Last Danish Sermons
BY KAJ MUNK
Nyt Nordisk Forlag
Arnold Busck
Copenhagen 1946
EXTRACT
TWENTY SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
For The Church of the Holy Ghost in Copenhagen 1943
Therefore it is first and foremost deed, he has called us for, when he made us his disciples. To be Christian is quite the opposite of being passive. There is in fact two ways, by which one can benefit God’s enemy – and I do not know, which of them is the most dangerous. The one is to be active for the evil, the other is to be passive in the good.
Some believe, that to be Christian is church attendance and prayer. It has nothing to do with Christianity – not more than to buy shoe polish has to do with a shoe polisher. Prayer and Bible, that is our arsenal. There we get power and insight for our struggle for the Kingdom of God on earth.
People can delude themselves into believing, that Christianity is to be a saved human. It has nothing to do with Christianity. What good pleasurable feelings one can reach regarding oneself and the relation to the beyond, is not of any interest for Christ. What he asks for, is: Are you a suitable battle ally? To be Christian is a state of eternal conflict. Conflict with God, with oneself, with the world. My own desire is no longer my dictator. I have got higher gods than myself. And what happens in the world, is not unimportant to me. I cannot lock myself up in a church or a place of worship as in a shelter: “Now let the bombs of sin scatter outside! I am alright with God in here.” Then Jesus would tell us on judgment day: “Be not one who says “Lord, Lord!”, should be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven, but one who does God’s will. – You lame and wicked servant, that knew, that I gather, where I did not spread, what have you done with the talent, that I entrusted you?”
“There shall not be spoken politics in the church,” says the devil. He says it with the emperor’s utterance, because the emperor is interested in, that the priests are quite about his filth. And he says it with the devoted Christian’s utterance; for the devoted Christians have deluded themselves into believing, that Christianity does not concern anything else than them and God – and outside lies the world.
The devil lies, as it is his practice.
“But, politics do we hear about in the radio and read about in the news paper.” Yes – but in which way! In the church we should hear about politics, put in relation to God’s will.
“Your Kingdom come”, the father prayed.
If the emperor is a good man, if the state is a truly Christian state, that works for the fruition of God’s Kingdom, then the church will bless them. But do God and emperor collide, then oppose the church, that is unfaithful and quite and by its silence approves the emperor.
And it must not neither just protest in general. It must mention things by its right name.
And it is better to be wrong by speaking than to be wrong by being silent.
Page 26-29
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There is another area, where the church without weary must keep the people’s demands in sight. Our Danish fatherland is viewed by the Christian congregation as a precious gift. Also there it is the case, that every God’s gift also is a task; his grace is a seed, that must bear fruit. We can not just love our fatherland with a ballot paper, little singalong and little Ewald parties. We call ourselves democrats, but too many stand by their work and skills for the quite opposite idea’s victory. Love can not limbo. God’s curse over those, that want to serve two masters and bear the cloak on both shoulders.
Page 30
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But that is not enough. It is not Denmark, we should put our lives in for, it is the Christian Denmark, i.e. it is the Kingdom of God on Earth, where the Christian Denmark is a province – where the language is truth, the law is justice, and the tone between people mercifulness.
Page 34
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We have forgotten to pray in our times. We have understood to use the power of electricity and been so busy with it, that we in addition forgot the spirit’s. Now there are few among us, that have serenity and good faith enough to use this the most immense of all earth’s power sources. But if they may hang on and preserve, so we others get to learn it again, and that there also at us should be a congregation of prayer and service mind and sacrifice will and battle eager. So shall Denmark get its seat not only with honor at the table of peace negotiation, but among the work the light day, that we pray God will soon let shine upon the world.
Page 35
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SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT
At The Cathedral in Copenhagen 1943
For to be quite about the sin is to talk the devil’s language. When Christ thundered against the rich, castigated the Pharisees, he was certainly on economic and judicial grounds. When the Christians refused to sacrifice to the picture of the emperor, they were in open uprising. God reached us, if we do not understand, that the church is for just that: in every given moment to actualize eternity.
When there here in this country is raised a persecution against a certain group of our countrymen just because of there origin, it is the Christian right of the church to shout: This is against the constitution of the Kingdom of Christ, that, which is called mercifulness, and it is abhorrent to the free Nordic mind. And the church must go further without weary: should it happen again, then will we with God’s help try to raise the people for uprising. Why a Christian people, that sits passively by, when its ideals are stepped upon, lets the force of corruption into its mind, and God’s anger sinks upon it.
