A German pastor is reportedly being persecuted by fellow pastors for preaching boldly about Jesus Christ and "refusing to bend a knee to political correctness."
Pastor Olaf Latzel preaches at the historic St. Martini Church in Bremen, where the church's former pastor, Joachim Neander, wrote the great hymn, "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty" in 1679, CBN New reports.
Latzel's sermons are known to be direct and bold and would cut no corners when attacking other religions, which could sound mean to some, according to the report.
"I'm only preaching the Gospel in a clear way," Latzel said. "I think it is my duty to do this preaching in this way for our Lord."
He claimed that much of Germany today "is covered by profound spiritual darkness," as are most Western nations.
The chief battle in the German church today, according to him, is over who God is.
Some Christian pastors have reportedly said "Allah and Jesus Christ, the Christian God, is the same god."
"But if you ask a Muslim, 'Does your god have a son?' he would say no!" he continued. "Our (Christian) God has a son; his name is Jesus Christ. So, they are not the same."
"If you speak out loud and clearly about the truth of the Bible, that there's only one way to heaven and this way is Jesus Christ, there is only one God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and there is no other god beside Him, then you have a problem," he said.
CBN reported that the Bremen pastor has been attacked in the media, investigated by the local government, and even denounced by fellow pastors over what he sees as a spirit of compromise that seems to have swallowed Germany and the German state church.
At least 70 German pastors reportedly gathered in Bremen this year to denounce Latzel behind a banner celebrating "diversity."
The public prosecutor investigated him for hate speech and then cleared him. The Bremen parliament even passed a resolution against him, the first time a German pastor was condemned by a German parliament since World War II, said the report.
But instead of backing down, Latzel said the attacks reassure him that he is in a "war" between Christ and the devil.
"This is one sign that you are on the right way in your preaching, when you get problems. If you preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and everyone is clapping his hand, then you have a problem."
He also admitted that while he has been receiving numerous praises through his email for his sermons, he does not want to get a big head.
"I am nothing. I am only a sinner. I am only a tool for Jesus Christ. And when Jesus can use this tool, give any honour to Jesus Christ. I am nothing."
The pastor who comes from a family with a long military tradition, said he is now paying the price to see Germany's spiritual revival.
He also lamented that 80 percent of pastors in Germany's state church have not been reborn, which makes it a "great problem" as they reportedly make their own doctrine.
