In at least one German town the railroad tracks ran behind the church. An eyewitness stated:
We heard stories of what was happening to the Jews, but we tried to distance ourselves from it, because we felt, what could anyone do to stop it?
Each Sunday Morning, we would hear the train whistle blowing in the distance, then the wheels coming over the tracks. We became disturbed when we heard cries coming from the train as it passed by. We realized that it was carrying Jews like cattle in the cars!
Week after week the whistle would blow. We dreaded to hear the sounds of those wheels because we knew that we would hear the cries of the Jews en route to a death camp. Their screams tormented us.
We knew the time the train was coming and when we heard the whistle blow we began singing hymns. By the time the train came past our church, we were singing at the top of our voices. If we heard the screams, we sang more loudly and soon we heard them no more.
Years have passed and no one talks about it now, but I still hear that train whistle in my sleep. (Reference: When a Nation Forgets God by Erwin W Lutzer)
When 12 Christian British businessmen1 took the Holy-Spirit-directed prophet Amos’ passion to establish justice in their public square2 and end slavery, they pioneered methods used by political advocacy groups today – including boycotts, political book tours, direct mail fundraising, newsletters, petitions, campaign posters and buttons, and the concept of setting up national organizations with local branches around the country. Their political struggle for decades resulted in the emancipation for all British slaves in 1838, 27 years before our civil war. Why did we not learn from the British Christians? Were American Christians just singing “God was in control,3 and this means He has already determined the outcomes.”? There is nothing we can do!!!”
When we sing, we desire to worship Christ. Shouldn’t worship involve an intense desire to be like the one worshipped, including all of Christ’s passion? How do we compare?
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Matthew 18:6 (NIV)
We could establish justice in our public places, so that many more children could attend Christian schools, via a variety of school choice proposals, if only Christians saw this as much more than “schemes of men” in politics. Unfortunately, as we sing, our youth are becoming more atheistic and agnostic.
How do we compare to Christ’s passionate response to children held as slaves in atheistic / agnostic indoctrination institutions? Does Proverbs 18:17 apply4? Why do Christians permit taxpayer evangelism of humanism while children and parents cry5 for freedom in educational choices. Do our present apathies model earlier Christian apathies on slavery?
Are we just singing?
Question: Why shouldn’t our religious liberties come under more attack and be increasingly restricted, if we remain apathetic to reasons youth are adopting anti-Christian sentiments, that will eventually be expressed in cultural, social, and public policy evils?
FACT: Most private schools’ tuition is half what taxpayers spend for each child in government schools. Every child could go to a private school now and save taxpayers’ money. The organized, well-funded, and politically driven National Education Association drives public school expenses and scares the voting public on real school choice.
Suggestion: Please see www.OurFault.org for resources to counter the increasing Godlessness for our time.
Notes:
1) See Adam Hochschild’s Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire’s Slaves
2) “Gate” was Amos’ public square. See Amos 5:15
3) An excellent response is Gregory Boyd’s book: Is God to Blame? Beyond Pat Answers To The Problem of Suffering
4) The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him. Proverbs 18:17 (NIV)
5) Bob Bowdon’s documentary The Cartel, shows children and parents crying. Available via Amazon