To Live or Not to Live

IT HAS become a question of whether men will find a way to live together peaceably in “one world” or not live at all, is the opinion of Henry A. Wallace as expressed in his Madison Square Garden speech, the repercussions of which caused President Truman to ask for his resignation as Secretary of Commerce. The world as we have known it is now bankrupt, said Wallace, and as he sees it, the three great powers, the United States, Great Britain, and Russia, are the receivers. Mr. Wallace is convinced that if the receivership doesn’t function smoothly and harmoniously dire disaster is inevitable; a disaster so far-reaching that the human race itself might indeed be destroyed through the misuse of atomic energy and other destructive agents.

Very few, if any, will disagree with the former secretary of Commerce as to the dangers which lie ahead, but the violent reaction against his speech by those now in a position to dictate the foreign policy of the United States indicates that for the present at least, his outlined road to lasting peace will not be followed. He urged that everything possible be, done to obtain a better understanding with Russia rather than to continue the present “get tough” policy which it is hoped by the State Department will frighten Russia into being good. He explained that there is little likelihood that Russia will get frightened, but, as is usually the case under such circumstances, will herself get “tough,” which ultimately will mean war.

Certainly history supports the view expressed by Mr. Wallace. The theory that peace can be maintained by preparing for war has been proved erroneous over and over again; and as Mr. Wallace sees it, will again lead to war—a war of extinction, not of nations, but of civilization, and even of the human race itself.

This airing of views by Mr. Wallace, and the resultant upheaval in the President’s cabinet has highlighted the fact that more than a year after the explosion of the first atomic bomb the world is far from being on a sure road to peace. The United States News, a well recognized weekly published in Washington, D.C., explains that the main reason the third atomic bomb tests in the Pacific have been indefinitely postponed is the strained international situation; the War and Navy Departments, as well as the President, feeling that all naval personnel and equipment might suddenly be needed to guard the interests of the nation along its far-flung lines of defense.

And what is the real cause of this strained relationship between the great powers? Mr. Wallace put his finger on the answer to this question when he pointed out that in the earth today there are two ideological worlds struggling for supremacy. One of these is the capitalistic and professedly democratic world, and the other is the communist and totalitarian world. In other words, on a gigantic, global scale it is a class struggle in which the nations of earth have taken sides and are preparing to fight it out to the bitter end.

The alignment of nations in this global struggle is not too definite nor necessarily stationary, except on the totalitarian side; and even here some of the smaller countries would switch sides if they had an opportunity. But within each nation not already definitely in the totalitarian orbit there continues a class struggle for control of the reins of government.

Symptoms of this are everywhere apparent. Ousting of the House of Savoy in Italy is a case in point. The coming into power of the Socialist Labor party in Great Britain is another evidence of it. This will continue, and as it becomes more apparent that capitalistic power politics, intrigue, and commercial interests, will again fail to keep the peace, it might well be that the “leftist” elements may become strong enough in some of the present “democratic” nations to cause them to shift sides in the global struggle.

The “common” people everywhere are thoroughly tired of war, and any road to peace which offers a surface appearance of being better than the one now being traveled by the United States and Great Britain will have a tremendous appeal. It is not unlikely that Mr. Wallace may champion just such a peace drive in this country. If he does there will be millions of Americans ready to support him. Whether the impact of this will be strong enough to make any change in the international policy of the United States remains to be seen.

Yes, the war is on, even in America. At the moment this country is straddling the fence, so to speak. The New Deal Party is trying to be both “new” and “old.” Probably in 1948, when the next presidential election occurs, it will be more definitely determined where the United States will stand when the final and global clash of ideologies occurs.

As Christians, our interest in all this is not to determine on which side we should be, or whether or not one viewpoint is better than the other; but to note the fulfillment of prophecies which foretold the “melting” of all the various elements of selfish human society preparatory to the full establishment of Christ’s kingdom. It is the bright shining of the Master’s second presence, the foretold “increase of knowledge,” which has stirred up the hearts of men the world over to desire, and to be willing to fight for, better things.

