Nuremberg: Where evil and grace embraced

We have just returned from two cruises involving ports in 11 countries. Of the many interesting places visited, Courtroom 600 in the Hall of Justice in Nuremberg, Germany, stands out. There, 24 of the most notable of German war criminals were put on trial.

In that chamber I mused over the question of the day, which still resonates. Did such debased men deserve the grace of God offered them by the chaplains who ministered to them during the trial?

Coming home, I compiled the following in answer to the question.

Saul of Tarsus, later called Paul, became at once one of the most pious and profane people who ever lived. In his later life he looked upon his old life with such revulsion as to call himself the “chiefs of sinners.” Chief, in this instance, meaning the worst of all sinners to have lived; the template of a profligate person. In using the self-imposed title, he meant that among sinners he ranked first among the worst.

In support of his claim, he noted some of his many evil actions.

As a pious scholar, Saul was appointed by the Sanhedrin, the Supreme Court of the day, as chief investigator of the reported resurrection of Jesus Christ. Armed with credentials provided by the court, he set out to disclaim the resurrection. In doing so he bound and imprisoned both men and women, killing some.

He “made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging of men and women, committing them to prison” (Acts 8: 3).

Being enraged against believers in Jerusalem who were imprisoned, Saul voted in favor of their execution (Acts 26: 10).

Even in synagogues he imprisoned and beat followers of Jesus. (Acts 22: 19.)

As a member of the Sanhedrin, Saul voted for the execution of Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and became supervisor of the gross execution.

As was the custom, the convicted was pushed face down, turned over and a large stone dropped on his heart. If that did not kill the victim, the stone was dropped on his head. Were that not fatal, the entire entourage joined in pelting the victim with stones. Saul bore witness of this execution.

He described himself as a “blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man.” (Timothy 1: 13)

Being a “blasphemer” though he wore the cloak of religion, he spoke irreverently about God and sacred things. As a persecutor, he harassed, annoyed, and exercised hostility. As an insolent individual, he was arrogant, rude, and disrespectful of all.

In the vernacular of the modern era, he was the “baddest of the bad dudes.”

At issue was the question, could such an evil bloody man whose sins were compounded experience the forgiving grace of God?

His purpose in being transparent he stated as being “… for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life” (I Timothy 1: 17).

The pattern set, the issue in Nuremberg in 1945 and 1946 became, could it be made to fit any of the 24 Nazi criminals accused of war crimes?

Having read the account of the two chaplains who spent the last months of their lives with the accused, there is strong evidence some did repentantly receive the grace of God. In light of that, I have started the manuscript of a book to be titled, “Where Evil and Grace Embraced.” REV. NELSON PRICE Jim Powell of Young Harris