Great Conversations: Jesus Talks with Hitler

"I want to raise a generation of young people, imperious, relentless, and cruel." The man to whom these words belong is famous or infamous rather, for embodying those very characteristics himself. In an ambitious outworking of these very ideals Adolf Hitler would carve out his place in history, leaving a most pronounce scar on history itself, in the carnage he left in his path. During the Second World War at the outstretched hand of Hitler, millions would lose their lives. One German Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer would seek to place his hands in the ethical mud, plotting to kill Hitler in attempts to stop the killing. He would lose his life as well, executed for his troubles.

Hitler however would witness his empire, built upon racial superiority, hate, prejudice, and violence, implode around him. He and his wife commit suicide, even their dog Blondi is poisoned. In the end, what went through Hitler’s head (besides that bullet of course)? If we were to follow his Darwinian/Nietzschean/Naturalistic worldview to its logical conclusion, it would be safe to say that at the end, he thought precisely that, “this is the end; and now I offer myself up to that great perhaps.” But was he wrong?

In Ravi Zacharias’s book The Lamb and The Fuhrer: Jesus Talks with Hitler, part of his Great Conversations series; Hitler finds himself in an unexpected place, but standing before a familiar judge, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. These two figures (Jesus and Hitler) find themselves on the opposite side of the moral spectrum in many of our minds and rightly so. But why? While Hitler stretched out his hand, proclaiming his rule and power, that would lead to the blood shed of many; Jesus left his heavenly thrown, stretched out his nailed pierced hands, and shed his own blood for the salvation of many. We are brought court side to the trials of all trials (see an excerpt below):



(page 27-28) 

Hitler: What am I doing here? I thought I had ended everything. How can I still be alive? I never expected to see You! You of all people!

Hitler: This is not the end I sought. The gunshot was to bring silence, not judgment. Where is the justice in all this?  By what law will we function here? Who gives the orders? Why did You deceive me by not showing Yourself to me?

Jesus: If I did not show Myself to you, how do you know who I am?

Hitler: I can see the wounds in your hands, and they are not saluting me. I did go to church on rare occasions. You are the Christ, are you not?

Jesus: Yes Adolf. You are now in a different kingdom, made possible by My raising My arms in humiliation, not in mock ceremony.
 
Hitler: As I said, I never expected to see You. Where are You taking me? Why is everyone staring at me here? Do they also know me? But I’m not in uniform. I need my uniform. Don’t take me like this! I order You! Is there no law and order here? Don’t make light of me, I warn You!

Jesus: Nobody makes light of the sacred here. You will be tried by the best law and sentence by the greatest grace ever offered. Where I dwell, hypocrisy and illusion are impossible. These people here are truly free. They have no fear. There is only one whom they fall prostrate before, and that is the living God.   

Hitler: I know Him. I used His name. Yes… God is in control, isn’t He? Not for a moment can I be accused of forgetting Him. Providence gave me my power. Some of my soldiers still wear buckles on their belts from the First World War that read “God is with us.”

Jesus: There is nothing so dangerous as he who has ears but does not hear. And in a strange way you are right. The heart of the king is in the hands of the Lord. The kings of the earth would never be in power but that My Father allows them that power. But before we go any further, Adolf, let Me tell you how fair your trial will be. You are now at the ultimate Court of Justice. You will be able to say anything you wish. Just remember that you did not give that chance to those who came to you for justice.

Objective Morality Exists: Only if God Exist!

What rings loud in the ear; provokes the mind; and tugs firmly at the heart when reading through this parable-like dialogue between Jesus, Bonhoeffer, and Hitler, is the reality of the moral signature of God on all of our hearts (Jer. 31:33/Rom 1:18-28). I was challenged a couple of weeks ago “that there exist those who we consider morally upright (horizontally) who are not operating under any religious affiliation, knowledge or adherence.” Now while we can agree that this is commonly verbalized, the question remains, is it true? As I mentioned earlier the Scriptures present a different and all together more reliable diagnosis of mans heart. Indeed the very ability to distinguish between good and evil is evidence for and not against God's revelation of himself; any virtuous act therefor should not be viewed as a victory to our evolution in "moral pragmatism" (as it can not be) but the common grace God affords us all. So while we may live imperceptive of a moral order (due to our own choosing) this remains a reality none the less. There lies the knowledge of intrinsic worth that is recognized in self, even when not seen in others, and though tainted by sin.

