Quote of Interest

Something to contemplate along the way

Situation of Germany & Europe

Alexander Garth is pastor of a Lutheran church (State Church) in Luther City Wittenberg. He has written a book: Untergehen oder umkehren (Cease to exist or repent/turn around). I have not read the book but in Idea (35.2021) magazine, I read an interview with him. I have chosen a few quotes from this interview (my translation).

"As the State Lutheran Church is now positioned, it is not sustainable. One reason: They miscommunicate right past the reality of society…. Often the message is proclaimed that is noticeably not believed by those proclaiming. Because the key subjects - Sin, Redemption, Sanctification, Eternal Life - do not really have much place. "

"In our church there is a continuous reduced theology in which Jesus and the Holy Spirit have been lowered to a humanly understandable dimension. That has no power, no authority and leads ultimately to a boring, irrelevant church."

"Europe has become a Christian "state of emergency" region. Whoever is not anchored in Christ will be swept away by secularisation."

"Worldwide Christianity is growing on an unimaginable scale. Only in Europe is there a demise. That is mostly the fault of the State Church model that we have inherited. In the future the church could find a new dynamic when she can get loose of the chains of the State Church past and concentrate on the actual task and learn from the world wide rise in faith, as one grows in the power of the Holy Spirit and becomes a missionary church.

The city of Wittenberg where the Reformation and Luther started is now only 12% Lutheran and over 80% Atheists.