Sunday, May 08, 2005
VE-Day
Sixty years ago today was "Victory in Europe" Day, the declared end to the European theatre of World War II. As with any day of remembrance, this is a somber occasion to reflect on the horrors of history. I cannot help but also consider the place of Christianity within that terrible conflict. In Europe the Church was almost entirely impotent in its spiritual role leading up to and during the war. In some cases, as in Nazi Germany, the Church had even succumb to the prevailing evil around it. It is no wonder then that the Christian religion has taken a big hit in Europe over the past 50 years. One can understand the cynicism towards Christianity, believing it to be irrelevant.
VE-Day also reminds me of one of the shining stars during that period. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor, took his faith seriously and devoutly lived it despite the many pressures around him. He was viewed as a such a threat that he was imprisoned by Hitler, and died just days before the allies reached his prison near the end of the war. Bonhoeffer was a profound theologian, not only by what he believed and wrote, but by how he lived. Interestingly, in his prison writings he envisioned a time of "religionless Christianity" to address the challenges of the new age the world was entering. He recognized the ineptness of the institutionalized religion that had developed around Jesus Christ, and looked forward to a much more engaging faith. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to complete his thoughts on this matter. But, his life and example during this dark time are beacons of hope for us as we strive to follow Jesus in a world that has largely given up on religion.
VE-Day also reminds me of one of the shining stars during that period. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran pastor, took his faith seriously and devoutly lived it despite the many pressures around him. He was viewed as a such a threat that he was imprisoned by Hitler, and died just days before the allies reached his prison near the end of the war. Bonhoeffer was a profound theologian, not only by what he believed and wrote, but by how he lived. Interestingly, in his prison writings he envisioned a time of "religionless Christianity" to address the challenges of the new age the world was entering. He recognized the ineptness of the institutionalized religion that had developed around Jesus Christ, and looked forward to a much more engaging faith. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to complete his thoughts on this matter. But, his life and example during this dark time are beacons of hope for us as we strive to follow Jesus in a world that has largely given up on religion.
