Marlin writes: > "....1) Just because a person says he is a Christian > does not mean that he is one! This is essential to > understand when considering evil people of history > and also when considering where we personally stand > with the Lord. Therefore, I'll say it again: JUST > BECAUSE SOMEONE SAYS THEY ARE A > CHRISTIAN DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY > ARE ONE!!! We know this is true in other areas. > Suppose, for instance, I claimed to be a vegetarian > and later in the day you saw me eating a Big Mac. > Would you conclude that vegetarians eat hamburgers > or would you conclude that I wasn't really a vegetarian. > Obviously, the latter. ...." > http://www.shortreport.com/hitlerachristian.htm > This writer has said it best.
Hi Marlin. The writer you quote is a friend of mine, Tom Short. He is a good brother in the Lord, but I do not feel as compelled as he does to defend "Christianity" as a religion. The question really comes down to how you define "Christian." With regard to Hitler, those who claim he was not a Christian have to say that he was not a "REAL" Christian. The problem is that before you are done defining a "REAL" Christian, you have to dismiss the claims of millions upon millions of people. Why is it that any of us feel any need to defend Christianity? Why not instead simply serve the person, Jesus Christ? There is no doubt that Hitler did not serve Jesus Christ, even though Hitler himself thought that he did. He was a racist filled with hatred toward Jews and democracy. He loved the individual above all else, but also the state and he loved war. Yet while embracing these qualities, he also professed to be a Christian, was baptized as a Christian, and even aspired to be an abbot when he was a boy. He criticized sharply those who were against the church and Christianity. He criticized the church for celibacy and those who practiced birth control. He criticized the church for sending missionaries to Africa and far off places while they left their homeland of Germany poorly evangelized and without good strong moral leadership. Hitler quoted the Bible often and appealed to God freely in his writings, believing that he was serving the Lord in the best Christian tradition. All the churches as a whole supported Hitler except for one, the one that Dietrich Boenhoeffer was part of, but that church was not even considered much of a threat. That church was criticized by many of the other churches. Hitler attended church and was blessed by cardinals and bishops. He put a cross over his mother's grave. He put "God with us" on the belt buckles of his soldiers. Many of the quotes that people put out there, such as from the table talks, are second hand rumors of doubtful origin. We have Hitler's own words in his Mein Kampf and his biography, as well as many speeches which he has made. Why go to supposed behind the door private talks of disputed origin to establish the idea that Hitler didn't really mean what he said publicly when he professed faith in God and his Christianity? The point about Hitler being a Christian is the same point about the bad popes and bad clergy of all sorts. Christianity is not immune from evil men leading within its ranks. We can't stick our head in the sand and claim that there are no sinners within Christianity. Within Christianity are true believers and false believers, and there are wolves in sheep's clothing too. In any case, someone needs to let Glenn know that Marlin doesn't believe Hitler was a true Christian. That ought to set some things straight there, but I myself am in hotter fire now by arguing that Hitler was a Christian, even though I add that he was someone who did not truly follow Jesus Christ. :-) Peace be with you. David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida USA ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
