In an account of life under German communism, pastor Johannel Hamel noted the truth of Paul’s promise of a “way of escape”:
“Time and again God creates loopholes, so to speak, open space in the midst of closed systems of unbelief and hatred of God. Hence the possibility is offered and realized for doing the good, reasonable, and well-pleasing, although these systems theoretically seem to leave no room for such action . . . . Where people take their place in the self-movement of the Gospel, there opens, usually by surprise, a door by which they can get on in their earthly life. To be sure most of the time this door is only visible in the last moment. One must have enough faith to run against a doorless wall up to the last centimeter, in the certain hope that God who leads one in this way will not allow his people to break their heads.”
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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