THE TRUTH IN PRISON*
* These letters from imprisoned pastors
in
1
If anyone can prove to me that one sentence of our Declaration
is not in accord with the Holy Scriptures and the Word of God, I am absolutely
ready to sign a statement that I will keep silence as regards that
sentence. But as regards whatever is in
accord with the Word of God, I cannot pledge myself to keep silence, for by so
doing I should be denying God and His Word, and I should thereby cease to be an
Evangelical preacher and messenger of the Holy Gospel.
2
Yesterday I received letters - the first time since my
arrest. By far the most precious thing
for me were thy greetings. They not only tell me how thou didst receive
the news (I never had the slightest doubt about that!), but first and foremost
they establish the ultimate and deepest union between us, something that no
prison walls can interrupt, much less destroy.
Thy first short postcard I immediately slipped inside my beautiful new
Bible - this Bible with the promise inscribed: “Neither shall any man pluck
them out of my hand” - and here it lies! It is most
wonderful to read the Bible at such a time!
How alive it suddenly becomes and how real! It really gives you the impression of having
been written specially for prisoners and for
prison. And so it is really - in many
aspects and senses.
3
How great a gift to the Christian is this assurance of faith I
can appreciate the better through seeing various inscriptions scratched upon
the walls of my cell, betraying a wholly different attitude on the part of
those who previously had to inhabit it.
They convey to one something of the terrible and agonizing days that
have been spent here. Other inscriptions
speak thoughts of revolution and of revenge brooded over by people politically
incensed. How different when one is here
as a Christian! Then one is free from
despondency and despair just as much as from political embitterment and ideas
of revolution and revenge. Instead of
all that, one is allowed to thank God, and
to praise Him for being in the position to suffer for His cause; and one can pray to God on behalf of those
who bring one into such a situation.
4
In many periods of my life I suffered from depression. Nothing of the kind now. I have had severe pains in my hips and my
back caused by the hard bed. But even
during the long nights I have been cheerful and thankful - a miracle to
myself! I can but attribute it to God
hearing my own prayers and the intercession of others - to God’s mercy
therefore. I thank everybody from the
bottom of my heart. I know now from
blessed experience what intercession can do.
Now, please, do not let us tire!
5
What better thing can there be for a pastor than to be shut up
for a time just with his Bible and his prayer-book? Never before have I been able to read so attentively
as here, and every day brings some new treasure. So I cannot complain in any way except
perhaps that there is no singing (because it is prohibited); but in this matter
help can be sought according to C. F. Mayer’s prescription: “We sing
without voice; with our souls we do the singing, a loud, resounding Deo Gloria!”
Particularly nice is the way in which my memory comes to life here. So many happy memories reawaken that this in
itself provides one with the best of company.
But the best thing of all is, and remains, the congregation with whom my
communion cannot be broken. That is how
it comes about that I feel so happy, even here, and as far removed from all
sense of loneliness or even of imprisonment as one could possibly wish for or
imagine.
6
About the warrant of arrest, I said to myself silently:- “Praise the Lord, Oh, my soul! He has let us know His glorious righteousness
and His judgment. God’s mercy alone
stands firm and so remains unto eternity.”
Remember also the murderers and
other people who are imprisoned with us.
We all stand beneath the Cross of Him who “was numbered with the
transgressors,”
May God bless thee in all thy ways and make thee
strong.
7
When, three weeks ago, I was living through the first long
Sunday, I read the letters of the New Testament which were written in
prison. There is joy and
power! It needs, of course, some
adaptation to pass from a life of many-sided activity, with every minute
crammed, to this infinite abundance of time.
It is for me and, no less, for my congregation as it is for my dear
friend who wrote me from his prison that he has now exchanged the office of
preaching for that of praying. I love
Luther’s word:- “God’s Word and the prayers of
Christians sustain the world” - more than ever now that the prayers, of these last weeks
bind us and make us one.
8
So once more I
write down the word of Calvin for thee:- “We ought not
to think of ourselves as miserable in a situation which Jesus with his own mouth
has commended to us as blessed” (Matt.
5: 10).
I for one am to-day in the mood:- “My heart
leaps and bounds and cannot be sad.”* I know for certain that the
fountain-head of this strength and joy will not dry up, for in prayer the
sluice-gates are open again and again.
How is it put in the beautiful Church prayer? “0 Lord, give peace in our time, for
there is none other that fighteth for us but only Thou, 0 Lord.” But that He is doing so
must be sufficient for us, and how He will do it - that we will leave to
Him.
* A line from a hymn of Paul Gerhaerdt.
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