Gustav Niebuhr immigrated from Germany to America in 1885 at eighteen. He worked as a farmhand until he answered the call of a sermon to enter the ordained ministry. He went to seminary, interned for an evangelist in San Francisco, and married the evangelist’s daughter. He became pastor of a small church of German immigrants in Wright City, Missouri where he and Lydia raised their five children, two of whom, Reinhold and Richard, became well-known theologians. Richard (1894-1961) was more introspective, and Reinhold (1892-1971) was the gregarious one, often entertaining the family with satirical impressions of people in his father’s congregation. The boys played different musical instruments in the family ensemble–Richard played the flute and Reinhold the trombone. Perhaps the flute and trombone became symbolic of their theological approach to ethical issues later in life. The brothers exchanged a series of articles in 1932 on the topic of American intervention against Japanese imperialism and, more broadly, Christian involvement in politics. Richard argued for “The Grace of Doing Nothing” and based his noninvolvement principle on a radical trust in God’s sovereignty. There are times when doing nothing is morally superior to active interference that can destroy the very thing we are intending to preserve. Reinhold countered with an article of his own, “Must We Do Nothing?” The gospel calls Christians to actively resist evil, even by force, in extreme measures to protect the innocent. It is little wonder that Reinhold became an early, vocal advocate for American entry into World War II. As I read these articles, I can’t help but correlate to our time. Does America intervene or remain neutral in world affairs? Do Christians aggressively resist evil or wait for God’s intervention? Reinhold, originator of the well-known “Serenity Prayer,” asked God’s direction to discern what we ought to do and resist doing:
Richard & Reinhold Niebuhr
O God, the sovereign of nations, teach us how we may build a common life in which the nations of the world may find peace and justice. Show us what we ought to do. Show us also what are the limits of our power and what we cannot do. Recall us to our dignity as co-workers with You now and evermore.
Kenneth Cauthen, “An Introduction to the Theology of H. Richard Niebuhr.”
Rev. Dr. Peter James served 42 years as the senior of Vienna Presbyterian Church in Vienna, VA — 21 years in the 20th century and 21 years in the 21st century. He retired in 2021 and now serves as Pastor-in-Residence at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Even as a pastor, prayer came slowly to Pete. Read Pete’s story.