. Yes, the gospel has also been known to flourish during times of persecution, but apparently it spreads even better in a benign environment. Peace and the gospel go hand-in-hand.
Most Christians had no legal rights in those days. Very few were Roman citizens like Paul. They did not live under a democracy as we do. Prayer was their only opportunity to change the political landscape. Today, we live in a unique time in history when the governors and the governed are one and the same. If Paul were alive today, would he have given us additional instruction along with the command to pray? Would he also ask us to vote, write our senators, lobby for causes, etc? Probably.
Summary
It was the purpose of this article to examine the recent history of Germany, as a lesson, a preview, if you will, of what could happen in America and to challenge the idea that such persecution might actually be good for us. Whether or not it is too late to do anything about the changing climate, only time will tell, but we would be well advised to try it.
1. As quoted by Hal Lindsey, “There’s A New World Coming,” Vision House, Publishers, Santa Anna California, 1973, pg 189
2. From the online article “Berlin” 2004, glbtq, inc.
3. As quoted by Lucy S Dawidowicz, “The War against The Jews 1933-1945”, Bantam Books Inc.,1975, pg. 63
4. Shermer, Michael. Open Letter to Holocaust Revisionists. 1995,
(http://www.skeptic.com/shermer-to-revisionists.txt)Tokuno, Hajime. Holocaust Denial. The Connecticut Skeptic, 1996 The Nizkor Projects (http://www.nizkor.org/)
5. Robert Knight, “Christians Fear Effects of Canada’s New Hate Crimes Law” 4/30/2004, http://www.cwfa.org/articles/5588/CFI/freedom
6. Robert Knight; “When You Hear the Term ‘Civil Unions,’ Think of Czechoslovakia” 3-4-2004, Theodor Winston “Would Hate Crimes Laws Make You a Lawbreaker?” Pike,”www.truthtellers.org“, John Leo, “Stomping on Free Speech”, U.S. News and world Report, 4-19-04
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