The Theological Dilema Poised by World War One (Easter 2019) It always amazes me how big World War One was and how much it affected so many areas of life. So Easter seems like a good time to talk about the theological dilemma poised by the First World War. Mainly, that most of the soldiers who fought in WWI, on both sides, were Christians. There were non-Christian countries involved, such as Turkey, India, China and Japan, but the major combatants, the British Empire, France, Italy, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Russia and the United States were all predominately Christian countries. There were Roman Catholics, Protestants and Eastern Orthodox fighting on both sides. So presumably you had otherwise decent Christian men praying to Jesus Christ for guidance and strength in how to slaughter their fellow Christians in the war simply because they wore a different color uniform. How can this possibly be what Jesus wants his followers to be doing to each other? Of course common sense says it can't be - which is the dilemma. So, should one be a Christian first or a patriot first? Which should have precedence over the other? **************************************************************** The Bible tells us: "Everyone is to obey the governing authorities, because there is no authority except from God and so whatever authorities exist have been appointed by God. So anyone who disobeys an authority is rebelling against God's ordinance; and rebels must expect to receive the condemnation they deserve." (Romans 13:1-2) But this is not a blank check. It assumes the government is acting within the realm of divine law. Because, the Bible also recounts one of Jesus' temptations: "Then leading him [Jesus] to a height, the devil showed him in a moment of time all the kingdoms of the world and said to him, 'I will give you all this power and their splendour, for it has been handed over to me, for me to give it to anyone I choose. Do homage, then, to me, and it shall all be yours.' But Jesus answered him, 'Scripture says: You must do homage to the Lord your God, him alone you must serve.'" (Luke 4:5-8) In American law, if a state law is in conflict with federal law, the federal law has precedence and the state law falls. As Christians we believe that if a secular law (state or federal) is in conflict with divine law (i.e. The Ten Commandments) it also falls. Secular government has no authority to override divine law. This does not mean that Christians are in general anti-government. Laws consistent with divine law are within secular authority and should be obeyed. Governments throughout history have tried to claim that they exercise divine authority and so can arrogate divine law. But that is not the Christian position. We don't talk about kings and queens or royalty much in the U.S., but when we say that Jesus is our Lord, we are saying he is our king, our sovereign and that we are his subjects. When we say that Jesus is the "king of kings" and the "lord of lords" we are asserting his sovereignty over all forms of secular government. As Christians we are citizens of the kingdom of God and that supersedes any earthly government or nationality, just as being an American supersedes being a Minnesotan. Being an American does not make one anti-Minnesotan, it simply supersedes it. **************************************************************** Karl Barth, the Swiss-German Reformed (Calvinist) theologian, often regarded as the greatest theologian of the 20th century (Pope Pius XII even said Barth was “the greatest theologian since Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274).”), addressed this problem. He developed his "dialectical theology" or "the theology of crisis". Dialectical theology holds against rationalism, that one's attempts to know God by one's own reasoning reaches contradictory conclusions and must give way to a faith that awaits God's word. Dialectical theologians focus upon God’s transcendence rather than attempt to explain God in human terms. Dialectical theology sets up a contrast between “religion” and “faith.” Religion, according to dialectical theology, is the product of the human intellect and the keeping of formalities and ritual. Faith, on the other hand, is the product of unscheduled and surprising encounters with the transcendent God. Barth was a founder of the so-called Confessing Church, which reacted vigorously against the ideology of "blood and soil" and the Nazis' attempt to create a "German Christian" church combining the major Protestant churches together and putting them under Nazi party control. The 1934 Barmen Declaration, largely written by Barth, pitted the revelation of Jesus Christ against the "truth" of Hitler and national socialism: The Barmen Declaration includes six theses: 1. The source of revelation is only the Word of God — Jesus Christ. Any other possible sources (earthly powers, for example) will not be accepted. 2. Jesus Christ is the only Lord of all aspects of personal life. There should be no other authority. 3. The message and order of the church should not be influenced by the current political convictions. 4. The church should not be ruled by a leader ("Führer"). There is no hierarchy in the church (Matthew 20:25f). 5. The state should not fulfill the task of the church and vice versa. State and church are both limited to their own business. 6. Therefore, the Barmen Declaration rejects the subordination of the Church to the state and the subordination of the Word and Spirit to the Church. Karl Barth From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Barth Barmen Declaration From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barmen_Declaration **************************************************************** A little side note: Barth would often quote the first two lines of this famous poem whenever asked to summarize his beliefs. "Jesus Loves Me" by Anna Bartlett Warner (As originally published in 1860) Jesus loves me—this I know, For the Bible tells me so; Little ones to him belong,— They are weak, but he is strong. Jesus loves me—loves me still, Though I'm very weak and ill; From his shining throne on high, Comes to watch me where I lie. Jesus loves me—he will stay, Close beside me all the way. Then his little child will take, Up to heaven for his dear sake. **************************************************************** Just remember, Abraham Lincoln could free the slaves, but he can't save your soul. ...