GOSPEL DEFENCE LEAGUE
PO Box 587, Sea Point 8060, RSA; Tel/Fax 021-5106854; e-mail dscarborough@mweb.co.za
January/February 2005
Dear Friends,
We wish you a happy new year and pray that God may bless you richly. As He has shown His steadfast love to us in the past, so we pray for His goodness in the future. May 2005 be a good year and bring you new opportunities of serving the Lord in spirit and in truth. - At the beginning of another year we restate the objectives of the Gospel Defence League which are:- To proclaim the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as that Gospel is set forth in Holy Scripture and generally affirmed in the historic creeds of Christendom, and to oppose any attempts to secularise the Gospel, deny its supernatural elements, or question the full substantial deity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The watchword of our time is "Reconciliation," and in the spirit of reconciliation, three South African denominations last year (re)joined the South African and World Councils of Churches:- the Apostolic Faith Mission, the Greek Orthodox Church, and the Dutch Reformed Church. But other Churches, too, are beginning to feel that the Ecumenical Movement has reformed and that it may now be safe to affiliate to it.
The South African Council of Churches (SACC) is made up of 26 member denominations and organisations. These are the African Catholic Church, African Methodist Episcopal Church, Apostolic Faith Mission of SA, Baptist Convention, Church of the Province of SA, Coptic Orthodox Church, Council of African Instituted Churches, Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk), Ethiopian Episcopal Church, Evangelical Church in SA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in SA, ELC Natal/Transvaal, Evangelical Presbyterian Church in SA, Greek Orthodox Archbishopric of Johannesburg & Pretoria, Hervormde Kerk in SA, International Federation of Christian Churches, Methodist Church of Southern Africa, Moravian Church in Southern Africa, Presbyterian Church in Africa, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Salvation Army, Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference, United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, Uniting Presbyterian Church in SA, Uniting Reformed Church of SA, and the Volkskerk van Afrika. 1) The SACC's parent body, the World Council of Churches (WCC), consists of 340 churches, denominations and fellowships in over 100 countries, and claims to represent some 400 million Christians.
In its Mission Statement the SACC maintains that it is "acting on behalf of its member churches" and is working for "moral reconstruction in South Africa, focussing on issues of justice, reconciliation, integrity of creation and the eradication of poverty and contributing towards the empowerment of all who are spiritually, socially and economically marginalised." 2) Thus, whatever the SACC does is done on behalf and in the name of its members, for it purports to represent "the united witness of the church in South Africa."
Now that the political democratisation of South Africa is accomplished the SACC promotes the economic democratisation. Claiming to be concerned about the plight of the poor, it demands "a more just economic system to address the alarming levels of poverty and inequality in South Africa." This sounds very good, until one realises that the SACC does not mean to uplift the poor through wealth creation, but through wealth redistribution, in fact through "general reparations as recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission." 3) The SACC is advocating a Basic Income Grant (BIG), saying: "The BIG would provide a small amount of cash (of not less than R100 per month) to each adult South African every month, providing some protection against poverty for all our people." This should be financed, they say, through "a combination of various types of tax," and should benefit "children, women, rural dwellers, refugees and asylum-seekers, and unemployed/underemployed or unemployable adults," i.e. altogether "12 million people." However, since a R100 p.m. grant will not go very far, the SACC also demands "free basic services including lifeline water, sanitation, and electricity; health care and education as well as improved access to jobs and skills training and affordable housing and public transport."
But can South Africa afford this? Dr Erich Leistner, former Director of the Africa Institute, writes: "Health, educa-tion, welfare and housing take up 58% of current state expenditure. From 1994 to 2003 social welfare expenditure rose more than threefold from R10 billion to 34,8 billion. The number of recipients rose from 2,6 million to 6,8 million. With 17% of the population dependent on state assistance, South Africa allows itself the luxury of a huge free welfare system which is financed by only 7 million tax payers (as compared to 27,4 million voters). Recently the Minister of Finance warned that the country can no longer afford this increasing burden..." 4) Then what about the additional free services which the SACC demands of the municipalities? Dr Leistner says: "The improve-ments in the standard of living promised by the Government, often come to nought because of the failure of public administration. Ever since health, welfare, and other social services were handed over to the municipalities, they have been a complete failure. Most of the 284 newly formed municipal entities lack all preconditions for orderly administration. In 2002/03 they had a debt burden of more than R32 billion which grew by another R5,1 billion. Incompetence, nepotism, corruption and phantastic salaries leave little over for the real business."
