Many will recall a not-too-distant past wherein one needed not search far to find those in the pulpit (along with various strident "radio pastors") who seemingly deemed the calling of the Gospel to lie primarily in high volume denunciations of Russia, Communism and "fellow-traveling" sympathizers. (We remember, for example, one preacher with apparently sufficient following to finance his nationwide radio program characterized by ongoing rants and at times shouted admonitions such as, "Folks, don't buy from Zeke's Furniture Barn in Podunk, South Virginia because he's selling wicker chairs made in Communist Slabovia!" I was never too sure where the Gospel of Jesus Christ fit into all this, but anyway...
Did the then present Communist threat represent a compelling danger to personal and political freedoms, religious faith, societal interests and general well being at large? Absolutely. To have failed of such awareness - and there were those, then as now, whose levels of concern seldom rose above the trivial and mundane - amounted to little more than irresponsible naivete.
At the same time, it is quite doubtful that the aforementioned "religious" carryings-on contributed to the ultimate collapse of Soviet Communism. Apart from the role of divine sovereignty (which can, and in such situations often does, find outplaying - even if largely unrecognized - in earthly human conduct and affairs), we would suggest the greater contribution to its downfall as having likely lain in the presence and attendant dynamic of godly men and women.
This finds illustration, for example, in the fact that resolution to the pending judgment of Sodom (Gen. 19) would have found its source, not in Lot's ranting and raving at the degeneracy of the culture, but rather in his having won at least eight others besides himself and his wife (see our recent post on "Lot's wife") to a righteous lifestyle.
One need not press the issue unduly to discern that, should such not be reversed, the ultimate outcome of our world's escalating antithesis to moral rectitude, family structure and, undergirding it all, an exponentially intensifying anti-Christian bias, the future does not bode well for the valid community of faith. As with many others, we share a sense of considerable unease as to where it all may lead, particularly if, as would presently seem possible, our nation is soon caught up in a perceived "political mandate" for the greater promotion of such.
Jesus defined the time wherein his return would occur as replicating the days of both Lot and Noah. That we find ourselves increasingly pointed in such direction would seem to merit little controversy. While in no way discounting the believer's obligation in terms of responsible citizenship, we yet need to recognize the transcendent dynamic of moral and spiritual integrity derivative the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As those of faith, it is here that we shall find our most effective arena of influence in addressing an increasingly dissolute world and its objectives.
Burl Ratzsch
