Germany was once the focal point of the Protestant Reformation in 1517, but despite its rich Christian history, believers are hard to find there these days.
On the 500th anniversary of that milestone that reshaped the spiritual landscape of Europe, Germany’s Lutheran church took a surprising stance.
Rather than reaffirming its historic roots, it lobbied the German government to legalise same-sex marriage.
“You heard right,” said Matthias Lohmann, lead pastor of the Free Evangelical Church in Munich, during a recent tour of the United States.
GERMAN CHURCH HAS CAPITULATED TO CULTURAL PRESSURES
“The church lobbied the government to do that. The Chancellor was actually opposed to it [but] the state church is quite happy to do whatever they needed to do in order to fit with the mainstream, to do whatever people want.”
Pastor Lohmann told Sarah Holliday of the The Washington Stand this capitulation to cultural pressures has come at a steep cost.
“The church is experiencing a steep decline in Germany.”
“In the early 1970s, 95% of all Germans were members of a church. Pretty much everyone in Germany.”
“Now, today, that’s only true for less than half the population.”
MANY GERMANS IDENTIFY AS CHRISTIAN IN NAME ONLY
“In just five decades, half the population exited the church.”
“Today, many Germans identify as Christian in name only, with only 3% or so actually attending church on an average Sunday.”
And that’s not the worst of it.
Pastor Lohmann revealed that “most of these churches are not Gospel affirming and preaching churches and are often led by LGBT ministers.”
“GERMAN BAPTISTS COULDN’T AGREE ON WHAT THE CROSS MEANS”
Even the German Baptist Union, one of the largest free church denominations, has embraced the blessing of same-sex marriages.
More alarmingly, Pastor Lohmann recounted a recent debate within the denomination about the meaning of the cross, where “they couldn’t agree what the cross actually means.”
“That is Christianity in Germany today.”
The decline is not unique to Germany, he added, as much of Western Europe faces similar spiritual erosion.
‘I LONG FOR NEW REFORMATION AND REVIVAL”
Yet, in the face of this darkness, Matthias Lohmann’s heart burned with hope.
“When I look at this, I long for a new reformation. I long for revival.”
So do Brandon and Brooke Keats (not their real names) who serve with the International Mission Board (IMB) in North Germany.”
They told The Baptist Press evangelicals are a razor-thin minority in Germany and Christians are viewed as the bygone past.
“At the same time, we do see kernels of hope, and especially with the younger generation, we see interest in spirituality.”
“GERMANS MORE WILLING TO DISCUSS SPIRITUAL MATTERS THAN AMERICANS”
Haagan Haentsch, a German native raised under communism in the former East Germany, is now an American citizen living in Texas.
Despite eastern Germany’s strong atheistic bent, he sees more willingness to discuss spiritual matters there than among Americans.
Behind the German people’s willingness to talk is a deep-seated need, he explained to The Baptist Press
“They have nothing to look forward to in the future. There is this underlying feeling that ‘My life is void of a worthy cause and purpose.”
“GERMANY RIPE FOR THE GOSPEL”
“In a nation searching for meaning, the fields are ripe for the Gospel,” believes Brandon Keats.
“The time for more Christian workers in Germany is now.”
“Even in street evangelism, we rarely have people be aggressive or straight up tell us ‘No,’” Brandon said.
“There’s been an openness. The Lord is working.”
“PRAYER BROUGHT DOWN THE BERLIN WALL”
Haagan Haentsch is convinced prayer, not politics, brought down the Berlin Wall.
East German pastors had gathered their people in weekly, candle-lit prayer meetings to pray for freedom.
The prayer meetings grew by word of mouth, swelling to hundreds of thousands across East Germany by 1989 and garnering the government’s attention.
A communist official said the East German government had prepared for every contingency “except candles and prayer.”
REUNIFICATION SAW CHURCH ATTENDANCE SPIKE
“We were amazed at how God would answer those prayers. There was no bloodshed. The system went away with no armed conflict,” reflected Haagan Haentsch.
The reunification of Germany saw church attendance spike, though some viewed it as a way to recapture traditions or a national identity.
Interns working with the IMB team met a college student on campus who believed Christians no longer existed and was surprised to learn of their faith.
The young man’s curiosity led to Gospel conversations and to long-term friendships with the interns trained through The Salt Network, a local church ministry training college students in evangelism and church planting.
Over time, the young man came to faith in Christ.
“YOUNG GERMANS ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE”
Brandon Keats observes “A lot of young Germans are realising that they will never own a home, they will never have a job that will make them successful and happy.”
“They are looking for something else.”
“The Gospel tells them, ‘I don’t have to live in shame and carry this burden because the Lord takes it from me,’” Brooke said.
“I want to keep talking about Jesus and at any moment that’s open, I’m going to,” Brandon said.
“We want to be there when the Lord changes something in German hearts.”
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