In Australia
If Sweden is at end of the spectrum and China at the other... who have we become?
Victorian lockdowns > Wuhan lockdowns.
The difference is, we're inching along the spectrum democratically. People cannot spot the signs of Marxism, nor do they have the moral perspective to care.
Yes, I am calling it for what it (largely) is. It’s the new Marxism. Note some of the other classic early signs in Victoria, for students of history:
* Suspension of parliamentary checks and balances and democratic accountability;
* Empowering citizens against citizens to enforce government control;
* International communist alliances;
* Enormous growth in police presence and power, to restrict movement, speech, assembly etc;
* Increased government surveillance to enforce the same;
* Flagrant disregard for economic security and willingness to trash it;
* Callous indifference to basic humanity except as a confected excuse to achieve the things in this list – ie ‘saving lives’ from one threat only, harming them in other respects;
* Deliberate hostility towards Christianity over a lengthy period now;
* Incredible levels of deceit and lies to protect the unimpeachable supremacy of the government;
* Exploitation of a “crisis” as an excuse to achieve all of the above.
When a generation is saturated in Marxism, they will ultimately vote for Marxist governments. They progress from pet causes like BLM, to support the broader ideology in our institutions… and the politicians are often already in place to receive their support.
It may be that Victoria is merely Australia's first and most benign - as a Premier, Andrews' opportunity is limited. But those in my generation will happily warm to future iterations – I can promise you that.
Marxism in all its forms, including the updated form we're seeing today, is an evil ideology. It is a "stronghold" to use the Apostle Paul's language - an idea raised up in opposition to God.
Despite its tens of millions of corpses and profound record of oppression, its siren song has still been heard for a century. Once from outside the West, now from within. Could it be that we will finally succumb?
Apart from divine intervention in some other form, there are a few ways it can be avoided.
First, political leaders who know better must once and for all address it. The time for pretending "it's all about the economy, stupid" is well past. That is no longer a statement of ignorance, but of cowardice.
Second, Christians are uniquely equipped with a true and clear moral standard from which to gain perspective. Rather than be carried along with winds of change, we must preach the truth louder than we have been, with sharper cultural relevance than we have dared. Not shrinking back, but answering head-on. It is, ultimately, the word of God that has the power we need.
While a new generation is looking for true answers, let it not be said that we were too afraid to supply them... or too self-interested to bear the cost... or too ignorant to know what they might be... or too foolish to think it really mattered... or too compromised to speak clearly.
History has been here before. Moral courage was the essential antidote then, too.
"Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your servants may speak Your word with all confidence." (Acts 4:29)
Martyn Iles