Chilling words from 100 years ago – Attempts at Honesty

    J Gresham Machen published a book in the 1920s describing the challenge facing the church of his day. I’m finding that some of what he predicted as the result of cultural trends in his time is impressively applicable 100 years after his writing.

    For example, consider this paragraph:

    The whole development of modern society has tended mightily toward the limitation of the realm of freedom for the individual man. The tendency is most clearly seen in socialism; a socialistic state would mean the reduction to a minimum of the sphere of individual choice. Labor and recreation, under a socialistic government, would both be prescribed, and individual liberty would be gone. But the same tendency exhibits itself today even in those communities where the name of socialism is most abhorred. When once the majority has determined that a certain regime is beneficial, that regime without further hesitation is forced ruthlessly upon the individual man. It never seems to occur to modern legislatures that although “welfare” is good, forced welfare may be bad. In other words, utilitarianism is being carried out to its logical conclusions; in the interests of physical well-being the great principles of liberty are being thrown ruthlessly to the winds.

    -J Gresham Machen – Christianity and Liberalism

    These are chilling words, especially since we do not seem to have learned any lessons from the 20th Century as we move into the 21st. In my own country, I am noticing an alarming trend where some people in power attempt to silence those who disagree with their narrative of how society should be arranged.

    We need to look no further back than the Covid-19 crisis to find evidence of this tendency. During the crisis, there was no room for debate, and in many locations, there was no freedom to operate outside of the stipulations of the elites who held the power.

    Liberty was sacrificed by using fear to manipulate the people into compliance. What freedoms will be taken away during the next crisis? The freedom to proclaim our belief in Jesus? The freedom to assemble to worship?

    Even so, I am encouraged that Jesus promised to build his church and the gates of Hell will not prevail over it.

    Jesus cannot be stopped, no matter who attempts to do so.


      Give

      Subscribe to the Daybreak Devotions for Women

      Be inspired by God's Word every day! Delivered to your inbox.


      More from Mark H. McIntyre

      • On going down to Egypt – Attempts at Honesty

        “Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the Lord, “Who execute a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin; Who proceed down to Egypt Without consulting Me, To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! “Therefore the safety of Pharaoh will be your shame And the shelter in the shadow of Egypt, your humiliation.” (Isaiah 30:1–3, NASB 95)

        2 min read
      • Can’t see the result – Attempts at Honesty

        While painting a room for my daughter, I noticed that when the paint is in the process of drying, it is difficult to see what the end result will look like. Since some places on the wall dry faster than others, there is a variation in color until the entire wall dries. It is only when the project is complete that the end result can be assessed.

        2 min read

      Editor's Picks

      • featureImage

        For His Glory (by Cathe Laurie)

        We may not see the results of our faithfulness while on earth. But if we’re working for our own benefit or validation, we’ve missed the point.

        4 min read
      • featureImage

        The Girl Who Doesn’t Like Me and I Don’t Know Why

        She has a name. But in my house, she’s referred to as The-girl-who-doesn’t-like-me-and-I-don’t- know-why. Do you have anyone in your life like that? In social situations, she steers clear of you and refuses to make eye contact. When trying to reach out, you draw back an emotional nub of rejection. You rack your brain trying to figure out what you did to make her dislike you but come up blank. Read more...

        4 min read

      More from Mark H. McIntyre

      • On going down to Egypt – Attempts at Honesty

        “Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the Lord, “Who execute a plan, but not Mine, And make an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order to add sin to sin; Who proceed down to Egypt Without consulting Me, To take refuge in the safety of Pharaoh And to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt! “Therefore the safety of Pharaoh will be your shame And the shelter in the shadow of Egypt, your humiliation.” (Isaiah 30:1–3, NASB 95)

        2 min read
      • Can’t see the result – Attempts at Honesty

        While painting a room for my daughter, I noticed that when the paint is in the process of drying, it is difficult to see what the end result will look like. Since some places on the wall dry faster than others, there is a variation in color until the entire wall dries. It is only when the project is complete that the end result can be assessed.

        2 min read