Eric Reece
In recent weeks, a number of anniversaries have occurred. We recognized the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, which was the start of the liberation of Europe during World War II.
Another anniversary – not as well known is the 90th anniversary of the important church document – the Barmen Declaration.
In 1933, the Nazi Party in Germany insisted on the Christian churches being under control of the state. Not all Christians in Germany believed in the dominance of the state over the church and started the Confessing Church movement. They opposed the Nazi’s unifying the churches into a Reich Church which supported Nazi ideology.
The Confessing Church met in Barmen from May 29-31, 1934. Leaders, ministers and educators from the Lutheran, Reformed and United churches were present. They came together to make an official statement in opposition to the state controlling the church. They stood fast on the historic creeds and confessions of the Christian church.
It was the first time these denominations had joined to make a common protestant confession since Luther’s Reformation. One leader – Reformed theologian Karth Barth – led the way. The declaration ended with six statements each prefaced by scripture.
Here is a brief summary:
* The only source of divine revelation is the Word of God – Jesus Christ.
* Jesus Christ is the only Lord of all aspects of life and there is no other.
* The message of the church should not be influenced by current political convictions.
* The church should not be ruled by a political leader.
* The state should not fulfill the task of the church and vice versa. State and church are both limited to their own business.
* Therefore, the Barmen Declaration rejects the subordination of the church to the state and the subordination of the Word and Spirit to the church.
One of the pastors at Barmen was Martin Niemöller. For his opposition to the state controlling the churc,h he narrowly escaped execution and was imprisoned from 1938-45. Released at the end of the war, he struggled with regrets of his former political views and not doing enough to help the countless victims. In 1946, he wrote a poem that told of the danger of indifference.
It is known from the first few words, First They Came:
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a socialist.
“Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out – because I was not a trade unionist.
“Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out – because I was not a Jew.
“Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak for me.”
The Presbyterian Church USA includes the Barmen Declaration in its Book of Order with these words: “The declaration proclaims the church’s freedom in Jesus Christ who is Lord of every area of life. The church obeys him as God’s one and only Word who determines its order, ministry, and relation to the state.”
The Confessing Church and the Barmen Declaration serve as an inspiration to Christians everywhere facing injustice and oppression from the state. Like many historic creeds and confessions of the church, it is both for all time and very timely for the struggles we face today.
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church and can be reached via email, ereece@wnccumc.net.