The South African Council of Churches (SACC) has a Parliamentary Office from which it makes submissions to the Government in the name of the Churches. Whether these realise it or not, they are being used as a sort of left-wing pressure group. The SACC's orientation is not Biblical. It is socialist, even Marxist - for redistribution of wealth is a Marxist concept. For instance, the "Freedom Charter" says: "The wealth of our country, the heritage of South Africans, shall be restored to the people." Such a policy is based on the false assumption that all wealth has been stolen. Therefore the wealthy must pay "reparations". Does not the SACC say the same thing when it states: "The introduction of a comprehensive social protection package should also play a redistributive role. Properly formulated and financed, this package can also become a central component of a programme of general reparations, as recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission."
It is interesting that in July 2004 the Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya, a graduate of Leipzig University in then Communist East Germany, was invited by the SACC to meet with multi-religious leaders at Bishop's Court, Cape Town. In his speech he praised the 'religious sector' for its "unwavering comradeship [through which] we attained our cherished freedom." He offered them a partnership, in fact a "state and religious sector development oriented partnership," and asked the clergy to assist the State to help the poor. The Government, he said, had much money for social upliftment, but needed the help and grassroots networks of the 'faith communities' to properly apportion it. In reply, the religious leaders agreed to assist and set up a multi-faith Committee, headed by the SACC, which would co-ordinate this Government/Religion social development work.
In Communist China, in 1980, the persecuted Christian Church was invited to partner the Communist Government. Brother Yun, a pastor-evangelist described this as follows: "The Government called a gathering of 120 religious representatives from all over our county. Muslim, Buddhist, Daoist and Christian leaders were all invited to attend. At that time we did'nt know anything about the Three-Self Patriotic Church that the government was forming. 'Three-Self' stood for the movement's three guiding principles: Self-Propagating, Self-Supporting, and Self-Governing. Most Christians considered it a good thing, and rejoiced that a new day appeared to be dawning when believers could worship freely without interference or persecution... The meeting was organized through the joint co-operation of the local Religious Affairs Bureau (RAB) and the Public Security Bureau (PSB). In that meeting they intended to select the committee members and the chairmen for each religion..." 5) The meeting did not go well, because the Biblical and political church leaders found no common ground. Brother Yun concluded: "From that day on I clearly understood that the kingdom of God can never mix with politics. The ultimate stated aim of Marxist teaching is the complete eradication of all religion. The pure bride of Christ can never be controlled by an atheistic government or led by men who hate God! The true Church is not an organization controlled by the rules of men but a holy collection of living stones with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone..."
The South African Churches should carefully examine the poverty alleviation policies which are promoted in their name. They should not underwrite a programme which will bankrupt the country and add to, rather than alleviate, poverty. They should ask themselves whether, through their affirmation of the SACC, they are not making themselves a willing tool of Communism, quite apart from the fact that, by yoking themselves to other religions they are setting a bad example for their flock and offending against the First Commandment. It is time that the Churches wake up, that they remind themselves who they are and whom they are serving. They need to heed the angel's words: "Wake up! Strengthen what remains, and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you." (Rev. 3:2-3)
May God bless you richly,
D. Scarborough.
Footnotes:
1. Cf. South African Council of Churches Website
2. SACC Mission Statement, Ibid.
3. SACC Executive Summary: 2005-2006 People's Budget Proposals, and Submission to the Portfolio Committee on Social Development, June 2003.
