The Grey Book Part 38

"...All surviving Germans who at the age of discrimination witnessed the atrocities of the annihilation of the Jews, and even those who helped their Jewish compatriots under oppression, must confess before G.o.d, to have become accessories to the deeds by lack of alert and self-denying love..." [623]

After several years of discussion on the subject of the relationship of the Church to the Jewish people, the 10th German Evangelical Kirchentag, 1961, set aside one work-group to deal specifically with this subject. Work-group VI of the Kirchentag produced the statement which follows, and it was adopted as the official Report of the a.s.sembly: <293>

"Jews and Christians are insolubly linked with each other. The denial of this link brought forth the hostility to Jews within Christendom. It became one of the main causes of the persecution of Jewry. Jesus of Nazareth is betrayed wherever members of the Jewish people among whom he was born are despised as Jews. Every hostility towards Jews is G.o.dlessness and leads to self-destruction.

The present trial in Jerusalem concerns us all. We Evangelical Christians in Germany recognise that we are involved in it by reason of our guilt.

Because of the need for fresh thought and conversion, we call upon the German public to make the following points their own: 1. Parents and educators should break their silence when meeting the young generation. They should confess their own failure and bring to light the origins of the crimes so that we all may learn how to face the present together. In the present world political situation, throwing off our own failure onto others must threaten not only one section of mankind but all life.

2. The inhumanity of compulsory systems of command where men can argue that criminal orders must be obeyed, is calculated to warn us against the inhuman potentialities of the modern organisation of State and society.

We must be ready to take upon us political responsibility even in spite of risks. Those who were concerned in the preparation and implementation of persecution should resign from high office.

3. Where Jews live amongst us, it is our duty to promote their well-being as best as we can. Likewise everything must be done by us Germans which serves the reconstruction and peace of the State of Israel and its Arab neighbours.

Compensation claims by victims of racial persecution should be settled with special urgency and generosity. The material compensation must be matched by a rebirth of the spirit. In Germany, the so-called Jewish question is today above all a question concerning the future of the Germans.

4. As against the wrong doctrine preached for centuries that G.o.d has cast away the Jewish people, we once again affirm the word of the Apostle: 'G.o.d hath not cast away His people, which He foreknew' (Romans 11, 2)..." [624]

On March 13, 1964, the Synod of the Evangelical Church in Germany issued the following Declaration on the trials of n.a.z.i criminals:

"...Only ignorance can speak of 'soiling one's own nest' when in fact the cleaning of a badly soiled nest is at stake. Nor is it in any way profitable to try to hide behind the wrongs committed by other nations against members of our people during the war. The ma.s.s murder of Jews and other ethnic groups, with which the German name is connected, is not thereby erased... <294> Even the citizen who had no direct share in the crimes, nay, even he who did not know of them, has a share in the guilt because he was indifferent towards the perversion of all moral standards and all notions of right and wrong among our people. Nor can we exempt ourselves and our congregations from this guilt.

For where all Christians were called upon to uphold the Gospel entrusted to us, to make public affirmation of the everlasting dominion of G.o.d in all spheres of our lives, and, thus armed, to protect the victims of the regime, especially the Jews living amongst us, only few had the insight and the courage to resist.

Forced into this humiliating position, we cannot pretend to be unconcerned with the trials now pending, nor can we turn our gaze away from the crimes now being revealed. It was the folly of our entire nation, and the omissions of us Christians, that enabled those crimes to be perpetrated. There is nothing here that can be condoned, and we must resist all temptations to indulge in self-justification. Rather is it our duty to follow the defendants now as they stand before G.o.d and His judgment." [626]

In 1963, the Evangelical Kirchentag of German speaking Switzerland adopted the following Resolution:

"Israel and the Church belong together. G.o.d has chosen them both and formed a Covenant with them - first with Israel, then with the Church. The Church has been grafted onto the stem of G.o.d's People. Hence: if one member suffers, all the other members suffer with it. We confess our guilt with regard to Israel, that we Swiss people did not suffer with the Jews either, thus betraying our fellowship with G.o.d's ancient people.

Our hope rests in the fact that we know our sins are forgiven. But for us forgiveness must mean active repentance. Let us make atonement through action.

As Swiss people and Christians let us recognize the following tasks as our next step, and transform them into action: 1. We urge all Christians, both individually and collectively, to take part in a.s.sisting the Jews and promoting mutual contact and mutual respect.

2. We regard it as our Christian duty to oppose all forms of discrimination against Jewish people, and we expect the same att.i.tude from all our fellow-Christians.

3. Short, inexpensive instructive booklets are needed as soon as possible, so that Christians can remedy their ignorance of Jewish history.

