Lest Innocent Blood Be Shed
By Philip Hallie
Copyright 1979
303 pages
This nonfiction book examines how it was that during World War II, a small Protestant village in France called Le Chambon defied authorities and worked diligently and openly, in full view of the Vichy government, to save thousands of Jewish children and adults from their doom.
This is a study of ethics couched in a real-life event. The author studies the lives of the main players, particularly Pastor Andre Trocme and his wife and followers, for they were mostly responsible for the good deeds performed during that terrible time.
I could not help but admire the courage of these townsfolks as they followed what they perceived as their calling from God - to love all, regardless, and to save lives, regardless. These were true pacifists, not stoic "I'm against war" pacifists who then move on to something else but truly children of Jesus who followed the New Testament as it they interpreted it. That meant no bloodshed, but instead turning the other cheek and loving and living a moral and ethical life in all aspects.
The text was difficult at times and the author sometimes bogged down in details. As a reader I often felt I was following along with the author as he attempted to understand what drove these people to act as few others did.
Sounds like an interesting read to me...I seem WWII era studies be they fiction or not.
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence that you read that during the week of the shooting at the Holocaust museum. Things haven't changed much, huh? Thank God for His grace during difficult circumstances.
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