Progressive Shades of Red

I walked the trail in the autumn sun today, I was free, yet I carried a burden. How can any true American not be burdened about our nation with its political and economical conflicts. It grieves me to see how dismissive people are about what is happening in our nation. Our election is almost here and millions will be voting the dictates of their conscience—or their prejudice. Masses are just going along with the crowd with little knowledge and less concern about the importance and consequence of their vote. I keep thinking about Barak Obama’s socialism, his political religion and how he will “change” America if elected. His socialism having been presented in the news, I want to write a page about his political religion. He and his associates, to the extent that they are religious, have for many years been advocates of liberation theology, which is little more than religious Marxism.

· David Belsiger, a Christian author and publisher writes, “In the first place, liberation expresses the aspirations of oppressed people and classes, emphasizing the economic, social, and political process which puts them at odds with wealthy nations and oppressive classes.”[i]
· Ronald Nash, a Christian author, defines liberation theology as “a movement…that seeks radical change along Marxist lines in politics and economics.”[ii]

Following are a number of quotations from those who have espoused this peculiar belief system.

· “Liberation theology is an excellent new theology which reinterprets, in the light of the revolution, all terms of traditional theology: God, Christ, the priesthood, marriage, labor, everything.[iii]
· “Liberation Theology is an attempt to blend Marxism with Christianity by substituting political liberation for liberation from sin. When political and social transformation have occurred, the Kingdom of God will be established on earth…The mission of the church these days…is, above everything else, to preach communism. Communism, according to Marx, is a society in which there is no selfishness and injustice. It is the same as what Christians understand as the Kingdom of God.”[iv]
· “Liberation theology is a strategic alliance with Marxism in the process of liberating the continent.”[v]
· “Liberation theology is revolutionary socialism…militant Christianity.”[vi]

The above comments were made during the time of the Soviet Union’s involvement in national governments, particularly in Latin America and South Africa. With the fall of the Soviet Union, most of these nations held elections and established democratic governments, but they failed to abandon their Marxist views and forsake their liberation theology, and now communism is returning—as in the case of Hugo Chavez in Nicaragua. Both Marxism and liberation theology, which, as I have said, is religious Marxism, are deeply entrenched in our government, educational system, postmodern churches and society. After the breakup of the Soviet Union someone asked, “Whatever became of all those communists in Russia?” An insightful person replied, “They are teaching in American universities.”

Off to the left of center is socialism, the precursor of communism, with its concept of bigger, more powerful government, higher taxes, distribution of wealth and progressive shades of red. Smooth talking Barak Obama holds these views, as does his angry pastor, Jeremiah Wright. And then there are their destructive comrades, William Ayers, who confessed to being “an anarchist and a Marxist” on a video tape in 2002 and shown on Fox News on Nov. 22, 2008, Malcolm X, who died in his violence, James Cone, pastor Wright’s mentor and founder of the black power/black liberation movement, along with many contemporaries who are in step with Obama, passing through the progressive shades of red on their march toward communism. How many of our citizens know this? How many care? An old preacher, making a point in his training of a young associate advised, “Don’t ever underestimate the ignorance of your audience.”
[i] David W. Belsiger, Family Protection Scoreboard, Liberation Theology Edition
[ii] Ronald Nash, Christian author
[iii] Ernesto Cardenal, Nicaraguan priest and Minister of Cultural Affairs in the Sandinista Regime
[iv] Ibid.
[v] Christians for Socialism, A Liberation Theology Publication
[vi] The late Dorothy Soelle, A leading European Marxist and former professor at Union Theological Seminary


Notes:
This essay is somewhat political but I had to write it. If it displeases you, please share your displeasure with me. If it informs and helps you, share your approval.

I am working on a series of essays on Philippians, which has been called "The Epistle of Joy." This will keep us in the Word and give us some wonderful spiritual things to think about.

Please be patient with my blog posts. You can accesss them through the blog URL on my essays but I cannot receiving your comments. Somehow I am not properly connected to my server. I’ll try to work this out with the server soon because I am anxious to get feedback from my posts.

I asked recently if there is “anyone out there” and posted a couple of responses. I received another excellent response from Bill, who wrote, “It’s time for me to let you know I’m still ‘out there’. I think of you often and continue to mention your efforts in prayers.” Thank you so much Brother Bill, and I thank God also for your continuing interest and response.