by Rev. D. J. MacDonald M.A.
This is not, in the Mercy of the Most High, a choice with which any of us is faced personally yet, but as true religion declines year by year in our land Communism in some forms tightens its grip on the vitals of our nation. There can be no doubt that a dedicated band of men and women are giving their lives and talents to the spread of this atheistic, materialistic ideology in every strata of our society. Only a few indisputable facts will serve to prove this statement, which should cause concern to every true Christian reader. That the Labour Party has Marxists in its ranks is beyond dispute and this is the Party which forms the Government of Britain. Of course, it is no longer fashionable to call ‘a spade a spade’, terms like ‘Left wingers’, ‘the far Left’, and members of such and such a group do not cause the same offence but in our view such terms are all euphemisms for Communists or their sympathisers.
One Conservative M.P. has openly alleged that some 30 Members of Parliament are Communists and though this caused no small stir at the time little was done to clear the names of those Members of Parliament mentioned. More alarming perhaps is the fact that some of the MPs named are in the Cabinet or hold office of Cabinet rank.
The Trade Unions which are so politically powerful nowadays also have their share of Communists in high places. The alarming feature of this is that the T.U.C. General Council have such a voice in governing the country at the moment. The present Government dare not engage in any worthwhile policy without the support of this body which itself has a large minority of ‘Left Wingers.’ The same is true of the Labour Party National Executive, only on this body there is a majority of ‘Left-wingers.’ How unashamedly they show this is seen in their dealing with the case of Mr Andy Bevin, an open Trotskyite, who at the time of writing is the Labour Party’s Youth Organiser and who in spite of repeated Union protests, extending even to non-cooperation they have so far refused to dismiss, in fact at their last meeting as of now they have reaffirmed his appointment. On a more local level six councillors from Dundee Labour Party have announced their intention to resign the Labour Whip in the Council in an attempt to bring to the notice of the Party’s Executive the infiltration of ‘extremist Left-wingers’ into the Party at local level.
But all this is but the tip of the iceberg. How many lecturers and professors at our Universities are ‘Left-wing.’ How many students are imbibing the insidious, God dishonouring ideas which they openly disseminate? Certainly, the National Union of Students itself is very far ‘Left-wing.’ How many teachers in schools and colleges are followers of Marx, Trotsky or Chairman Mao and to what extent are they influencing our Children? A thought-provoking question surely. This is not a situation which grew up overnight but as true Christianity and vital godliness have been on the wane for many years we should not be unduly surprised now that it was and still is being gradually replaced by Communism.
Christianity and Communism cannot by their very nature live in peaceful co-existence. Try as they will philosophers cannot equate, “There is but one only living and true God” with Lenin’s assertion, “The idea of One God, omnipotent and sovereign is entirely detestable and an abomination.” It is surely alarming that eminent churchmen in the state Churches have had ‘Left-wing’ tendencies. The ‘Red Dean,’ to name but one is a classic example.
The sad truth is that Christianity is no longer a vital force in Britain. Churches there are, ministers aplenty but from how many pulpits is the true Evangel sounded? How many ministers base their preaching on the one infallible foundation, “Thus saith the Lord”? This is the root of the problem. For too long a ‘social Gospel’ has been and still is the order of the day, but no man-made philosophies can satisfy man who is a spiritual being. Perhaps in this lies the answer as to why so many churches are empty and being emptied. How many so-called ‘ministers’ carry this anathema, ‘But though we or an angel from heaven preach unto you any other Gospel than that we have preached unto you let him be accursed.’ That is the verdict of the Word of God and must stand. Let man be offended if they will but our standard must remain, ‘What saith the Scriptures?’ With few exceptions the clergy of our land cannot honestly say, ‘I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God.’
This spiritual decay and the consequent spiritual ignorance has left a void in the hearts and minds of old and young — a void of which Communism has taken the utmost advantage. Material gain and advantage in this world have divorced from the minds of the majority the realities of eternal and spiritual benefits. The Bible says, ‘What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul,’ but where among the mass of our nation is this truth known, far less acted upon. Many are making a god of money and worldly possessions not seeing that these are God’s gifts and that they are choosing them rather than the ‘pearl of great price.’
What a need in our land for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for a ‘mighty revival.’ This is not something that any man or Church can bring about but if there was a return to the law and the testimony, if preachers and hearers would once more accept the Word of God as the only rule to direct us would this not change the attitude of society and lead at least some to search the Scriptures. After all the Word of God in its entirety and in its purity, in its infallibility and inerrancy is the strongest bulwark we have against Communism and every other anti-Christian system.
Alas, how few value it as such. Without a reviving from on High we will surely lapse back once more into a 20th century ‘Dark Age.’ Let the prayer of every reader be, “That thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down.”
But, what, some may ask, has this to do with me? Very much; we cannot stand aloof and say ‘there is a conflict between Christianity and Communism.’ We are deeply involved. There is a war on, a battle for the minds of the generation and perhaps more especially the younger generation. We are privileged among many in having the pure Gospel preached to us, so far, in the mercy of God. God forbid we should take this privilege for granted. Are we not as open to the lures of materialism as any. Do our hearts not have the love of many things lurking in them? Let us not underestimate the strength of the spirit of the age but let us be on our guard against it. Parents in our midst hold a very special position of responsibility. It is for us to train up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, to instill their minds with the Word of God, and by precept and example point them to the Saviour. In doing this we must point out to them the errors of our day and the only sure guide which is able to make them wise unto salvation and to keep them in this day of blasphemy and rebuke.
Finally, let us seek to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God ‘who ruleth ever by His power’ praying that He might keep pure in our midst ‘The faith once delivered to the saints.’ This is no small responsibility but may grace be vouchsafed to us to “contend earnestly” that we may pass on to others, unblemished, the testimony of which we have ourselves been made custodians, the Bible in its entirety, ‘the Truth, the whole Truth and nothing but the Truth.’ For it is this Truth which is yet to be owned and acknowledged by God the Holy Spirit in ushering in better days, indeed the glory of the latter days.