Wall That Divide are Broken Down

Today there will be celebrations of the historic events which led to the demolition of the Berlin Wall twenty years ago. The wall was erected over a period of time, beginning in the early 1960's. It not only divided a city it separated families and helped to maintain one of the most oppressive communist states -- East Germany. The dreaded Stasi secret police watched the movement of citizens and children were encouraged to inform on parents.

As East German officials were encouraging the celebration of forty years as a state in the late 1980's, the Protestant church was instrumental in another form of demonstration. Crowds of people, the majority of whom were young, took to the streets chanting "Freedom, freedom." There were many brave church leaders who supported these protests and clergy preached sermons calling for change while Stasi officers sat in their congregations. The wall would not have come down without this groundswell of resistance which managed to remain peaceful.

It seems to be very popular these days to portray Christian churches as dark allies of the status quo but there are many examples of courageous choices for justice and true gospel living. Do you know the truly United Church hymn by Walter Farquharson and Ron Klusmeier called Walls that Divide?

Though ancient walls may still stand proud

and racial strife be fact

though boundaries may be lines of hate

proclaim God's saving act!

Wall that divide are broken down

Christ is our unity!

Chains that enslave are thrown aside

Christ is our liberty!