3/19/2024 0 Comments Echoes of BarmenEchoes of Barmen: Prophetic Voices for Church and State in the 21st CenturyAmerican Christianity stands at a crossroads. The echoes of a bygone era resonate with unsettling clarity, urging us to revisit the enduring question of faith’s role amidst political discord. From the shadows of Nazi Germany emerges the prophetic call of the Barmen Declaration, a testament to the fight for Christian autonomy in the face of totalitarian intrusion. An intrusion that could erode the vital principle of religious equality and freedom of faith, any faith, within America. Our faith can and should inform us as Christian citizens, but we should not allow ourselves to be manipulated by internal or outside forces supporting an unchristian agenda. Instead, our work as Christians is to shape systems of authority impacting our community, nation, and the world and to prevent the rise of powers and principalities that dehumanize and threaten all of humanity under the gaze of God and heaven. We must remember to embrace Christ's two greatest commandments with fierce passion. Hear what our Lord Jesus saith: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 22:37-40 Drafted in 1934, the Barmen Declaration 1 —was more than a theological treatise; it was a clamorous – brilliantly bright call for the sanctity of the Church from the grasping hand of the state. The rise of the German Christians, 2 advocating the unholy alliance of church and Nazi ideology, epitomized the perilous dance between religious faith and political power. This movement, intent on purging Christianity of its Jewish heritage and bending it to the will of the Nazi regime, stood in stark contrast to the resolute stance of the Confessing Church. 3 Barth, Bonhoeffer, and Niemöller – these champions of the Confessing Church – affirmed Christ’s Lordship over the Church, rejecting the totalitarian grip of any earthly doctrine. Karl Barth, a leading architect of the declaration, stood firm against idolatry in all its forms, including the deification of the state. His voice continues to resonate today, a stark warning against the problematic fusion of God’s kingdom with earthly power. In an age where political figures drape themselves in the cloak of piety to further their agendas, the Barmen Declaration’s insistence on Jesus Christ as the sole divine word rings truer than ever. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s emphasis on the cost of discipleship and the perils of “cheap grace” enriches this discourse. His life, culminating in the ultimate sacrifice against Hitler’s tyranny, serves as a stark reminder of the ethical imperative to confront injustice. His example compels us to see through the empty piety of contemporary political figures who cloak themselves in a veneer of Christianity without embodying its true tenets. Martin Niemöller’s lament 4 — “ First they came…” on the silence of the clergy in the face of rising Nazi evil serves as a cautionary tale for our own time. His words urge us to remember our responsibility to the marginalized and resist the coopting of our faith for oppressive ends. The Barmen Declaration’s call for a clear separation between church and state is as relevant today as ever. This principle, both a constitutional safeguard and a theological imperative, guards against the state’s idolatry and the Church’s corruption. The blurring of lines between contemporary society’s religious and political spheres – the co-optation of Christian symbols and narratives for political gain – underscores the dangers of such entanglement to the integrity of faith and the health of our democracy. The Barmen Declaration compels us to assess our allegiances critically. In an era of deep divisions and entrenched identities, the allure of marrying the Church to partisan agendas threatens to silence the prophetic voice of Christianity. The declaration calls us to a discipleship that transcends political divides by reminding us of Christ’s preeminence over earthly affiliations. This discipleship advocates for justice, peace, and love of neighbor. The theological legacies of Barth, Bonhoeffer, and Niemöller offer invaluable guidance for navigating the complex relationship between church and state in 21st-century America. Their unwavering witness against the allure of power and fidelity to the Gospel message serve as beacons for Christians committed to justice and integrity. As we face the challenges of our own time, let us draw inspiration from these figures who dared to affirm the light of Christ in the face of encroaching darkness. The legacy of the Confessing Church and the lessons learned after the Holocaust remain ever-relevant. While significant progress has been made in Christian-Jewish relations, the disturbing rise of antisemitism in 2024 compels us to a renewed vigilance. The old strains of hatred, often disguised in new rhetoric, slither back into our societies. In these troubling times, the unwavering commitment to truth, justice, and the inherent dignity of every person – the very principles championed by Barth, Bonhoeffer, and Niemöller – are potent guides for Christians today. Combating antisemitism demands not just theological reflection but concrete action. Interfaith dialogue, educational initiatives, and a resolute public stand against all forms of bigotry are essential weapons in this ongoing struggle. By remembering the past and living out the core tenets of our faith, Christians can play a vital role in ensuring that the light of understanding triumphs over the darkness of antisemitism or other movements of dehumanization within the world. 5 A renewed vision where we come to witness, as Christians, the need to embrace and respect interfaith awareness, appreciation, acceptance, and engagement in a pluralistic world. —Ron Starbuck Publisher/CEO/Executive Editor Saint Julian Press, Inc. © 2024
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Publisher's BlogRON STARBUCK is the Publisher/CEO/Executive Editor of Saint Julian Press, Inc., in Houston, Texas; a poet and writer, an Episcopalian, and author of There Is Something About Being An Episcopalian, When Angels Are Born, Wheels Turning Inward, and most recently A Pilgrimage of Churches, four rich collections of poetry, following a poet’s mythic and spiritual journey that crosses easily onto the paths of many contemplative traditions. Archives
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