a great rift

Martin Niemoeller (1892 – 1984) from a sermon preached in June 1934

Today we face an entirely different situation: church and nation can and indeed dare no longer be regarded as one. Through the whole nation runs the dividing trench, with the Christian community on one side and on the other—the “world”. And the side to which the individual belongs is no longer determined—as it was up till now—by his attitude toward his nation: it is determined only by the Lord Jesus Christ and by our attitude toward Him. Even the fact that we are in the “church” does not exempt us from this decision; for the rift runs even through this church: the world and the Christian community are parting company even in the church. No one really wanted it but nobody is able to prevent it….