While human understanding is awakening to the needs of the people the world over, the wisdom of men is unable to find a way of supplying those needs. It was Mr. Wallace who, several years ago, announced his slogan of a “quart of milk a day” for all—a very apt symbol of worldwide plenty. Since then two-thirds of the world has been reduced to what amounts to a starvation diet. This is not because the idea wasn’t a good one, nor because there are not countless millions in the earth ready to sponsor any plan which would implement it, but because human selfishness rides the saddle of world affairs, defeating any and all plans which might be suggested to divide unselfishly the bounties of earth in a way which it claimed would assure plenty for all people.

But Christ’s kingdom will solve the problem of selfishness. It will establish an unselfish control over mankind which will protect the interests of all. A “pure language” or message will be turned to the people—a propaganda of love, instructing men in the ways of justice and righteousness, and the recognition of the Creator’s law as the supreme requisite for peace, prosperity, and lasting happiness. Thus seen, it becomes apparent that God has permitted the present “increase of knowledge” to awaken in the hearts of the people a sense of their great need in order that they may be ready a little later to receive and appreciate the blessings he will bestow upon them, having discovered they were unable to secure them through their own efforts.

Not Dwelling Peaceably

The prophecy of Ezekiel (38:8-12) describes a time when the scattered people of natural Israel will be restored to their land—a land “brought back from the sword”—and when they will be dwelling there in peace. Following the first World War the League of Nations, which was then formed, issued a mandate granting the Jews permission to return to Palestine and there establish a Jewish state. Great Britain was given the responsibility of safeguarding the interests of the Jews in Palestine, and the famous Balfour Declaration issued by “His Majesty’s Government” seemed to give assurance that Britain was whole-heartedly in sympathy with the action taken by the League of Nations.

This favorable development in their affairs was hailed with joy by Jews throughout the world. The world Zionist organization became more active, and in the short space of twenty years wonders were accomplished in Palestine. At least five hundred thousand Jews went there to live—some estimates are higher. Land that had been a wilderness for centuries was turned into gardens of beauty and productivity.

But the end of all trouble for the Jews was not yet to be realized. Persecution arose in Germany. This might well have been a blessing in disguise to turn the minds and hearts of other thousands toward the Promised Land; and it did do this on a large scale. But just about this time England’s enthusiasm for the Balfour Declaration started to wane. Moves were made to restrict emigration of Jews to Palestine. A “white paper” was issued by the British Government recommending the partition of Palestine, giving some of it to the Jews and the remainder to the Arabs.

The question was not settled when the second global war started. By reason of the unrestricted opportunities offered by the war, persecution of the Jews took the form of mass destruction with the result that millions of them lost their lives, and other large numbers were made homeless. Now the war is over. Their persecutors have been subdued, and their liberators are ruling Europe; and while they want to migrate to Palestine more than they ever did before, the door of opportunity is still closed to them, or at least virtually so. A plan has been suggested to allow another hundred thousand Jews to enter Palestine, but it has met with bitter opposition from the Arabs, and is not at all satisfactory to the Jews.

In this crisis underground movements of Jews now in the Holy Land have instigated mob violence, and already many lives have been lost, Jewish, British, and Arab. And the issue is far from settled. Naturally the question arises in the minds of all students of the prophecies as to how these apparently contradictory aspects of Jewish experience during these “last days” harmonize with what the prophets have foretold. If God’s time has really come for them to possess the Promised Land, why is it that they are not permitted to return there in peace?

While it is not possible, seemingly, to identify in the prophecies all the details of what has developed in connection with this scattered people of God, the general testimony of the prophets does show that their “regathering” would be accomplished during a time of great distress—not only upon them, but upon all nations. Their return to the land God gave to their fathers is associated in the prophecies with a warlike gathering of all nations incidental to the foretold great “time of trouble” with which the present age would end. See, for example, Joel 3:1,2.

Undoubtedly we are in the time of God’s returning favor to Israel. No doubt the League of Nations’ Mandate and the Balfour Declaration served to stimulate the interest of Zionists in the Promised Land and to make possible the returning of a generous remnant of them. But there is an important factor which should not be overlooked, which is that in the final analysis it is God who will give the land of Palestine to his people, not the British Government.

