by John Alan Coey

(Introductory Note: In the last 27 years Communism has changed faces. Today we know Neo Communism as Democracy, Internationalism, World Community, Liberalism, Egalitarianism, the New World Order and other similiar terms. Any of these terms could be substituted for Communism in the following text to bring it more up to date.) May 1970 witnessed the mobilizing of the New Left in universities all over America to protest the U.S. invasion of Cambodia. On the campus of Ohio State University, Black Power, Gay Lib, Students for a Democratic Society, the Weathermen, the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee, and various other leftist ad-hoc groups were calling for a student strike to shut the school down. The administration building was stoned. National Guard and Highway Patrol units were called in to stop the rioting. The phalanx of police was pelted with eggs, bricks and tack-balls and answered with tear gas, rubber pellets and buckshot. Rioting spread to the neighboring community. Shops were looted and burned, windows smashed, telephone booths overturned, fire hydrants broken and roads blocked. The academic world was in a rage because on a campus to the north, panicky guardsmen shot down four students at Kent State. What was a Christian student to do? Like many students of the great megaversities, I felt the urgency to find a reason to live, the need for activism and commitment, the necessity to right injustice, to protest against pollution, the futility of the Vietnam War, and to show that the human race was in trouble. I wanted the American dream of freedom and success to be realized too. I saw, however, that the moratoriums, demonstrations, student strikes, peace marches, Earth Days, and May Day revolutions were organized by professional revolutionaries and financed by the leftist foundations of Ford, Carnegie, and Rockefeller to foment the semblance of street revolution. The assessment of the dehumanizing trends of industrial society was correct, but the answer was not in the culture that offered escape in drugs, psychedelics, hard rock, hippy communes, freak-outs, and Eastern religions that rejected the reality of the physical universe. If changes were to be made, Christian activism was needed to change hearts through the Gospel of Christ. Many Christians interpret these times as being the prelude to the Second Coming of Christ. There is a convincing argument that such events as the Zionist takeover of Palestine, the World Wars, the increase in knowledge and travel, the rise of Russia and communist conquests, the rise of the Ecumenical Church, occultism, and apostasy are the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy for the end times. It all seems to fit. Yet there is a strong argument that these things have happened before, such as during the collapse of the Roman Empire and during the Middle Ages; that we are now witnessing the decline of Western civilization. At issue is a contest of faiths. We see the world in crisis because the impact of science and technology has displaced belief in the supernatural, faith in God. An alternative faith has arisen, the faith in man as the creative intelligence of the world, who by the force of his rational intelligence can re-direct his destiny and reorganize his life and world. By denying God, man becomes the most "intelligent" of beings. This is the vision and faith shared by communists, socialists, fellow-travelers, liberals and humanists -- the belief in the self-sufficiency of man with his power of reason and science to guide his progress. The main difference is that communists are willing to suffer the penalties of their crimes. They see the world crisis as the frustration of the world unable to stand still, but unwilling to go forward to the logical end of technological civilization -- Communism. It is said, the crisis of the Western World is the degree that it has separated itself from God, and shares the faith of the communists. The crisis of the Western World is the degree that it has separated itself from God, and shares the faith of communists. The crisis of the Communist World is the degree it has failed to separate its people from God. The stronger faith will win. What must a Christian do? Prayer meetings, Bible studies, church services, singing choruses, and witnessing are vital to develop faith. But Christians must grasp current issues and not withdraw from world affairs, nor fail to resist or even protest what they know to be wrong, for fear of getting political. Although a period of tribulation is foreseen, many do nothing to stop it and expect to be spared by a "Rapture" of saints. The opposition to the leftward swing of governments, seminaries and universities is insufficient and ineffective, or else the faith in man would not have become the dominating belief of the Leftists who have become clergy, professors and politicians. Very few world leaders publicly proclaim Christian faith. Many theologians deny the divinity of Christ and even proclaim God is dead. Christianity is ridiculed at the universities, where the best minds are turned off God. Prayer alone, without action, may be insufficient, for God works through His created beings. The Hungarians did not actively resist the Soviet takeover, and were shot in the head while praying for deliverance. Just as the prophets condemned the wickedness of Israel and Judah; John the Baptist publicly condemned Herod; Christ the scribes and Pharisees, so must the churches and individual Christians condemn the evils of today. The Dutch Bible smuggler, Brother Andrew, says persecution of all religions in communist countries is worse than ever because Western leaders do not condemn it for fear of jeopardizing detente. Western Christians forget about their persecuted brothers. Christians can be effective in public life, just as Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, Daniel and Mordecai were great warriors, lawgivers, kings, governors, judges, and even empire builders, besides being prophets. Christians must become these too, and not abandon public professions to the non-believers. Communism can be stopped. It can be stopped on the ground by our soldiers. It can be stopped in the world capitals and universities, if more Christians become professors and participate in government. The West does not have to merge with the communist bloc to make a new world order. That will not bring peace, but make the terrors of Communism universal. Is not freedom of religion preferable to worshiping in an underground church with threat of persecution, informers, and secret police? Since 1917 the Soviets alone have murdered an estimated 35 million people and the souls of millions more because the youth are indoctrinated with atheism. The Red Chinese have murdered 30 million more. Communism threatens to uproot Christianity wherever found, and is the greatest threat to the Gospel in the history of Christendom. It has grown into this monster not only because the West has failed to actively oppose it, but has actually financed and built its military, industrial complex. Western civilization is based on Christianity. The decline of the West correlates to its demise, and the West can be revived by a revival of faith. Is it worth saving in Southern Africa? Although it has many faults, Western civilization has exhibited by its history the ability to produce culture in its great art, music, poetry, literature, sculpture and architecture: expressions of soul in contact with God. Systems of law and government have been devised permitting a reasonable amount of liberty. Existence has been made more than a struggle for survival. The black African has his culture too, but white rule has not repressed it. He is free to choose his life-style whether in the bush or metropolis, and judging from the multitudes that swarm to the cities, many prefer at least some aspects of Western life. Does Communism offer a better alternative? This century started off being the most promising of all history; yet in less than fifty years the world has been brought to the brink of a new dark age of terror and barbarism. God will be merciful if we repent. A Christian triumph in the West, the communist world and the Middle East could change everything. If, as Brother Andrew says, we do not take the Gospel to the communists and the heathen, they will come to us as revolutionists. They are already here! Are you willing to back up your faith by action? Is your faith in God and civilization stronger than the communist faith? Is it worth living and fighting for? I think it is. This has been an excerpt from, "A Martyr Speaks - Journal of the Late John Alan Coey". A Journal of an American soldier killed in Rhodesia in 1975 defending Christian freedom. It can be ordered from: Mrs. G.E. Coey 328 Valley Trail Warrior, AL 35180 Post Paid $12.00 Outside the US $17.00 It has been described as: "Great Literature: spiritually uplifting; morally and politically discerning; emotionally cleansing and moving... a superb role model and hero for a generation that has few."