Being Duped by the Nazis

“Courage is the act of risking suffering for the sake of the good.” – Josef Pieper

Josef Pieper was a very conflicted man. A German author and philosopher, he wrote Das Arbeitsrecht des Neuen Reiches und die Enzyklika Quadragesimo anno ("The Labor Law of the New Reich and the Encyclical Quadragesimo Anno") in 1934, in which he drew similarities between “the ideas of Christian social teaching with National Socialist social policy, the core of the domestic policy of the Third Reich."

Within a year, Pieper realized that he had been duped by the Nazis and begged not to have new editions of his book published. Throughout the 1930s, Pieper became an increasingly outspoken critic of National Socialism, so much so that he was eventually banned from publishing. However, according to Fernando Inciarte, Pieper never crossed the line into open resistance and therefore "never claimed the honor of being considered an opposition member." That being said, Pieper's writings greatly influenced members of the opposition such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Here is how Alan Noble of The Keller Center explained the deeper meaning of Pieper’s quote above…

“Trying to avoid suffering—trying to avoid vulnerability so you don’t risk anything—leaves you timid and inhibited. It feels like you’re protecting yourself from harm, like you’re being careful. In reality, overprotection harms you as much as recklessness does. It harms you by preventing you from experiencing the wonders of the world God has created.”

“If you don’t try to get a driver’s license, you’ll never experience the joys of freedom on the road. If you don’t try to build friendships, you’ll never have the joy of close friends to rely on. If you never talk to someone you’re interested in romantically, you’ll never get married. If you never submit that poem, or artwork, or song, you’ll never have a chance of getting your work accepted. Life involves risk and vulnerability. It takes courage to enjoy many of the blessings God has given us.”

I don’t know where Josef Pieper stood spiritually, but it sounds like Alan Keller is a true Risk Taker for Christ. I hope you are too!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President