Barmen Declaration of the German Confessing Church 1934

[bobbieinok]

Statement of group headed by D Bonhoeffer and K Barth and Nazis worked to take over the Luthern church and demanded pastors swear a personal oath of allegiance to Hitler.

Wish religious right knew some history about the dangers of an alliance between 'the church' and 'the state.'

...

3. ...

We reject the false doctrine that the church could have permission to hand over the form of its message and of its order to whatever it itself might wish or to the vicissitudes of the prevailing ideological and political convictions of the day.

...

6. ...

We reject the false doctrine that beyond its special commission the church should and could take on the nature, tasks and dignity which belong to the state and thus become itself an organ of the state.

...

http://www.faithquest.com/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=24

[Liberal Christian]

1. Church and state were somewhat different in 1934 Germany than in US

The Barmen Declaration was written and affirmed by the Confessing Church in Germany to stand in contrast to the State Church of German, which did allow itself to be co-opted by Hitler.

There is a difference between an official state church, as in 1930s Germany, and independent churches in the United States that support the government. I'm not saying it's not still nerve-wracking to see many churches line up and kowtow to the current administration and vice versa, but it's important to remember that we do still have many churches and denominations in this country that continue to stand up for justice and a Gospel that is not perverted to serve the state in an idolatrous manner.

For another full text of Barmen and some historical background (in the right-hand column beside the Declaration), you can also go to http://www.ucc.org/faith/barmen.htm.

[blm]

2. The theocrats made their deal with the fascists. Like Bush and Rev.Moon

The UNholiest of alliances.

Damn they have the Christian right so hoodwinked.