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Rating: 
Summary: A forgotten story.
Review: Einstein paid homage to the few believing Christians left in Germany by the time Hitler came to power. Hitler's Cross is the story of the Confessing Church, the remnant who stood against Hitler in the darkening days before WWII. It is also the story of a corrupted and humanistic institutional church that was all too ready to throw out the Cross of Christ for Hitler's "Twisted Cross" and earthly message of Aryan "salvation".
Rating: 
Summary: Hitler's Cross
Review: Erwin Lutzer gives a harrowing description of the third riech. When hitler came to power Germany was in economic chaos and the people in despair. HItler promised to restore Germany to it's former greatness. When Hitler came to power he began to dismantle the Christian church and replace it with the nationalistic German church. The cross was replaced by the swatiska and the bible was replaced by Hitler's Mien Kampf. The German church preached complete obedience to the national leadership. Hitler then started his policy of "racial purity" Believed Germany will return to its greatness if it return to its Aryan roots. This was the begining of the extermination of the Jews. There were Christians that did stand up to Hitler. Two of these was Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Niemoller. They formed the resistence church called the cofession church. They preached that the cross must be supreme and be above all symbols. Lutzer explains that the hollicaust was God's opportunity to strengthen and purify his church. In the presents of this great evil many christians willingly laid down their lives to oppose Hitler and to save the Jews. Lutzer explains that when the cross is removed the full force of human evil is released. I believe the hollicaust shows that when God is removed there is nothing to stop evil. Many secular humanists believe that good can come from man and we do not need God. The events of WWII prove otherwise. Lutzer explains that the removal of christ with nationalism dates back to 19th century German philosophy. Georg Hegal taught that the national state must be supreme and Fredrick Nietzche taught that Christianity was weak and that God was dead. Erwin Lutzer makes strong parellels to this country. He compares the plight of the Jews during the hollicaust to the plight of unborn babies under abortion. He states that the secular world is trying to purge Christianity from the public sector. Today people are getting into trouble in work and school for professing their beliefs. This book was written before the tragedy of Columbine. I feel that a lot of the school violence is due to the fact that Jesus was removed from our public schools. Lutzer states thate The United States is marching down the same road that that NAZI germany did by having the voice of the church supressed by the national government. But, on the other hand Christian fundamentalists are using the same tactics. They are trying to force the country to follow their brand of Christianity and their own personal political agenda. Homosexuals and anyone else who is contrary to the Christian right are being treated the same way that Hitler treated the Jews. I have no problem with Homosexuals adopting children. It is better that a child be in a loving environment then be in an abussive environment. I believe in personal acountability. I am only accountable to God for my self not anybody else. When I hear "so called" Christians saying "God hates homosexuals and that its a sign of Gods perfect hate" I have a hard time
following the conservative christian position on Homosexuality. Erwin Lutzer states that "The Cross reminds us that the battle is not so much between church and state as it is between within our own hearts. If Christ has all of us, if The Cross stands above politics and the world as Bonhoeffer has reminded us, we shall overcome regardless of the cost." Pg.207
Rating:
Summary: Profoundly Disturbing
Review: Erwin Lutzer has taken the lid off Nazi Germany and the life of Hitler, to show an immense knowledge and understanding of what took place prior to the Nazi's rise, as well as how it continued to the very end. Not only that, he writes with compassion and passion about where the Church of Germany stood in relation to Hitler, and how eventually, with the exception of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Niemoller and a small handful of believers, the Church of Jesus Christ in Germany fell into the hands of the Fuhrer. Lutzer warns that the Church in the United States faces similar challenges and he shows some similarities between the two nations, and warns that we, too, in this country have to guard against unchecked nationalism and embracing one particular party over another because of the words of the particular leaders. Just because peace, prosperity, and the like is preached and promised, doesn't amount to squat, the Mr. Lutzer gives a stern admonition to those who might believe that our current political system is one which has been sanctioned by God. It was clear that the Nazi's believed that to be the case, and many sincere believers in Germany who believed they were doing God's work. Unfortunately, history showed them to be in error. Highly disturbing and sobering reading. And incredibly and magnificently recommended!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: HItler's Cross
Review: Hitler's Cross was very informative and a must read for any serious WWII historian. It answers many questions regarding the role of the church during a most crucial time in German history . It moves fast and reads very well . The author is able to effectively link up many political and religious facts in a most interesting way . It gave me a real appreciation for Democracy and the value of freedom in this country. It also is reflective as to the account of Hitler's strategy and method in taking over Germany , makes one wonder if it could happen again , if conditions were right . This book is a definite asset and companion to Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and How Then Shall We Live by Francis Schaffer.
