The “Tomb of the Unknown Rapist” in Berlin

Soviet War Memorial in Berlin’s Tiergarten

As we watch the savagery of the Israel-Hamas War going int 2024, we often forget that by its very nature, war is a terrible act of mankind. There is no good war.

Unfortunately in today’s ultra-connected world, the tragedies of war can be reported moment-by-moment, death-by-death. 

Joseph Stalin once coldly remarked, “When one man dies it is a tragedy. When thousands die it’s statistics.” 

There is a difficult reality that is often unreported in the history of The Second World War. We know of the savagery of the war in Eastern Europe. What is often unreported is what happened after the surrender of Germany in May 1945.

The war in Eastern Europe was a racial war as much as it was a war for territory. The Germans saw the people of Eastern Europe as untermensch, sub-human. Consequently, the Germans treated the people of Eastern Europe with a savagery that was unparalleled in the West. While Jews from Western Europe died in the Holocaust, the number of Western European Jews pale in comparison to the number of people from the East who died at one of several German extermination camps. 

For example, there were an estimated 90,000 French Jews were killed in the Holocaust. Great Britain shows 130 Jews killed in the Holocaust. Denmark saw 60 Jews killed and Norway 870 Jews killed. Compare this to the countries in Eastern Europe:

• Romania = 270,000 Jews killed

• Hungary = 450,000 Jews killed

• Ukraine = 900,000 Jews killed

• Poland = 2.9 million Jews killed

Those are just the Jews. The Nazis also targeted many other ethnic groups and sub-cultures for extermination including homosexuals, the mentally ill, Jehovah Witnesses, intellectuals, communists, Gypsies, and more than 3.5 million Soviet prisoners of war. While we often hear of the six million Jews who died in the Holocaust, we often fail to mention these other victims, which combined with Jewish deaths, raises the total killed to an estimated 20 million people.

These are not war victims killed in combat or by the bombing of cities and towns. These are men, women, and children who were rounded up and systematically murdered as part of the Nazi plan to ethnically cleanse Eastern Europe to make room for a pure, Aryan race of Germanic people who would rule the world for a thousand years. 

Once the war was over, the people of Eastern Europe did not want peace, they wanted revenge against the Germans. Unfortunately, the mad men who perpetrated the crimes of the Holocaust were either dead (Hitler, Himmler, Heydrich, and other top Nazi officials), on the run, or being held prisoner by the Western Allies. This left innocent Germans to bear the brunt of the revenge.

In a sadistic fulfillment, the Bible verse from Exodus 20:5, which describes the sins of the fathers being visited upon their children, became reality in post-war Germany. 

As millions of Red Army soldiers flooded into Eastern Germany, eventually capturing the capital of Berlin, the order was passed down from Stalin himself that German women should pay for the sins their fathers, husbands, and brothers had committed in the East. Few German women and girls escaped the savagery of the Red Army. 

Historians report today that nearly every German woman between the ages of 8-years to 80-years that lived in the Eastern part of Germany controlled by the Red Army was raped as many as a dozen or more times. It was not until the winter of 1946/47, more than 18 months following the surrender, that the Soviet authorities began to crack down on soldiers committing rape and start to reinforce discipline within their ranks. To this day, German women refer to the Soviet War Memorial in Berlin as the “Tomb to the Unknown Rapist.”

Developing A Sermon with ChatGPT

Recently, the pastor of the church I attend preached from Philippians 2:19-24. I took notes from his sermon and summarized the overall content here:

Philippians 2:19-24

Many people have self-interest, not those of Christ (Phil 2:21)

• False motives

• Not the mindset of Jesus

How seen in Timothy? (Phil 2:22)

• his character

• served with Paul in the gospel

• like Paul, Like a son

Why does Paul hope to send Timothy soon?

• like-minded 

• adopted the mindset of Jesus

• served like Jesus

THT: Selflessness begins with like-mindedness (with Jesus)

That's a big, impossible goal. 

You can't do this without the saving power of the gospel. Apart from true salvation, having the mind of Christ is impossible. 

How do you have "the mind of Christ"?

1. Prayer. Ask Jesus to help us do this. A daily prayer need. Prayer for Christlike selflessness. 

2. Community. Isolation breeds selfishness; community breeds selflessness. Be known and know others. 

3. Opportunity (for Action). The wiliness to act more than you analyze. Action should be more present than analysis. Knowing the risk, we act. 

