Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 7
Mennonite leaders wrote prayers and praise to Hitler (“God gave our German people a Führer… lead us toward God and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ”) and later pledged “enthusiastic willingness to cooperate”; what does this reveal about how easily religious language can sanctify power, and what “Christian” rhetoric today might be doing the same kind of moral laundering?
Another way to ask: What does it show about how easily “Christian” words can make powerful leaders look holy? What kinds of Christian-sounding talk today might be doing the same thing—making wrong actions seem right?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
Based on the speaker’s examples, religious language can be used to baptize a political leader as God’s instrument, making cooperation feel holy even when it contradicts Jesus’ teachings.
- A Mennonite congregation in 1924 wrote of Hitler: “God gave our German people a Führer… Our prayers go out to him… lead… toward God and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
- In 1933, Mennonite leaders pledged “enthusiastic willingness to cooperate with the building of our fatherland with the strength of the gospel,” even quoting Menno Simons’ favorite verse about Jesus Christ as foundation.
- Hitler’s reply praised their “true loyalty to me” and “readiness for the cooperation with the construction of the German Reich,” showing the political effect of their religious words.
- The speaker notes official Mennonite publications “supported the Third Reich, praised the Nazi armies… rejoiced in their victories,” and supplied “theological and biblical reasons for supporting them.”
- He quotes Nazi “German Christians”: “We have only one task: to be German, not Christian,” showing how “Christian” talk can serve nationalism.