The Sermon on the Mount as Peaceful Revolution--20 years after the Wall came down.

November 6, 2009 ~ The Rev. Christian Fuhrer Extended Interview Religion & Ethics News Weekly

An interesting interview with Rev. Christian Fuhrer, pastor at St. Nikolai Lutheran Church in Leipzig describing the peaceful demonstrations which eminated from his church and eventually led to the fall of the Berlin wall a month later.

Interestingly, it really all began with public and weekly prayers for peace beginning in 1981 & 1982. Only in the church was free speech able to be expressed.

While Rev. Fuhrer's comments posted here do not give a clear witness to the gospel, he shares some insights into occations when such witness did occur. I suspect the PBS based webpage had something to do with the "sterile" nature of his God-speak.

I think his last paragraph is quite poinient, however, in helping us understand the proper relationship between Church and the non-Christian:
"The role of the church did not diminish, at least not here in the Nikolai Church. It continued. Huge protests against the war in Iraq, peace prayers involving many people to save jobs…It continued, but under different social circumstances. However, there are always certain peaks, unique times, such as October 9th. It was a peaceful revolution which was a unique process. You cannot expect that it will go on like that every day. What this revolution aimed to achieve was indeed achieved, and then people stepped back. The important thing to remember is that we did not do that to get people to join our church, but because it was necessary. That is what Jesus did as well. When he provided help, he never asked if that person went to the temple or if that person said all his prayers. He just realized that this human being needed help, so he helped. That is exactly how we did it. We never said “but you must return the favor,” the way it is done in politics and in the world. We created something, and the blessing continued for the people. The most important thing is that the church has to remain open. Whenever people need the church again, in everyday life or in very specific situations, they should find the church open. The church should be there for the people, the way Jesus intended. An inviting, open church without the expectation that people join; an inviting, open church offering unconditional love, just as Jesus did, and [we must] act in this spirit."