---

ChatGPT's Sermon

I have also experimented with asking ChatGPT to write sermons. I thought it would be interesting to see how ChatGPT did in comparison.

I gave ChatGPT the following prompt:

write a 30 minute sermon based on Philippians 2:19-24 from a conservative evangelical perspective. Provide application on how we can have "the mind of Christ"

Here's the sermon generated. (It took around 90 seconds.)

Title: "Embodying the Mind of Christ: A Look at Philippians 2:19-24"

Introduction:

Good morning, church. I invite you to turn in your Bibles to Philippians 2:19-24. We're going to delve into a passage that speaks to the heart of the Christian life and provides us with a practical model for emulating Christ. Let's read together:

"I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon." (Philippians 2:19-24, NIV)

From this passage, we're going to explore the idea of having "the mind of Christ" as evidenced by Timothy's character and actions. 

Main Body:

1) The Heart of Service (vs. 19-20)

What does it mean to serve like Timothy? To show 'genuine concern for others’ welfare'? This level of service doesn't come naturally to us. It requires a mindset shift - the mind of Christ. Christ exemplified this selfless service in His ministry and ultimate sacrifice on the cross. To cultivate this attitude, we must focus less on our desires and more on the needs of others, just like Timothy did.

2) Prioritizing the Interests of Christ (vs. 21)

Verse 21 is a stark contrast and a sobering reminder of our natural tendencies: "For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ." Our challenge, like Timothy's, is to invert this statement in our lives. To have the mind of Christ is to prioritize His interests above our own. It's a call to align our hearts, our thoughts, and our actions with the cause of the Gospel.

3) Proving Ourselves in the Gospel Work (vs. 22)

Timothy was not just a nominal Christian. He proved himself through service, "as a son with his father." Likewise, we must prove ourselves by actively participating in the work of the Gospel. Having the mind of Christ prompts us to action, not just belief. It propels us into service and ministry for His glory.

4) Living in Hope and Confidence in the Lord (vs. 23-24)

Finally, Paul's plan to send Timothy and his confidence that he would visit soon was rooted in his hope and trust in the Lord. To have the mind of Christ, we must live with an eternal perspective, anchored in the hope we have in Jesus and guided by our confidence in His providence.

Conclusion:

In summary, having the mind of Christ, as exhibited by Timothy, involves a heart of service, prioritizing the interests of Christ, proving ourselves in Gospel work, and living in hope and confidence in the Lord.

Application:

So, how can we embody this today? 

1. Serve others selflessly. Look for ways in your daily life to put the needs of others before your own. It could be as simple as helping a neighbor or dedicating time to volunteer work.

2. Prioritize the interests of Christ. Spend time in prayer and Bible study, asking God to align your heart with His. Make decisions that honor Him, even when it's counter-cultural or challenging.

3. Engage in Gospel work. Get involved in your church and community. Share the love of Christ through your actions and words.

4. Live with hope and confidence. No matter what circumstances you face, trust in God's sovereignty and His good plan for your life.

As we embrace these principles, let's remember that we're not striving to earn God's favor but responding to the grace we've already received. Our goal is to reflect Christ, to live in a way that's worthy of the gospel, and to impact our world for His kingdom.

Let's pray that God will help us to have the mind of Christ, just as Timothy did, and that through us, others may see the love and hope found in Jesus. 

Amen.

The Legal Path to Totalitarianism

Hitler Speaks to the Reichstag Hitler's Reichstag. speech promoting the bill was delivered at the Kroll Opera House, following the Reichstag fire.

Nazi Germany is a valuable historical marker for Western Democracies. In many ways, Germany was a cornerstone of many values and philosophies that formed the foundation of Judeo-Christian Western Culture. Yet, seemingly overnight, Germany went from a democratic republic to a totalitarian state.

Most importantly, the path to totalitarianism was completely legal. There was no violent revolution or civil war. The laws that created The Third Reich were passed by the legally elected parliament, the Reichstag. It is important to note, that when these laws were passed, the National Socialists Party did not hold a majority in the Reichstag. It required a coalition of parties to pass the legislation.

Three Laws That Gave the Nazis Total Control Over Germany

The fascist Nazi Third Reich and the Holocaust were all legal events. Every official who carried out the crimes of Nazi German between 1933 and 1945 did so under the legal protection of Germany. This is important to understand.

Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933, by President Paul von Hindenburg.

