Toughts and musings of a German left wing Evangelical
For some time now I’ve been dealing with a question.
If we look at Germany today - is a similar development conceivable as the one in the USA?
An alliance of evangelical Christians with people on the right wing?
An alliance even with conspiracy theorists?
The “Querdenker”, as they call themselves. (A term that is mostly translated as lateral thinkers, unconventional thinkers or - mavericks.)
I would say: Yes. A minority of evangelical Christians is approachable for right ideas or conspiracy theories.
This group of people with an evangelical profile of faith is small, but still visible.
You ask, how we know? More than once our police had to break up demonstrations against the Infection Protection Act.
Demonstrations initiated by the anti mask movement.
Demonstrations with very many participants, that violated hygiene rules.
These demonstrators also include Christians from the evangelical spectrum.
What are the reasons for this alliance?
One reason for the closeness of some Christians to the “lateral thinkers” can be, that quite a few of these people no longer see themselves represented by the government. The feel an icy wind of change blowing in their direction. They see social and political developments, they can’t accept or tolerate.
Lateral thinkers see themselves as free citizens who protest against their “incapacitation” by the state.
They see themselves as victims of diffuse powers that want to turn them into puppets.
Some evangelicals feel the same way.
They see themselves threatened and marginalized in their cultural and religious self-image.
Why? Think of liberal abortion laws, same sex marriage, the current Israel policy, the growing influence of Muslims (and – Jews?), an inconsistent refugee policy.
In short: Instead of “german unity”, “cultural integrity” and preservation of traditional religious values, all they see are
open borders, breaking dams, rot and decay.
Significant here is an interpretation of the Bible that begins with Jesus’ warning to seriously consider the signs of the last days.
These now seem to have come.
False Prophets and Messiahs everywhere.
Democratic institutions in a state of decline.
Corona seems to be the ultimate proof:
Soon and very soon the world as we know it will be replaced by a new, demonic, anti-christian, babylonian world order that demands and erforces absolute submission.
This mighty Narrative also includes comparisons between the corona crisis and the manifest state crisis of 1933.
Of course there are counter-arguments - even arguments based on the Bible.
But these people are in a state of alienation.
Try as hard as you can. You can’t succeed. You can’t reach them anymore.
The Evangelical Alliance (of German Free Churches, confraternities, communities and relief organizations) wrote a letter to its members before a large demonstration and warned them not to compare the Infection Protection Act with the Enabling Act of Hitler.
But many of them do. And i guess, this is only the beginning.