A Lesson from an Auschwitz Survivor Who Was Not One!

Did you hear about the 91 year old man who had claimed for years he was an Auschwitz death camp survivor?  He confessed he made the story up this week.  You can read the news article here.  Joseph Hirt had lectured school groups and told his story for years.  He even had a prisoner number tattooed on his arm.  He recently came public after a history teacher began to investigate his story.  While I feel the confession was good for him bringing a sense of relief and freedom, his motive for doing it is instructive for all of us.

In the article he says he was determined to tell the story of the survivors after visiting Auschwitz several years after WW2.  He said his goal was to “prevent the loss of truth.”  How ironic that truth was his motive!  He had good intentions.  He wanted the world to remember the tragedy and lessons from the Nazi crimes.  But he went overboard by creating a great presentation and appealing story to better share the truth. It was great, it just wasn’t true, and truth matters! 

But he crossed the line when he did so.  The end did not justify the means.  He was dishonest. He was lying, probably a thoroughly justified, rationalized lie in his mind, but a lie none-the-less.

Christians can learn from this story.  We want to share truth.  We are highly motivated to share the truth of Jesus and His word.  But we must not compromise truth in the process.  Missionaries that are zealous for the cross must not rationalize the misuse of funds just because they are doing good.  Preachers must not stretch or change the truth of God’s word, in order to grow the church.

Joesph Hirt harmed the power of his message and the work of his life, by compromising his integrity.  We must remember good intentions do not justify immoral conduct.  Doing good and making a difference in this world, does not justify dishonesty.  So many Christians have fallen to the same temptation.

“For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.”  (2 Corinthians 2:17 ESV)

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1 comment

  1. Good advice to heed. The ends do not justify the means.

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