The Reichstag Decree

Firemen work on the burning Reichstag

Less than a month later, on February 27, 1933, the Reichstag Building, home of the German parliament, was set on fire. A Dutch communist, Marinus van der Lubbe, was charged with the crime. The next day, February 28, 1933, at the urging of Adolf Hitler, President Paul von Hindenburg signed the Reichstag Decree, formally called "Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of People and State" (Verordnung des Reichspräsidenten zum Schutz von Volk und Staat).

In short, the decree nullified many civil liberties in Germany and permitted the Nazi Government to imprison those who protested against the government or who were deemed to be a threat. A key aspect of this law was the ability of the police to detain individuals indefinitely without charging them with a crime.

The Malicious Practices Act

On March 21, 1933, the Reichstag passed The Malicious Practices Act (Verordnung zur Abwehr heimtückischer Diskreditierung der nationalen Regierung). This law essentially gave the Nazis broad and sweeping powers to imprison those who publicly criticized or threatened the Nazis. This meant that political disagreement was now viewed as treason. Moreover, this law permitted the police to arrest and imprison people the regime deemed unproductive or undesirable within society: homeless beggars, Jews, homosexuals, etc.

SS Guards arriving at the Dachau "Protective Custody" Camp 27 May 1933

It is not by coincidence that Dachau, the first German concentration camp, opened two days later on March 23, 1933.

The Enabling Act

The final piece of legislation that gave the Nazis complete control of Germany was The Enabling Act of 1933 officially titled “The Law to Remedy the Distress of People and Reich“ (Gesetz zur Behebung der Not von Volk und Reich). Passed by the Reichstag on March 23, 1933, this law enabled Hitler to act without the consent of the Reichstag. In short, the legislative powers of the Reichstag were ceded to Hitler. From this point forward, the Reichstag would be nothing more than a choir of supporters for the Nazis.

These three laws were the legal pathway the Nazis used to create a totalitarian government in Germany.

Lessons for 2022

We should all stand up and take note when we see democratically elected leaders today like Justin Trudeau declare emergency powers that essentially follow this pathway. When a leader can suspend freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the right to criticize a regime, we are on dangerous ground.

Secondly, we should take note when governments like the United States begin to take measures to criminalize and declare as treason (or insurrection) those who disagree with the government-approved propaganda.

For example, the Department of Homeland Security issued a National Terrorism Security Bulletin on February 7, 2022. Here is the "Summary of Terrorism Threat" as described by DHS:

The United States remains in a heightened threat environment fueled by several factors, including an online environment filled with false or misleading narratives and conspiracy theories, and other forms of [mis- dis- and mal-information](https://www.cisa.gov/mdm) (MDM) introduced and/or amplified by foreign and domestic threat actors. These threat actors seek to exacerbate societal friction to sow discord and undermine public trust in government institutions to encourage unrest, which could potentially inspire acts of violence. Mass casualty attacks and other acts of targeted violence conducted by lone offenders and small groups acting in furtherance of ideological beliefs and/or personal grievances pose an ongoing threat to the nation. While the conditions underlying the heightened threat landscape have not significantly changed over the last year, the convergence of the following factors has increased the volatility, unpredictability, and complexity of the threat environment: **(1)** the proliferation of false or misleading narratives, which sow discord or undermine public trust in U.S. government institutions; **(2)** continued calls for violence directed at U.S. critical infrastructure; soft targets and mass gatherings; faith-based institutions, such as churches, synagogues, and mosques; institutions of higher education; racial and religious minorities; government facilities and personnel, including law enforcement and the military; the media; and perceived ideological opponents; and **(3)** calls by foreign terrorist organizations for attacks on the United States based on recent events.

Reading this summary and comparing it to the laws passed by the Germans in 1933 should raise red flags of concern. It is considered a terrorism threat to proliferate false or misleading narratives, which sow discord or undermine public trust in U.S. government institutions? Does this mean that if someone disagrees with the publicly approved narrative of the Centers for Disease Control on how to best treat COVID, then this person is a terrorist threat?

Take note: this is the legal language of Nazi Germany.

Was Hitler A Sexual Deviant?

The short answer is no. The earliest look into Hitler comes from his boyhood friend, August Kubizek, who was Hitler's friend when they were in their teenage years living in Vienna. Kubizek describes the young Hitler as someone who was enamored with women, but hopelessly awkward around them. He carried on full romantic relationships with women in his mind, but was frozen in silence when he was in their presence.

