HERE I STAND - DRESDEN

Between February 13th and 15th 1945 the RAF and USAAF bombed the beautiful German city of Dresden, largely under pressure from Stalin to extend the Allied bombing campaign to the east of Germany. The bombing caused extensive destruction and the death of 24,000-40,000 people.

One of the survivors was the Jewish professor Victor Klemperer (d. Feb 11, 1960), who otherwise would undoubtedly have perished in one of the concentration camps. "On 13 February 1945, the day preceding the night bombing of Dresden, he assisted in delivering notices of deportation to some of the last remaining members of the Jewish community in Dresden" (Article Victor Klemperer, Wikipedia). His diaries Ich will Zeugnis ablegen bis zum letzten. Tagebücher 1933–1945 (I Will Bear Witness to the Bitter End. Diaries 1933-1945) give us a vivid picture of what it was like to live as an assimilated Jew in Germany during the Third Reich.

One of the "victims" of the bombing was the Frauenkirche (The Church of Our Lady), one of the most beautiful Protestant churches in the world. It was left in ruins by the Communist regime in East Germany until it was decided in 1989, 20 years ago, to rebuild it.


A view of the Frauenkirche in 1945 - Luther fallen off his pedestal.


1958 - Luther back on his pedestal.


The rebuilt Frauenkirche

The German Protestant Reformer Martin Luther would undoubtedly have opposed setting up a statue of himself or naming a church after him. Many disagree with some of his teachings, especially his intolerant and intolerable attitude towards the Jews.

Here are some of his words:

"First to set fire to their synagogues or schools and to bury and cover with dirt whatever will not burn, so that no man will ever again see a stone or cinder of them. ..."
"Second, I advise that their houses also be razed and destroyed. ..."
"Third, I advise that all their prayer books and Talmudic writings, in which such idolatry, lies, cursing and blasphemy are taught, be taken from them. ..."

(„Erstlich, das man jre Synagoga oder Schule mit feur anstecke und, was nicht verbrennen will, mit erden überheufe und beschütte, das kein Mensch ein stein oder schlacke davon sehe ewiglich Und solches sol man thun, unserm Herrn und der Christenheit zu ehren damit Gott sehe, das wir Christen seien. – Zum anderen, das man auch jre Heuser des gleichen zerbreche und zerstöre, Denn sie treiben eben dasselbige drinnen, das sie in jren Schülen treiben Dafur mag man sie etwa unter ein Dach oder Stall thun, wie die Zigeuner, auff das sie wissen, sie seien nicht Herren in unserem Lande. – Zum dritten, das man jnen nehme all jre Betbüchlein und Thalmudisten, darin solche Abgötterey, lügen, fluch und lesterung geleret wird.“ Extract from Von den Jüden und iren Lügen, On the Jews and their Lies (1543).

The Nazis took these words literally. How could the "Lutheran" church protest?

The younger Luther reputedly said at the Diet of Worms on April 18th, 1521 (there is some doubt as to its historicity), "Hier steh' ich, ich kann nicht anders" (Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise)...

At Worms Luther took a stand against certain theological errors and moral scandals in the Catholic Church and in favour of biblical authority. One could only wish that he had been more consistent, less dogmatic, more tactful and loving - in a word more biblical - in expressing his opinions.

Ultimately it is not Luther who stands, but Christ who sits at the right hand of God and stands to welcome repentant sinners into the Kingdom of God. Stephen's dying words were: “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” ... “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” ... “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” (Acts 7:56-60)

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:24-25 NASB)