4. We recognize a sub-conscious anti-Semitism here in Switzerland too, with devastating and far-reaching effects.

We urge the Church to devote more attention to this question. (Parish evenings, evenings for parents, evenings for mothers, instruction to religious teachers, training of religious teachers).

5. The intercession for Israel, which exists in most liturgies, should be made an integral part of the worship-service." [627] <295>

On February 6, 1967, the Archbishop of Sweden sent a circular letter to the ministers of the diocese, from which we quote the following:

'On various occasions accusations have been made against the Church of Sweden for anti-Semitism. This is especially directed towards the way in which the pa.s.sion-history is created. From abroad many appalling examples are known in which 'the Jews' are described as a deicide people, as referring not only to the mob in front of the palace of Pilate which wanted Jesus to be crucified but to the whole people and the generations after them.

In the Swedish tradition of preaching and teaching this is completely unaccepted. Any feeling of revenge and hatred against Romans and Jews is repudiated and it is emphasized that it is our own sin which has brought Jesus to the cross...

The Gospel is against all racial and group discrimination. Each person shall be judged on his own merits according to what he himself is and does.

There is no graduation of the value of man; all are called to be children of G.o.d and are therefore our brothers and sisters, and Christ died for all.

After all, G.o.d alone is the Judge, but never we ourselves." [628]

On March 18, 1964, the following Statement was issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury:

"It is always wrong when people try to lay blame upon the Jews for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In the event the Roman Governor was no less responsible for what happened.

The important fact, however, is that the crucifixion was the clash between the Love of G.o.d and the sinfulness and selfishness of the whole human race.

Those who crucified Christ are in the true mind of the Christian Church representatives of the whole human race, and it is for no one to point a finger of resentment at those who brought Jesus to his death, but rather to see the crucifixion as the divine judgment upon all humanity for choosing the ways of sin rather than the love of G.o.d.

We all must see ourselves judged by the crucifixion of Christ." [629]

The General a.s.sembly of the Church of Scotland adopted a statement against anti-Semitism nearly every year. Here follow some examples.

<296> 1945 "The General a.s.sembly express their renewed sympathy with the Jews in their present circ.u.mstances and a.s.sure them of the Church's friendly interest in all that pertains to their future welfare and in particular commend the active steps, which are being taken to restrain Anti-Semitism and promote better understanding between Christian and Jew." [630]

1947 "The General a.s.sembly, aware of the growth of anti-Semitic feeling, condemn anew this att.i.tude as un-Christian and contrary to the mind of our Lord; call upon their faithful people to guard against this grave danger; a.s.sure the Jewish people of their deep sympathy in the present uncertainties and remember especially the many Jews in the Displaced Persons Camps in Europe still awaiting some scheme for their settlement in other lands." [631]

1953 "The General a.s.sembly view with concern the renewed outbreaks of anti-Semitism in various countries, renew their condemnation of this evil thing and call upon their faithful people to be on the alert to oppose any signs of it in this country." [632]

1957 "The General a.s.sembly express their concern that the threats of annihilation directed against the State of Israel still continue. They express profound sympathy with the State of Israel in the crisis with which she is confronted and earnestly hope that the United Nations will now direct all possible efforts towards a just and lasting settlement between Israel and the Arab States, so that Israel's future will no longer be in jeopardy." [633]

1962 "The General a.s.sembly, in view of the horrors recalled by the Eichmann trial, remind the Church - especially the youth of the Church - of the deadly danger of Anti-Semitism, which has in the past so cruelly wounded the brotherhood of the human family." [634]

Many Protestant Churches in the United States publicly registered their opposition to anti-Semitism. We only quote the following Resolution, adopted by the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America, on June 5, 1964:

"The General Board of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., recognizing the ever-present danger of anti-Semitism, renews the call to the Churches and the community to recognize (in the words of the First a.s.sembly of the World Council of Churches) 'anti-Semitism, no matter what its origin, as absolutely irreconcilable with the profession and practice of the Christian faith'. <297> The spiritual heritage of Jews and Christians should draw us to each other in obedience to the one Father and in continuing dialogue; the historic schism in our relations carries with it the need for constant vigilance lest dialogue deteriorate into conflict.

We confess that sometimes as Christians we have given away to anti-Semitism.

We have even used the events of the Crucifixion to condemn the Jewish people, whereas (in the words of the Third a.s.sembly of the World Council of Churches) 'the historic events which led to the Crucifixion should not be presented as to fasten upon the Jewish people of today responsibilities which belong to our corporate humanity and not to one race or community'.

The General Board urges that the members of its const.i.tuent communions seek that true dialogue with the religious bodies of the Jewish community through which differences in faith can be explored within the mutual life of the one family of G.o.d - separated, but seeking from G.o.d the gift of renewed unity - knowing that in the meantime G.o.d can help us to find our G.o.d-given unity in the common service of human need." [634]

In 1948, the World Council of Churches held its first a.s.sembly, at Amsterdam.

