The Christian Response to Nietzche
by Ben Huot
Have you always thought that because Nietzche was a well known atheist that everything he said is against the Bible and not worth reading for Christians? That is totally not true. Here is a sampling of some of his statements from Thus Spake Zarathustra and the biblical response.
Statement
“He that writeth in blood and proverbs doth not want to be read, but learnt by heart.” -- “Reading and Writing” in Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
Response
Jesus made the ultimate statement in blood with his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead and he definitely wanted us to learn the scriptures so that they were a part of us and not just words on a page. “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them” --Hebrews 10:16
Statement
“But the state lieth in all languages of good and evil; and whatever it saith it lieth; and whatever it hath it hath stolen. False is everything in it; with stolen teeth it biteth, the biting one. False are even its bowels.” --”The New Idol” in Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
Response
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” --1 Timothy 6:10
Statement
“You I advise not to work, but to fight. You I advise not to peace, but to victory. Let your work be a fight, let your peace be a victory!” -- “War and Warriors” in Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
Response
“Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to fight the armies of the aliens.” --Hebrews 11:34
Statement
“Everywhere resoundeth the voices of those who preach death; and the earth is full of those to whom death hath to be preached.”-- “The Preachers of Death” in Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
Response
“And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” --Romans 8:10-11
Statement
“Backward they always gaze toward dark ages: then, indeed, were delusion and faith something different. Raving of the reason was likeness to God, and doubt was sin.” -- “Backworldsmen” in Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
Response
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” --James 1:5
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” --Colossians 1:9
Statement
“The Self saith unto the ego: 'Feel pain!' And thereupon it suffereth, and thinketh how it may put an end thereto, and for that very purpose it is meant to think.”-- “The Despisers of the Body” in Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
Response
Does it matter what the cause of pain is? Does it hurt less if I understand why? There definitely is a mind body connection as that is what all of Chinese medicine is based on and has worked for thousands of years. I would just add that there is a spiritual component or relationship to the body and pain can be spiritual as well as physical and God can heal people who are physically sick.
“Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord” --James 5:14
Statement
“Thus speak and stammer: 'That is my good, that do I love, thus doth it please me entirely, thus only do I desire the good. Not as the law of a God do I desire it, not as a human law or a human need do I desire it; it is not to be a guide post for me to superearths and paradises.” --”Joys and Passions” in Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
Response
“For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another” --Romans 2:14-15
Statement
“My brother, are war and battle evil? Necessary, however, is the evil; necessary are the envy and the distrust and the backbiting among the virtues.” -- “Joys and Passions” in Thus Spake Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche
Response
“From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” --James 4:1-3