And the way matters stand now, it would appear that God will give the land to his people despite Britain’s need of the country as a strategic base of operation against the feared encroachments of Russia. The details of just how it will all be accomplished are not apparent as yet, but the prophetic picture is unfolding; and the “watchers” will continue to take note of developments as they occur, knowing that here, as well as in world events generally, they will find increasing evidence that the new day of Christ’s kingdom is at hand.

The prophecy of Ezekiel 38:21-23 shows the climax of Israel’s tragic experiences in connection with their coming into full possession of the land. This follows a period in which they are said to dwell in peace. Outstanding in this prophecy of their final deliverance is the fact that God pleads and fights for them; and also through the vanquishing of their enemies Israel’s blindness is removed, and the eyes of the nations which fought against them are also opened. It is at this point that the nations will recognize God’s hand in the affairs of men. Even before this, the strategy throughout the “battle of the great day of God Almighty” is divinely overruled; but in this final phase of the trouble the nations recognize this, and are thereby prepared to bow to the new King of earth.

Religious Forces Gathering

The religious forces of the world are continuing to “get together” for self-protection, and if possible, to stem the rising tide of unbelief and chaos which threatens to engulf them as the conservative world of yesterday gives place to the uncertain liberal world of today. Some entertain the hope that through unity of religious action the world of yesterday might even be restored. Vain hope—and anyway, it isn’t worth it!

A “United Christian Front” is one of the slogans being used by the crusaders for union of all denominations in an effort to secure peace for the world and for themselves. In August of this year seventy-five Protestant leaders from sixteen countries, including Germany, convened in Cambridge, England, under the auspices of the World Council of Churches. Eight of these delegates openly advocated joint action of Protestants and Catholics in order to accomplish the desired ends.

Serious disagreement arose in the conference over the question of establishing a thirty-man power commission for joint political action throughout the world. Oddly enough, it was the American delegates who supported this move, while the British and Continental delegates opposed it. We say it was odd that the line-up should be thus, for the American way of life is predicated on the theory that church and state should be separate, and that religion should not be mixed with politics.

But the delegates from England, where a church-state government still exists, and those from the Continent, where this sort of government ruled the downtrodden people for so many centuries, seemingly had learned well the lesson of failure which has so often been written across efforts of religionists to rule the people through politics or through the state. However, the combined voting power of the British and Continental delegates failed to defeat the proposal, and the American vote carried, authorizing the setting up of a commission for political action.

The present position of the Catholic Church in Europe is an uneasy one. The pope’s position in Italy was not helped when the people voted out the king. The communists did not come into power as he doubtless feared they might, but the king has gone—the king who headed a state with which the “mother of harlots” had so freely committed spiritual fornication throughout the centuries.

And communists are not too far away, for just across the Adriatic Sea, Tito reigns, backed up by Russia. That he will brook no interference in the political life of Yugoslavia has been evidenced recently by the arrest and conviction of the Roman Catholic Archbishop in that country, and a number of priests, being found guilty of subversive activity against the government. The Archbishop was sentenced to sixteen years hard labor. It would seem from this that the Catholic Church in Tito’s country will have to confine itself strictly to religion if it expects to survive. The Vatican newspaper declared that the Archbishop’s trial was a trial of the Catholic Church.

Viewing the whole outlook for religion in this dying world, the picture seems equally chaotic to that of the national, international, and political situations. What progress church union will make, and what power a united church will yet be able to wield in an effort to stave off growing anarchistic tendencies throughout the world, remains to be seen. We know that the ultimate end of all human efforts will be failure, so we continue to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is done in heaven.”

Meanwhile the privilege is still ours of telling the people that Christ’s kingdom is near. Emergency measures on the part of the powers that be may later curtail liberty to preach the Gospel; but the “day” time of opportunity is still here, so let us continue to let our light shine, for undoubtedly the night will come wherein no man can work.

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