Rating:
Summary: HItler's Cross
Review: Hitler's Cross was very informative and a must read for any serious WWII historian. It answers many questions regarding the role of the church during a most crucial time in German history . It moves fast and reads very well . The author is able to effectively link up many political and religious facts in a most interesting way . It gave me a real appreciation for Democracy and the value of freedom in this country. It also is reflective as to the account of Hitler's strategy and method in taking over Germany , makes one wonder if it could happen again , if conditions were right . This book is a definite asset and companion to Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich and How Then Shall We Live by Francis Schaffer.
Rating:
Summary: Will the Church React To Antichrist Like It Did To Hitler ?
Review: My own studies and readings of Biblical prophecy over the years, together with my interest in the future rise of the Antichrist, gave rise to personal concerns/fears over the alarming similarities in the rise and power of Adolf Hitler and that pertaining to the future world ruler known in Biblical circles as the Antichrist. The agendas of both persons being remarkably similar, with their rise being in large part due to the economic situation of their times, the apathy of the world at large, and the inactivity of the Christian church. Not to mention the shared hatred and intent towards the Jewish people. I never dared discuss these thoughts with anyone until I read this book. Here to my amazement I discovered that Erwin Lutzer appears to be of a like mind. With this in mind, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is a must, must read. We all need to be aware of the facts so ably illustrated here. The book is so easy to read and very well written. Before reading this book, my knowlege of the Third Reich was somewhat limited, and I had no idea as to the severe depths of Satanism and the occult generally that Hitler and his entourage had delved into. I used to think that history could not repeat itself but now I am not so sure. The immense increase of anti-Semitism and the manner in which the public is so easily deluded by the false re-writing/revisionism of history relating to the Jewish people and the Middle East; the ease in which complacent public opinion is manipulated, swayed and distorted by the modern media; the apparent ignorance of vast elements within the 'Church' as to what is going on around them....these factors are far too similar to what happened prior to and during the rise of Hitler. The time is right and is just waiting for the right person and circumstances for one other to take his place. If you are unsure, then read this book and study the facts for yourself. Don't just take my word for it. Thanks for listening.
Rating: 
Summary: Historical interpretations by a calvinist
Review: This book does a reasonably good job of showing how Hitler hijacked the church for his own purposes and the complicity of many in the church. Not that this was a total novelty in the history of organized religion mind you.
Lutzer really goes off the proverbial deep end when he attributes all of the horrors of that time period to God's will and as a means of "purifying" the church. Tens of millions of people (mostly innocents) die because this "God" of Lutzer wants to get the church back on the "straight and narrow"? My what a wicked God this God of Lutzer is.
Furthermore Lutzer's attemps to find parallells between Nazi Germany and present day America is fundamentalist fear mongering par excellence.
I will help this book be recycled into a new and more useful paper article.
Rating:
Summary: An important book to read
Review: This book is had a profound impact on me. This book contains much historical information concerning the rise of the Third Reich and the political, economic and spritual situation leading to its rise. In addition, Lutzer gives us valuable insight into how the church reacted (and didn't react) to the sweeping political changes of Nazi Germany. Highly recommended.
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