Conquering a nation typically comes in one of two ways. The first is to attack it militarily and compel the people to obedience. The second is to corrupt the institutions that keep the people unified and raise up leaders who promise to stabilize the chaos, establish order and return a sense of security. With America too strong to conquer, the second process had to be initiated…the process of corruption. This had to be approached with a well thought out plan. This plan would require excruciating patience over time and would include degrading the culture, breaking down the family, destroying rule by law, politicizing judicial relief, erase traditional values, and eliminate private property ownership. The ancient Chinese leader Shan Yang described this process in 350 BC thusly: “Weakening the people” so they could be more easily controlled by the elites. [Paul B. Skousen, The Book of Lord Shang, as quoted in The Naked Socialist, 2014, pages 58-60]. This weakening gained momentum in the 1960’s. As rebellion rose, support for traditional institutions fell. An atmosphere of ‘anything goes’ became the new norm. Right along came increased crime, disorder and dissatisfaction. The American people didn’t turn to themselves for solutions…and definitely not to God…but to the government. That ‘best solution’ came as more laws, less freedom, and more masters. As Benjamin Franklin is credited with saying: “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.” I trust that our churches haven’t decided to take the easy way out.
When the 45 goals of Communism were published and made known, they were received with either skepticism or abhorrence. For the most part, Americans believed that such blatantly declared assaults on the “American way” would be virtually impossible to achieve. People believed that Americans would never accept any of those goals in the great, impervious sanctuary of virtue and liberty known as the United States of America. Yet, within two generations, America’s envied system of self-perpetuating liberty, virtue, education and understanding was dangerously undermined and forgotten. There was talk of so-called ‘enlightenment’, a New Age, with a deceptive nomenclature that renamed wrong as right, good as bad, and dark as light. This should not surprise us as the Book of Revelation tells us that this will happen in end times. So what are these goals? For the next few weeks we will discuss them and you can come to your own decision as to whether they have been exercised and whether they have been successful. I believe that the church can and should be a counter to these goals and with God’s Holy Spirit to lead the fight the church can be the deterrent that the Communist fear. See what you think?
#1 U.S acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war. Coexistence is a negative word, a lose-lose outcome for all parties involved. In order to achieve coexistence, it is necessary to abandon the moral responsibility of advancing the good in order to get along with the bad. President Reagan exposed the great lie when he led the West to prove that coexistence was not the only alternative. He forced the USSR into financial ruin and political dissolution in 1991 without launching a single nuclear strike. The peace through strength formula that Reagan applied back in the 1980’s was abandoned by his successors who returned America to the weaker position of coexistence and unilateral disarmament. President Trump tried to return the nation to a position of strength but a ‘majority’ of voters did not like his tweets so we got what we now have.
#2 U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war. No sane person wants nuclear war. President Reagan pursued a policy of peace through strength. His buildup of American forces across all fronts contributed to the ultimate collapse of the Soviet Union. America did not want a nuclear war but would not back away into a ‘safe space’ to avoid one if necessary. However, a pattern of appeasement and capitulation has led to a weaker America…an exact fulfillment of an original Communist goal.
#3 Develop the illusion that total disarmament by the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength. A movement to disarm the US has been growing since the 1950’s. While the US reduced its nuclear arsenal, Pakistan, North Korea, Iran, and Israel worked to increase theirs. Since World War II the US has closed more than 325 military bases in all 50 states, reduced the numbers of enlisted, and decommissioned thousands of ships, armor, and aircraft. While prudent in some cases, it nonetheless effectively weakened America’s military standing in the world. As Benjamin Franklin warned: “Make yourselves sheep, and the wolves will eat you.”
#4 Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war. The Mutual Defense Assistance Control Act of 1951 banned US economic reconstruction aid to countries doing business with the Soviet Union. However, regular and routine violations of its provisions under the names of humanitarian aid and economic assistance pledges have characterized every presidential administration for the past 60 years, helping socialist regimes gain strength.
#5 Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet Satellites. This has been established US policy since 1971 and it continued with the individual Soviet nations after the fall of USSR in 1991. US help to others in need is an important stabilizing influence in the world. Problems arise when such help allows nations the surplus resources to arm themselves to attack others.
#6 Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination. The US gives aid to more than 150 nations, many of them ruled by dictators, terrorists, and Communists. They include Russia, China, Cuba, Panama, Venezuela and others that have declared their opposition to the US and called for its overthrow. US decision makers have turned a blind eye to the advantages they give enemies when they put humanitarian needs above security concerns. President Trump tried to cut much of this off and was condemned for his efforts. Any avowed enemy of America that receives US humanitarian aid also becomes free to focus more funds and attention on activities inimical to the US and its allies.
#7 Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the UN. When these Communist goals were first published in 1961 many said the idea of recognizing avowed enemies…China…and admitting them to the UN was ludicrous. In 1972 China gained recognition in the UN with full recognition completed in 1979. China then gained economic power. Capitalism has a wonderful way of corrupting dictatorships. China is now the number one holder of US debt. Interest payments alone exceed $170 million…per day! US taxpayers are helping to build China’s military forces.
#8 Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev’s promise in 1955 to settle the Germany question by free elections under supervision of the UN. The Helsinki Accords signed in 1975 gave the Soviets what they wanted…USSR gains from the war were officially acknowledged and accepted…the smaller European states became uncontested as satellite territories controlled by the Soviets, Germany remained divided, and the Soviets promised to respect basic human rights in all of the newly recognized territories. Despite this promise, in the late 1970’s the Soviets marched into those little states to smother internal decent, claiming the actions were internal security matters and not a violation of the Helsinki Accords. Until the failure of communism in the USSR and the call to reunite Germany by President Reagan, the West failed to challenge the Soviets in the name of peace.
#9 Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the US has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress. This operated to the distinct advantage of the Soviet Union which continued its testing long after the US stopped. The negotiations lasted for eight long years until 1963 when the US and the USSR agreed to a limited ban. China tested its own nuclear weapon in 1964. Soon thereafter North Korea joined the nuclear community.
#10 Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the UN. With the fall of the USSR, most of the satellite nations once under dominion of the USSR received recognition in the UN. These dozen or so states brought more strength to the radical left in the UN. As a result, Western Europe and America virtually abandoned the UN as an instrument of constructive action.
Keep in mind that these are Communist Party goals and not just goals of Russia (USSR) or China. The Communist goals envision the world and not just a few select countries. Next week we will continue with the 45 goals of Communism starting with #11. How many people are aware of these publicized goals and how many in church leadership have studied the impact they will possibly eventually have on the Christian church?
-Bob Munsey
“Broken relationships are sad, hard, and unavoidable facts of life in a broken world. The most painful are those involving the very people we ought to love and value most.” God’s Mysterious Ways, Gary Inrig
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