The young Hitler was outspoken in his revulsion towards prostitution and other gross outward signs of sexual perversion. Some speculate that Hitler's guardedness with women was the result of his own shyness and introversion, but also because his father had been openly sexually promiscuous.

Alois Hitler was a known philanderer, often having affairs with women considerably younger than himself. Hitler's mother, Klara, was one of these women. She was 16 years old when she began a relationship with Hitler's father, who was 40-years old at the time. They were first cousins.

Hitler is reported to have had only two real love interests in his life. The first was Angela Raubal, who was known as Geli. She was Hitler's half-niece and they began their relationship when she was 17 and he was 38. Geli was in a relationship with Hitler from 1925 until her death by suicide in 1931. Hitler went into a deep depression following her death and declared that Geli was the only woman he had ever truly loved.

Hitler first met Eva Braun when she was 17 years old and he was still in a relationship with Geli. Eva was 22 years younger than Hitler. Following the death of Geli, the relationship between Hitler and Eva Braun began to grow deeper. When Hitler came to power in January 1933, his relationship with Braun was kept a secret, and she was hidden from the public during the remaining years of Hitler’s reign. Hitler believed it would circumvent his credibility as a leader to be seen with a younger woman who was not his wife. Moreover, Hitler relied on the charisma and attraction he had in his public persona with women, and the reality that he was married or had a mistress would have diminished this to a degree.

Side Note: The Nazis were extremely pro-family. They publicly held a very high view of marriage and placed great significance on raising moral children. Hitler preached this message openly and would often privately rail against high ranking Nazi officials who had mistresses and multiple affairs.

Everything indicates that Hitler was a "one woman man" throughout the remainder of his life. Eva Braun remained his mistress until the very last hours of his life, when they were married in the Führer Bunker on April 29, 1945. On April 30, they committed suicide together and their bodies were burned in the courtyard of the Reich Chancellery.

While Hitler exhibited no sexual perversions during his lifetime, this was not true of other Nazis. As stated above, many high-ranking Nazi officials had multiple affairs and mistresses throughout their lives.

Most significant of these was Hitler's close associate and the man who was perhaps most responsible for helping the Nazis gain power. Captain Ernst Röhm was the leader of the SA, the Nazis paramilitary organization, (aka the Brown Shirts). Röhm was an open homosexual and the SA leadership was filled with homosexuals who were known for their brutish outward sexuality and predatory pursuit of young men.

Given the importance of the SA and Röhm personally to Hitler's rise to power, Hitler chose to look the other way and accept Röhm's homosexuality. This wasn't a problem until Hitler became chancellor in 1933. In order to effectively lead Germany, Hitler needed the strong support of the Army, and the Army office corp detested Röhm and saw the SA as a threat to their own power and authority.

In a devil's bargain, Hitler agreed to eliminate the SA leadership in exchange for the Army's support. This happened on June 30, 1934 and is known as "The Night of the Long Knives." During this event, Röhm and the majority of the SA's leadership were executed.

True Sexual Perversion: Lavrentiy Beria

If you are looking for an illustration of true sexual perversion in a powerful national leader, the most notorious of the 20th Century is likely Lavrentiy Beria, who served as the chief of the NKVD, the Soviet secret police under Stalin, and Stalin's deputy premier during World War II. Beria was a known sexual predator who would cruise the streets of Moscow looking for young women and girls. When he saw one who would interest him, he would have his body guards take the girl, bring her to his home where he would rape her in a sound proof room. After the rape, the body guards would give the girl a bouquet of flowers implying that the sexual encounter was consensual. If the girl refused to go along, she would be arrested and likely not seen again. After Stalin, this man was the most powerful and feared man in the Soviet Union. Following Stalin's death in 1953, Beria was arrested, tried, and executed.

He Touched Me

And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him. - Luke 5:12-13

Shackled by a heavy burden
'Neath a load of guilt and shame
Then the hand of Jesus touched me
And now I am no longer the same

He touched me, oh, He touched me
And oh, the joy that floods my soul
Something happened, and now I know
He touched me, and made me whole

Since I've met this blessed Savior
Since He's cleansed and made me whole
Oh, I will never cease to praise Him (to praise Him)
I'll shout it while eternity rolls

Oh, He touched me, oh He touched me, He touched me
And oh, the joy that floods my soul
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole

Word & music by Bill & Gloria Gaither