How Will He Be In Sobibor?

Whenever the restraints upon incivility are removed, will godless man always do that which is uncivil?




The thought resurfaced to my mind upon reading of an episode lived out by a prisoner in the Nazi SS death camp at Sobibor (April 1943). This was not a typical Nazi “concentration” camp since Sobibor was designed more as a killing center than it was as an entity to concentrate prisoners who eventually were to be killed. Death was immediate upon arrival at Sobibor.



Here is how Laurence Rees described the conditions surrounding Toivi Blatt, a Jew who was selected to “work in the camp” rather than being immediately sent to the gas chamber:



Toivi was all too well aware, of course, that he was – however unwillingly – helping the Nazis operate the camp. Indeed, it was obvious to him that the work of cutting hair, sorting clothes, taking baggage from the trains, cleaning the camp – almost all of the practical duties involved in maintaining the operational capacity of Sobibor – was carried out by Jews.



“‘Yes, I thought about this, But nobody did anything. [I was] fifteen years old and had people with grown-up experience all around and nobody was doing anything. People change under some conditions. People asked me, ‘what did you learn?’ and I think I’m only sure of one thing –nobody knows themselves. The nice person on the street, you ask him, ‘Where is North Street?’ and he goes with you half a block and shows you, and is nice and kind. That same person in a different situation could be the worst sadist. Nobody knows themselves. All of us could be good people or bad people in these [different] situations. Sometimes, when somebody is really nice to me, I find myself thinking, ‘How will he be in Sobibor?”



Toivi Blatt’s view that people change dependent upon situation is one that is shared by many who went through the horrors of the camps. It also is more than just the seemingly banal comment that human beings alter their behavior according to circumstance, as we all clearly do in our own lives – obviously, one behaves differently at a rock concert from how one would at a funeral. But Toivi Blatt points to a fundamental change in extreme circumstances that is less a change in behavior – although that occurs as well – and more a change in essential character. (Laurence Rees, Auschwitz, MJF Books, N.Y., p. 204 – bold has been added).



As the Christian believer observes the seemingly relentless removal of restraints that hold back incivility in the modern world, does not the question above beg to be asked and further considered? To what degree are we approaching the age where the august and fearful pronouncements made by Paul recorded in II Tim. 3:1-5 are being realized (please read)?

When the entire world community creates an international Sobibor as we approach the very close of the age prior to the Return of Christ how many will find their “essential character” changed-over into the bestiality similar to that manifested at that despicable camp? Now is the time for our natures to be exercised by Christian discipline; for our natures to be transformed “by the renewing of our minds” (Rom. 12:2) and for our becoming “sobered in spirit” (1 Peter 1:13-19). When Sobibor arrives, how many will be taking a mark; how many will be faithful?



Whenever the restraints upon incivility are removed, will godless man always do that which is uncivil? It’s important that we know and determine in the afirmative.  It’s important that we determine to be the godly man, or woman that that moment will demand of us and thus not have it catch us unawares and thus unprepared.  The transformation of our minds is a function of time.  Best start now.