Ich Glaube än Gott
By Foy Valentine, Founding Editor
When Adolph Hitler`s Nazi juggernaut was at the point of overrunning Bonn, Karl Barth made a big decision. Rather than bow the knee to the Nazi evil, Karl Barth chose to flee. Leaving his prestigious teaching post at the world-class University of Bonn, he made his way across the southern border of Germany to his native Switzerland where he enlisted as a private in the Swiss army and served until the war was finally over. Then he returned to his teaching post at the University of Bonn. The University buildings together with the quintessentially civilized city of Bonn had been bombed into smithereens by the conquering Allied Forces. Classes began in the rubble amidst the dust and noise, the hammering and screeching of heavy machinery, and all the commotion of massive reconstruction. Barth`s first words to his first class in his first lecture on theology were, "Ich Glaube än Gott"-I believe in God.
What better way to begin again?
What better Christian testimony?
What better theology?
What better ethics?
What seems to me to be Karl Barth`s Germanic circumlocutions in his portentous writings can be, at the very best, daunting. After being translated by scholars into English, they then need to be translated into my native East Texas language by non-academics who are able to communicate ideas without obfuscation, profundity without pedantry. These people must never, ever have studied German grammar, German verb forms, or German philosophers.
Still, Karl Barth is a great theologian whose contributions to the Christian cause must not be denied or denigrated or diminished. His memorable manifesto, "I believe in God," deserves to be immortalized, emblazoned on every believer`s soul, highlighted in every Christian`s everyday life, and used as a daily credo by the people of God everywhere.
Job said, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him."
Paul said, "I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
When the man whose son was grievously afflicted came to Jesus for deliverance, the Lord told him that all things are possible to those who believe. The father then cried out, "Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief."
And Karl Barth just said, "I believe in God."
So what to do?
What to do when your Mother has just breathed her last breath and her pulse has stilled? "I believe in God."
What to do when the Medical Doctor says soberly, "I am sorry to have to tell you that the cancer has metastasized?" "I believe in God."
What to do when you drive around the corner and see that your house has burned, along with everything in it, to the ground? "I believe in God."
What to do when the phone rings at 1 o`clock in the morning and the voice from the Emergency Room at the hospital says, "Your son has been in a very bad automobile accident. You should come as quickly as possible?" "I believe in God."
What to do when the broker says that your retirement savings, painfully accumulated for all your working life have been wiped out? "I believe in God."
What to do when your spouse who decades ago stood with you happily and pledged, "Till death do us part," comes in one morning to say, "I am filing for divorce?" "I believe in God."
What to do when the child development specialist says, "This child can never see, or walk, or talk, or even hold a rattler?" "I believe in God."
What to do when the work Supervisor says, "I`m sorry, but your position has been eliminated and you have until 5 o`clock this afternoon to clear out your desk?" "I believe in God."
On the other hand, consider the other side of this coin.
What to do when a much hoped for position opens and you get the word that you have been chosen to fill it? "I believe in God."
What to do when the editor himself calls to say they like your manuscript very much, will publish it next Spring, and want a contract signed for your next two books? "I believe in God."
What to do when the incredibly wonderful young woman who has been the focus of your life for more than two years finally says "Yes?" "I believe in God."
What to do when a long and stressful pregnancy is succeeded by a very difficult delivery, but then the Medical Doctor emerges into the waiting room all bathed in smiles to announce, "You have a fine, healthy, beautiful baby girl?" "I believe in God."
Yes. In the bad times and in the good times, there is solid reason for the believer to affirm faith in God, to declare confidence in God, to confess dependence on God, to acknowledge reliance on God, to rest securely in the solid insight of Micah 6:8 that what the Lord requires of us is to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.
When the storms of life are raging, God stands by his own.
When the challenging opportunities of a lifetime are presented, God moves to make his strength perfect in our weakness.
I believe in God.
But what is it to believe?
Here is where the water hits the wheel. Defining the word, believe, may very well take a lifetime of intellectual and spiritual struggle. The German word is Glaube. The Hebrew word is aman The Greek word is pisteuo. The Spanish word is creer.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the best dictionary in the English language, our word believe is an ancient compounding of the verb "be" and the noun "life." Thus, believe means to be in life committed. The Christian believer is one who has consciously and positively, intentionally and wholeheartedly, decided to follow Jesus. No turning back. For the believer, there are no exceptions listed in fine print at the bottom of the contract. Jesus Christ is Lord. Period. Paragraph.
So, with Karl Barth, "Ich Glaube än Gott."
I believe in God.
