Albert Einstein

“Faith is believing He, the miracle worker,
can turn my stone-cold indifference
into a fire of love toward certain ‘unlovables’.”
Pamela Reeve

Albert Einstein:

Albert Einstein was a Jew who lived in Germany as Hitler began his rise to power. He was not a Christian, which makes his observations of the church that much more remarkable. During the time of the Nazi domination of much of Europe Einstein penned these words:

“Having always been an ardent partisan of freedom,

I turned to the universities… to find there defenders of freedom. I did not find them.

Very soon universities took refuge in silence.

I then turned to the editors of powerful newspapers,

who, but lately in flowing articles, had claimed to be faithful champions of liberty.

These men, as well… were reduced to silence within a few weeks.

I then addressed myself to the authors individually,

to those who passed themselves off as the intellectual guides of Germany…

[who] had frequently discussed the question of freedom and its place in modern life.

They were in their turn silent.

Only the Church opposed the fight which Hitler was waging against liberty.

Till then I had no interest in the Church,

but now I feel great admiration [for]

and am truly attracted to the Church

which had persistent courage to fight for spiritual truth and moral freedom…

I now admire what I used to consider of little value.”

Albert Einstein “The Silent Church: The Problem of the German Confessional Witness.”

(Norwich England – SCM Canterbury Press Limited 1944)

What a powerful observation of the potential power of a Church that is not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, and willing to place-it-all-on-the-line to fulfill the intent of 1 Corinthians 16:33:

13 Be on the alert,
stand firm in the faith,
act like men, be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:33 NASB

Such makes one proud to be named as a follower of Jesus,

to be called to follow in this kind of a heritage.
To be certain there are present cultural issues today that we face

which are begging for such courage and fortitude to be demonstrated

by the contemporary Church.
I wonder what Einstein’s view of the Church would be today?

If he were to observe the Church today

would he observe the same boldness and strength to walk in the truth…

would he believe the Church to be a champion of freedom and righteousness?

It is a sobering thought –

one we all need to consider as we strive to walk

in the nature of Jesus Christ.

10If you are slack in the day of distress,
Your strength is limited.
11Deliver those who are being taken away to death,
And those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back.
12If you say, "See, we did not know this,"
Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts?
And does He not know it who keeps your soul?
And will He not render to man according to his work?
Proverbs 24:10-12 NASB

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