Comedian Seth Meyer called her “The Leader
of the Free World.” I’m not so sure he was just joking. She is certainly the world’s
most prominent and important Lutheran;
therefore, as we prepare to celebrate the 500th anniversary of
Luther’s audacious criticism of the Roman Catholic Church, I think it’s only
fitting that I give a shout-out to Germany’s Angela Merkel.
The German Chancellor, the longest-serving
head of state in the European Union, was born the daughter of a Lutheran
pastor. As a young girl, she moved with her family to East Germany. There, in spite
of the communist state’s official atheism, she attended church, Christian youth
camps, and developed the faith and character that would serve her as a servant
of the German people.
As country after country in the Euro Zone
faced economic chaos, Merkel has proven to be the adult in the room—a feisty pragmatist
who is willing to steer the ship through some very rocky waters. Perhaps she’s
a little too practical and errs too much on the side of fiscal responsibility
(I’m not sure I’d vote for her if she were an American politician, but I will
admit that she shows a lot of common sense!). Nevertheless, as the great
humanitarian catastrophe—the tsunami of refugees from the conflict in Syria—flooded
over Europe, Merkel’s was the voice raised in compassion and mercy.
Jesus has told us, “I was a stranger and
you welcomed me…Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of
these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25: 35 and 40).
So what is the Christian response to the
largest refugee crisis since the Second World War? I don’t think it’s to impose
a travel ban on those who are homeless and desperate to escape violence. It’s
not to lock the boarders. Mercy and charity demand that people of good will do
what is necessary to comfort and welcome the afflicted. In spite of heavy
opposition, the chancellor opened Germany’s doors to receive immigrants from
Syria and Africa. She has suffered politically as a result, but her willingness
to put mercy ahead of politics speaks to her character.
Standing her ground against xenophobes and
extreme nationalists, Merkel remarked in 2011 that Germany did not suffer from
too much Islam, but from too little Christianity. She would later declare, "I am a member of the
evangelical church. I believe in God and religion is also my constant
companion, and has been for the whole of my life. We as Christians should above
all not be afraid of standing up for our beliefs.”
I admire
the chancellor for her courageous compassion during this humanitarian nightmare.
I will pray for her as she faces opposition from the ultra-nationalist Alternative
for Germany Party, with whom she must now share governing responsibilities. But
I will also ponder the words on the Statue of Liberty and wonder what has
happened to American leadership.
No comments:
Post a Comment