beauty. (t)ruth. god.

What did a contextualized theology look like in Germany in 1943? Thanks to Colin Greene we spent some time in theology class going over the Barmen Declaration. The Declaration is brilliant subversion of the empire of Nazi German, and done in a way that it directly challenges the established powers. Barth, Bonhoeffer, and other Confessing church leaders wrote this document, that not only challenged the world at the time, but lead to many people losing their lives, because they did not buy into the idolatry of the time they were in.
The full text is here, but here is expert I found challenging:
«Fear God, honor the king.» 1 Pet. 2:17

Scripture tells us that, in the as yet unredeemed world in which the Church also exists, the State has by divine appointment the task of providing for justice and peace. [It fulfills this task] by means of the threat and exercise of force, according to the measure of human judgment and human ability. The Church acknowledges the benefit of this divine appointment in gratitude and reverence before him. It calls to mind the Kingdom of God, God’s commandment and righteousness, and thereby the responsibility both of rulers and of the ruled. It trusts and obeys the power of the Word by which God upholds all things.

We reject the false doctrine, as though the State, over and beyond its special commision, should and could become the single and totalitarian order of human life, thus fulfilling the Church’s vocation as well.
We reject the false doctrine, as though the Church, over and beyond its special commission, should and could appropriate the characteristics, the tasks, and the dignity of the State, thus itself becoming an organ of the State.

Lord Bless those Saints before us, and those among us.