We are also reminded that certain worldviews and philosophies bear within them consequences. And when a worldview such as Naturalism (which subsequently strips mankind of any intrinsic value), makes its way from the lecture halls into the real world, the logical conclusion is the devaluing of human life (see excerpt):

(page 76)

Bonhoeffer: I remember reading Darwin and Nietzsche. Both talked about the violence that would result from their theories because nature was “red in tooth and claw.”

Jesus: Yes, but inheritors of their philosophy did not call it by name. Professing themselves to be wise, they too became fools. They invented terms and slogans that hint at freedoms while actually enslaving. By changing words, they thought they could change reality. The millions of innocent lives that have been lost in ethnic discriminations against color and creed are terrifying to even imagine, yet that is the legitimate offspring of nature, why should politics be any different? They never answered the question of how it is possible to make moral judgments in a world with no moral law. The greatest price they pay is with their children. Adolf, your actions were the logical out-workings of a lie!  

Its important to say at this point what I'm not saying: I'm not saying that every atheist/naturalist will be or is a Hitler. What I am saying is that the worldviews followed to their logical conclusions lead to the devaluing human life and violence.

To say with sharp teeth without an objective moral point of reference e.g. A young man walking into an elementary school with automatic rifles slaughtering thirty plus, teachers and students; is no different than a lioness taking down antelope on the plains of the Serengeti. To say it philosophically “Objective moral values exists, only if God exists; Objective moral values do exist; therefor God exists!”

Justice and Mercy Meet

In a fallen world filled with fallen people; a relentless stalker seeks to pierce our Utopian mirage and that is the reality that there are those who will not give way to the sanctity of human life, decency, and order, couple with the occurrence of reason provoking tragedies and atrocities. Those who will cross that line called “right”, particularly in the de-sanctifying of human life to the point of lawlessly extinguishing it, leave us wanting answers, wanting retribution. Kindled within us who graciously find ourselves on the other side of such dispositions and atrocities is the protest for “Justice.” But why do we seek it, justice? On whose hands do we rest our moral ideals, thus to make absolute moral pronouncements? And if those hands are our own, do we not owe that privilege to others to define morality for themselves, including the thief, the murderer, and the terrorist? Then what of justice? What of the reactions of hurt, betrayal, debasement, and unfairness because of being wronged? What of those who evade judicial reproof, at the same time taking any solace or peace of mind (though marginally satisfying) of their victims/victims love ones with them? And most important and provoking; if those hands, to which the point of reference for morality lay, are not ours, thereby objective and impartial, what of our wrongdoings, even those viewed as minute? If objective morality exists, it is not death necessarily or being wronged or unfairness that should be most feared, it is being brought to justice ourselves and the hands from which that retribution will be dealt.

 (page 86)

Hitler: But wait! Was that Stalin? Was that Josef Stalin I saw? Why that butcher, that schemer, that destroyer of my dreams! Surely You’re not planning to give him any forgive-

Bonhoeffer: Jesus, what happened? We lost him! I heard the floor give way!  

Jesus: There is no second chance here, Dietrich. The only thing that happens before they meet their destiny is a confirmation in their own hearts that they do not understand what forgiveness means and how a forgiven person lives. Nor do they want it.

Jesus: Welcome, Dietrich, My child. Enter into the joy of the Lord. Here there are no more tears, no more sorrow. Death itself is swallowed up in victory for those whose hearts are surrendered to My Father.

Bonhoeffer: I am at a loss for words!

Jesus: And that is your only loss!
 

In The Lamb and The Fuhrer: Jesus Talks with Hitler what lays weightiest on the senses is the Jesus that we are introduced to, Jesus the judge. We will all die one day; death occurs in every 10 out of 10 persons. I was struck with the reality illustrated in the lives of Hitler and Bonhoeffer that we will meet Christ as either Lord or Judge. Jesus Christ who humbled himself, taking on the likeness of a man, obeying perfectly God the Father in our place. Why? Because of our sin against God, and His righteous judgment (which lay upon us all) sought retribution or justice for the sins we committed against Him the Holy God. Christ sheds His blood on a cross; died; and was buried; but in three days rose from the grave satisfying God’s wrath and appetite for justice; and shows mercy and gives life eternal, to those who turn from there sin and trust in Him. On the cross, the Justice of God and Mercy of God meet and is displayed for all to see.