147 Churches in forty-four countries were represented by 351 official delegates.

A report on "The Christian Approach to the Jews" was heard by a.s.sembly, and its deliberations were commended to all member Churches "for their serious consideration and appropriate action". We quote the following:

Introduction ... We cannot forget that we meet in a land from which 110,000 Jews were taken to be murdered. Nor can we forget that we meet only five years after the extermination of 6 million Jews. To the Jews our G.o.d has bound us in a special solidarity linking our destinies together in His design. We call upon all our Churches to make this concern their own as we share with them the results of our too brief wrestling with it."...

3. Barriers to be Overcome "...We must acknowledge in all humility that too often we have failed to manifest Christian love towards our Jewish neighbours, or even a resolute will for common social justice. We have failed to fight with all our strength the age-old disorder of man which anti-Semitism represents. <298> The Churches in the past have helped to foster an image of the Jews as the sole enemies of Christ, which has contributed to anti-Semitism in the secular world.

In many lands virulent anti-Semitism still threatens and in other lands the Jews are subjected to many indignities.

We call upon all the Churches we represent to denounce anti-Semitism, no matter what its origin, as absolutely irreconcilable with the profession and practice of the Christian faith. Anti-Semitism is sin against G.o.d and man...". [635]

In 1961, the World Council of Churches held its third a.s.sembly, at New Delhi.

200 Churches were represented by more than a thousand official partic.i.p.ants.

The following Resolution on Anti-Semitism was adopted:

"The Third a.s.sembly recalls the following words which were addressed to the Churches by the First a.s.sembly of the World Council of Churches in 1948: 'We call upon all the Churches we represent to denounce anti-Semitism, no matter what its origin, as absolutely irreconcilable with the profession and practice of the Christian faith. Anti-Semitism is sin against G.o.d and man.

Only as we give convincing evidence to our Jewish neighbours that we seek for them the common rights and dignities which G.o.d wills for his children, can we come to such a meeting with them as would make it possible to share with them the best which G.o.d has given us in Christ.'

The a.s.sembly renews this plea in view of the fact that situations continue to exist in which the Jews are subject to discrimination and even persecution.

The a.s.sembly urges its member Churches to do all in their power to resist every form of anti-Semitism.

In Christian teaching the historic events which led to the Crucifixion should not be so represented as to fasten upon the Jewish people of today responsibi- lities which belong to our corporate humanity and not to one race or community.

Jews were the first to accept Jesus and Jews are not the only ones who do not yet recognize him." [636]

In 1964, a Consultation on "The Church and the Jewish People" under the auspices of the Lutheran World Federation was held at Legumkloster, Denmark.

The following statement was adopted:

III. The Church and Anti-Semitism <299>

"Anti-Semitism is an estrangement of man from his fellowmen. As such it stems from human prejudice and is a denial of the dignity and equality of men. But Anti-Semitism is primarily a denial of the image of G.o.d in the Jew; it represents a demonic form of rebellion against the G.o.d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and a rejection of Jesus the Jew, directed upon His people.

'Christian' anti-Semitism is spiritual suicide.

This phenomenon presents a unique question to the Christian Church, especially in light of the long terrible history of Christian culpability for anti- Semitism. No Christian can exempt himself from involvement in this guilt. As Lutherans, we confess our own peculiar guilt, and we lament with shame the responsibility which our Church and her people bear for this sin. We can only ask G.o.d's pardon and that of the Jewish people.

There is no ultimate defeat of anti-Semitism short of a return to the living G.o.d in the power of His grace and through the forgiveness of Jesus Christ our Lord.

At the same time, we must pledge ourselves to work in concert with others at practical measures for overcoming manifestations of this evil within and without the Church and for reconciling Christians with Jews.

Towards this end, we urge the Lutheran World Federation and its member Churches: 1. To examine their publications for possible anti-Semitic references, and to remove and oppose false generalisations about Jews. Especially reprehensible are the notions that Jews, rather than all mankind, are responsible for the death of Jesus Christ, and that G.o.d has for this reason rejected His covenant people.

Such examination and reformation must also be directed to pastoral practice and preaching references. This is our simple duty under the commandment common to Jews and Christians: 'Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour'.

2. To oppose and work to prevent all national and international manifestations of anti-Semitism, and in all our work acknowledge our great debt of grat.i.tude to those Jewish people who have been instruments of the Holy Spirit in giving us the Old and New Testaments and in bringing into the world Jesus Christ our Lord.

3. To call upon our congregations and people to know and to love their Jewish neighbours as themselves; to fight against discrimination or persecution of Jews in their communities; to develop mutual understanding; and to make common cause with the Jewish people in matters of spiritual and social concern, especially in fostering human rights..." [637]