Page 50-51
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NEW YEARS DAY
At Vedersø Church 1944
I do not stand here to preacher hate against anyone. That is me quite impossible. Not even Adolf Hitler do I hate. I know, what terror and misery the world is thrown into; I know, what debasement my own country has had to experience. I know, that I now in months have not laid myself to rest any night without thinking: “Do they come for me tonight?” And that is not a cheerful thought for one, who loves life, and has enough to do in his deed and is happy for his wife and children. And yet I cannot hate. For humans are of so many kinds and are occupied by all kinds of spirits, and the Savior has taught us the prayer: Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.
It will never be Christian deed to make itself available for injustice, either it so happens of cowardliness, greediness or stupid compliance.
Page 60-61
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We know well, that Jesus and his brave apostles did not let themselves scare as such. They would rather walk into death than let themselves scare to do, what was against their conscience. We could do the same. But we are little people. Maybe we should also hope, that God sets the binoculars at the blind eye. But when Danish men without imperative need and by own free drive and choice betray their fatherland and Christianity of corrupt desire for money, then they should also know here from the church, that the wealth, that they acquire by fraud, is Judas money and will lead to their destruction.
In the case of just and unjust one should never ask, whether it pays off, for that is the interest of the devil.
Page 64-65
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Kaj Munk
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaj_Munk
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I GUDS BISMER
Sidste danske Prædikener
AF KAJ MUNK
Nyt Nordisk Forlag
Arnold Busck
Kjøbenhavn 1946
UDDRAG
TOOGTYVENDE SØNDAG EFTER TRINITATIS.
Til Helligaandskirken i København 1943
Derfor er det først og fremmest Daad, han har kaldet os til, da han gjorde os til sine Disciple. At være kristen er det stikmodsatte af at være passiv. Der er nemlig to Maader, man kan gavne Guds Fjende paa – og jeg ved ikke, hvilken af dem der er den farligste. Den ene er at være aktiv til det onde, den anden er at være passiv i det gode.
Nogle tror, at det at være kristen er Kirkegang og Bøn, Salmesang og Bibellæsning. Det har ikke Spor med Kristendom at gøre – ikke mere end at købe Skosværte har med en Støvlepudser at gøre. Bøn og Bibel, det er vort Arsenal. Der henter vi Kræfter og Indsigt til vor Kamp for Gudsriget på Jorden.
Mennesker kan bilde sig ind, at Kristendom er at være et frelst Menneske. Det har ikke Spor med Kristendom at gøre. Hvilke velbehagelige Følelser man kan naa til angaaende sig selv og Forholdet til det hinsides, er Kristus helt uinteresseret i. Det han spørger efter, er: Duer du til Kampfælle? At være kristen er at være i en Tilstand af evig Konflikt. Konflikt med Gud, med sig selv, med Verden. Min egen Lyst er ikke længere min Diktator. Jeg har faaet højere Guder end mig selv. Og det, der sker i Verden, er ikke mig ligegyldigt. Jeg kan ikke lukke mig inde i en Kirke eller et Missionshus som i et beskyttelsesrum: ”Lad nu Syndens Bomber drysse udenfor! Jeg har det godt med Gud herinde.” Da vil Jesus sige til os paa Dommedag: ”Ikke hver den som siger ”Herre, Herre!”, skal indgaa i Himmeriget, men den, der gør Guds vilje. - Du lade og onde Tjener, som vidste, at jeg sanker, hvor jeg ikke spredte, hvad har du gjort med det Talent, jeg betroede dig?”
”Der maa ikke tales Politik i Kirken,” siger Djævelen. Han siger det med Kejserens Mæle, for Kejseren er interesseret i, at Præsterne tier stille til hans Uhumskheder. Og han siger det med de fromme Kristnes Mæle; for de fromme Kristne har bildt sig ind, at Kristendommen ikke har med andet at gøre end dem og Gud – og uden for ligger Verden.
Djævelen lyver, som det er hans Skik.
”Jamen, Politik hører vi om i Radio og læser vi om i Avisen.” Ja – men paa hvilke Maader! I Kirken skal vi høre om Politik, stillet i Forhold til Guds Vilje.
”Dit Rige komme,” bad Faderen.
Hvis Kejseren er en god Mand, hvis Staten er en sand kristelig Stat, der arbejder for Guds Riges Virkeliggørelse, da velsigner Kirken dem. Men støder Gud og Kejseren sammen, da ve den Kirke, som er utro og tier og ved sin Tavshed giver Kejseren Ret.
Og den maa ikke heller nøjes med at protestere i al Almindelighed. Den maa nævne Tingen ved sit rette Navn.
Og det er bedre at tage fejl ved at tale end at tage fejl ved at tie.
