And Then They Came For Me

I'm reading a stellar biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and I'm at the part shortly after Hitler was elected (for anyone who loves world history, politics, theology, and/or church history, this is pretty much the best book ever). The German church was being infiltrated by the Nazi state, and it was decision time. Who would conform, and who would speak out? The "German Christians" were passing resolutions to bar converted Jews to the ministry, while the "Confessing Church" (earlier, the "Pastors Emergency League") was speaking out for the rights of their Jewish brothers. One of Bonhoeffer's friends and colleagues, Martin Niemoller knew that what the state was doing to the church was slandering the true gospel of Jesus Christ, but he separated issues of church and state. He even congratulated Hitler and swore loyalty to him.

Bonhoeffer and others in that camp were shocked and appalled. Years later, Niemoller would see the errors of his reasoning. He spent eight years in concentration camps as the personal prisoner of Adolf Hitler, and he wrote these words:

First they came for the Socialists and I did not speak out - 
because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out - 
because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out - 
because I was not a Jew. 
And then they came for me - 
and there was no one left to speak to me. 

These words were particularly striking to me because this semester, I am helping to lead a gap program that takes its name from James 1:27

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

I am sure that as this semester progresses, different and more complete meanings behind this verse will manifest themselves to me, but right now, reading Niemoller's words alongside this, I saw this tremendous need to be an advocate. This morning I read one of my favorite verses, Amplified, and it was all coming together - 

And [now] they sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to break the seals that are on it, for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation. Revelation 5:9 

From every tongue, there are ransomed men. We have brothers and sisters around the world who are suffering, but who are with us in Christ's kingdom. Our church is so much more than the people we see each Sunday.