The Barmen Declaration: A Stand for the Independence of the Church

The Barmen Declaration remains one of the most significant theological documents of the 20th century, particularly in relation to the church's relationship with the state. Created in 1934 in response to the Nazi regime's attempt to control religious institutions, the declaration played a pivotal role in the formation of the Confessing Church, a movement within the Protestant churches of Germany that sought to resist the Nazification of the church.

Background: The Rise of the Reichskirche and the Confessing Church

In 1933, Adolf Hitler’s ascent to power marked a critical turning point for Germany and its institutions, including the Christian church. Shortly after the Nazis gained power, the German Protestant churches, including the Evangelical Church of the Old Prussian Union, attempted to unify under a new banner, the Reichskirche (Reich Church). This move was deeply troubling to many within the church, as the Nazi government sought to control and manipulate religious life to further its political agenda.

Many church leaders saw the danger of the church becoming a mouthpiece for Nazi ideology and thus sought to resist the increasing entanglement between church and state. As a result, a group of pastors, theologians, and church leaders led by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Karl Barth, Martin Niemöller, and others formed the Confessing Church in response to the Reichskirche. They declared their commitment to maintaining the church’s independence from the state and vowed to preserve the gospel of Jesus Christ as the foundation of their faith.

The Bethel Confession and the Need for the Barmen Declaration

One of the early efforts to resist the Nazi government’s influence on the church was the Bethel Confession of 1933, which expressed opposition to the Reichskirche. However, the Bethel Confession failed to gain widespread acceptance within the church, partly because of its limited scope and theological disagreements. As the Nazis continued to assert their control over the churches, the Confessing Church realized the need for a more comprehensive and theologically robust declaration that would clearly affirm the church's autonomy and its commitment to the gospel.

In May 1934, a group of theologians and church leaders met in Barmen, a city in western Germany, to draft the Barmen Declaration. The declaration was intended to be a statement of the church’s position on key theological issues, particularly the relationship between the church and the state. It aimed to provide a clear answer to the growing threat of Nazism, which sought to assert control over every aspect of German society, including religious life.

The Content of the Barmen Declaration

The Barmen Declaration consists of a preamble and six articles, followed by six evangelical truths that summarize the key theological points of the document. The preamble outlines the context in which the declaration was written, while the articles themselves address specific theological concerns about the church’s relationship with the state and its mission.

Article 1 – The Centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

The first article of the Barmen Declaration affirms that the foundation of the church’s life is the gospel of Jesus Christ as revealed in Holy Scripture. It stresses that the church’s authority is derived solely from Jesus Christ, who is the head of the church. The article emphasizes the importance of the gospel as the primary guiding force for the church, rejecting any external influence that would attempt to distort or compromise this central truth.

This article rejects the notion that the church can align itself with any political ideology or movement, no matter how powerful. In particular, it stands in stark opposition to the attempts of the Nazi regime to use the church as a tool for its political ends. The declaration insists that any relationship between the church and the state must be viewed in light of the church's relationship with Christ.

Article 2 – The Church’s Role in Proclaiming the Word

The second article of the Barmen Declaration focuses on the church's duty to proclaim the Word of God. It reaffirms that the church’s mission is not to serve the state or political ideologies, but to faithfully declare the gospel. The article rejects any attempt by the state to control or manipulate the church’s message, making it clear that the church’s task is to preach the Word as revealed in Scripture, not to fulfill any political agenda.

This statement also highlights the church’s responsibility to remind both rulers and the ruled of God’s commandments and righteousness. The church's role is to act as a prophetic voice, calling the people of Germany to repentance and faithfulness to God, rather than aligning with the secular goals of the Nazi regime.

Article 3 – The Distinction Between the Church and the State

The third article reaffirms the distinction between the church and the state, asserting that the state has its own specific responsibilities and that it must not attempt to exercise authority over the church. The article affirms the state’s role in providing justice and peace, but it categorically rejects the idea that the state should control religious life or replace the church’s mission.

This article marks a crucial theological rejection of the idea that the church can be subjugated to the state or that the state has the authority to dictate the church’s practices and beliefs. It calls for a clear separation of powers between the state and the church, emphasizing that each institution has its own proper domain and purpose.

Article 4 – The Church's Confession of Faith

The fourth article addresses the importance of the church's confession of faith. The Barmen Declaration emphasizes that the church must remain faithful to the confession of the faith as revealed in Scripture and articulated by the creeds of the church. This article underscores the importance of doctrinal purity and the need for the church to resist any pressure to alter or compromise its theological beliefs in the face of external political or social pressures.

Article 5 – The State’s Responsibility to Provide Justice

In the fifth article, the Barmen Declaration acknowledges the responsibility of the state to uphold justice and peace in the world. However, it also asserts that the state must not expand its authority beyond this role and take over the mission of the church. The article rejects the idea that the state has the right to become the ultimate authority over every aspect of life, including religion.

The declaration affirms the church’s role in reminding the state and its leaders of their responsibility to uphold justice and righteousness. The church’s prophetic voice is essential in calling the state to account, reminding rulers of their duty to govern according to God’s will.

Article 6 – The Church's Independence and the Authority of Christ

The final article of the Barmen Declaration underscores the church’s independence and its sole allegiance to Jesus Christ. It asserts that the church must remain true to its mission and its confession of faith, regardless of external pressures or political influences. The declaration reaffirms that Christ is the only true authority in the church, and that the church must be governed by His Word and not by the whims of the state or political parties.

The Evangelical Truths: Six Key Affirmations

After the six articles, the Barmen Declaration concludes with six evangelical truths that summarize the key theological affirmations of the document. These truths focus on the church’s commitment to the gospel, the relationship between the church and the state, and the importance of maintaining the church’s independence and integrity.

• The gospel of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the church’s life and mission.
• The church must resist the encroachment of political ideologies and remain faithful to its prophetic role.
• The state has a legitimate role in providing justice, but it must not control the church.
• The church must remain faithful to its confession of faith and resist any pressure to compromise its beliefs.
• The church must proclaim the Word of God and uphold God’s commandments and righteousness.
• The church’s sole authority is Jesus Christ, and it must remain true to His Word in all things.

Conclusion: The Legacy of the Barmen Declaration

The Barmen Declaration is one of the most important documents in the history of the church’s relationship with the state. It served as a bold and courageous statement of resistance to the Nazi regime’s attempt to control the church and subvert the gospel. The Confessing Church, led by theologians like Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Karl Barth, was willing to stand firm in its faith, even in the face of intense pressure and persecution.

The Barmen Declaration remains a powerful reminder of the church’s responsibility to remain faithful to the gospel, to resist political ideologies that seek to co-opt its mission, and to maintain its independence as a witness to the truth of Jesus Christ. It challenges Christians today to reflect on the relationship between the church and the state and to ensure that the church remains true to its calling in every age.

Reference 
The Barmen Declaration - Stephen Nichols
Overview of the Twentieth Century - S. Donald Fortson III