Side 26-29
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Der er et andet Omraade, hvor Kirken uden at trættes maa holde Folket Kravet for Øje. Vort danske Fædreland ser den danske kristne Menighed paa som en dyrebar Guds gave. Ogsaa der gælder det, at enhver Guds gave tillige er en Opgave; hans Naade er en Sæd, der skal bære Frugt. Vi kan ikke nøjes med at elske vort Fædreland med en Stemmeseddel, lidt Alsang og lidt Ewald-Fester. Vi kalder os Demokrater, men alt for mange gaar utvungne ind med deres Arbejde og Evner for de stikmodsatte Ideers Sejr. Halte kan ej Kærligheden. Guds Forbandelse over den, der vil tjene to Herrer og bære Kappen på begge Skuldre.
Side 30
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Men det er ikke nok. Det er ikke Danmark, vi skal sætte Livet ind for, det er det kristne Danmark,
d. v. s. det er det Guds Rige paa Jorden, hvoraf det kristne Danmark er en Provins – hvor Sproget er Sandhed, Loven er Retfærdighed, og Omgangsformen mellem Folkene Barmhjertighed.
Side 34
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Vi har glemt at bede i vor Tid. Elektricitetens Kræfter har vi lært at udnytte og haft saa travlt med, at vi derover glemte Aandens. Nu er der faa iblandt os, der har Ro og Enfold nok til at forstaa at udnytte denne den vældigste af alle Jordens Kraftkilder. Men maatte de hænge i og holde ud, saa vi andre faar lært det igen, og der ogsaa hos os bliver en Menighed af Bøn og Tjenersind og Offervilje og Kamplyst. Saa skal Danmark faa sin Plads ikke blot med Ære ved Fredsforhandlingsbordet, men midt i Arbejdet den lyse Dag, vi beder Gud snart lade gry over Verden.
Side 35
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ANDEN SØNDAG I ADVENT
I Domkirken i København 1943
Thi at tie over Synden er at tale Djævelens Sprog. Naar Kristus tordnede mod de Rige, naar han hudflettede Farisæerne, var han jo inde paa økonomiske og juridiske Gebeter. Naar de Kristne nægtede at ofre til Kejserens Billede, var de ude i aabent Oprør. Gud naade os, om vi ikke forstaar, at just det er Kirken til: i hvert givent Øjeblik at aktualisere Evigheden.
Når der her i Landet rejses en Forfølgelse mod en særlig Gruppe af vore Landsmænd bare for deres Afstamnings skyld, er det kristeligt ret af Kirken at raabe: Dette er stridende mod Grundloven i Kristi Rige, den, der hedder Barmhjertighed, og det er afskyeligt for frie nordiske Sind. Og kirken maa gaa videre uden at lade sig trætte: sker det engang til, da vil vi med Guds Hjælp prøve at rejse Folket til Oprør. Thi et Kristent Folk, der sidder daadløst hen, naar dets Idealer trampes under Fode, slipper Forraadnelsens Kræft ind i sit Sind, og Guds Vrede sænker sig over det.
Side 50-51
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NYTAARSDAG
I Vedersø Kirke 1944
Jeg staar ikke her for at prædike Had mod nogen. Det er mig plat umuligt. Ikke engang Adolf Hitler hader jeg. Jeg ved, hvad Rædsel og Elendighed verden er kastet ud i; jeg ved, hvad Forsmædelse mit eget Land har maattet opleve. Jeg ved, at jeg nu i Maaneder ikke har lagt mig til Ro nogen Aften uden at tænke: ”Kommer de efter dig i Nat?” Og den tanke er ikke morsom for en, der elsker Livet, har nok at gøre i sin Gerning og er glad for sin Kone og sine Børn. Og dog kan jeg ikke hade. For Mennesker er saa mange Slags og besættes af alle Slags Aander, og Frelseren har lært os Bønnen: Forlad dem, thi de vide ikke, hvad de gøre.
Det bliver aldrig kristen Gerning at stille sig til Raadighed for Uretten, enten det saa sker af Fejhed, Griskhed eller tossegod Føjelighed.
Side 60-61
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Vi ved godt, at Jesus og hans tapre Apostle lod sig ikke forskrække af sligt. De gik i Døden heller end at lade sig skræmme til at gøre, hvad der stred mod deres Samvittighed. Det kunde vi ogsaa. Men vi er Smaafolk. Og maaske bør vi ogsaa der haabe paa, at Gud sætter Kikkerkerten for det blinde Øje. Men naar danske Mænd uden bydende Behov og af egen fri Drift og Valg fraraader deres Fæderland og Kristendom af raadent Pengebegær, saa skal de ogsaa her fra Kirken have at vide, at den rigdom, de paa den Maade tiltusker sig, er Judaspenge og skal blive dem til Fordærv.
I Sagen Ret og Uret skal man aldrig spørge, om det betaler sig, for det er Djævelens Interesse.
Side 64-65
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Kaj Munk
https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaj_Munk
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