4. Dr Erich Leistner, Südafrika-Jahresüberblick 2004
5. Chinese Christian Brother Yun with Paul Hattaway, The Heavenly Man, pp. 51-54
COMMUNISM - A CHRISTIAN EVALUATION
"Communism needs a population devoid of religious and national feeling, and this entails a destruction of faith and nationhood." (Alexander Solzhenitsyn, 1983)
from Communism: a Christian Evaluation, by Dr Francis Nigel Lee
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Communism on God -
"The materialist exalts the knowledge of matter, of nature, consigning God, and the philosophical rabble that defends God, to the rubbish heap." Lenin 1)
"Every religious idea, every idea of every god, even every flirtation with a god, is an unspeakable abomination... is the most dangerous abomination, the most repulsive 'infection'." Engels 2)
"Down with God, there remains nature." Lenin 3)
Christianity on God -
"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)
"There is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5)
"Without faith it is impossible to please him; for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)
Communism on the Universe -
"The material perceptible universe to which we ourselves belong is the only reality." Lenin 4)
"We may regard the material and cosmic world as the supreme being; as the cause of all causes and the creator of heaven and earth." Lenin 5)
"It is only a religious fable that God created the world. If matter is primary and eternal, it is uncreatable and indestructible, it is the inner, final cause of everything." Afanasyev 6)
Christianity on the Universe -
"By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth. He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle... For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood forth." (Psalm 33:6-9)
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that was made... And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-14)
Communism on Religion
"Religion is opium for the people. Religion is a sort of spiritual booze, in which the slaves of capital drown their human image." Lenin 7)
"Among the tasks of the cultural revolution... special place is occupied by the struggle against the opiate of the people - religion - a struggle which must be carried on systematically and relentlessly. The proletarian power must destroy all Government support of the Church, which is an agent of the governing classes. It must destroy all participation by the Church in the Government, in organised work of education and training, and must mercilessly suppress the counter-revolutionary activity of Church organisations." Lenin 8)
"We must fight religion. That is the ABC of Marxism ... It stands... atheistic and... hostile to every religion." Lenin 9)
Christianity on Religion
"The earth is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant." (Isaiah 24:5)
"And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly! The grace of... Jesus Christ be with you!"
(Romans 16:20)
"And Jesus... spake unto them, saying... 'Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.!" (Matthew 28:19)
Communism on Education
"We must strive to secure the mixing of the children of all nationalities in uniform schools in each locality." Lenin 10)
'Marxists... have a general school plan which demands an absolutely secular school. As far as Marxists are concerned, no departure from this general program is anywhere or at any time permissible..." Lenin 11)
"We are carrying out... the transference of the educational function of the separate household to society... The children are brought up under more favourable conditions than at home..." Lenin 12)
Christianity on Education
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." (Proverbs 9:10)
"All Scripture is... profitable for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
"Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Eph.6:4)
Communism on Morality
"We do not believe in an eternal morality, and we expose the deceit of all the fables about morality. Morality serves the purpose of helping human society to rise to a higher level and to get rid of the exploitation of labour." Lenin 13)
"We reject every attempt to impose on us any moral dogma whatsoever as an external, ultimate and forever immutable moral law..." Engels 14)
"Is there such a thing as communist morality? Of course there is... We say that our morality is entirely subordinate to the interests of the class struggle of the proletariat." Lenin 15)
Christianity on Morality
""Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another... Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." 1 John 3:10-18)
"'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.'" (Matt. 22:37-9)
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. .... Let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Gal. 6:2-10)
Communism on Property
"Wife and children are the slaves of the husband. This latent slavery in the family, though still very crude, is the first property." Marx and Engels 16)
"You are horrified at our intending to do away with private property... You reproach us with intending to do away with your property. Precisely so: that is just what we intend." Marx & Engels 17)
"Landed proprietorship is abolished forthwith without any compensation... Workers' control over the production, storage, purchase and sale of all... materials shall be introduced in all industrial, commercial, banking, agricultural and other enterprises." Lenin 18)
Christianity on Property
"The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it." (Prov. 10:22)
"Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have given me this wealth. You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth; that he may confirm his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as at this day." (Deut. 8:17-18)
"A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous... House and wealth are inherited from fathers." (Prov. 13:22; 19:14)
Communism on the Family
"Once the earthly family is discovered to be the secret of the holy family, the former must then itself be destroyed in theory and in practice." Marx 19)
"A new form of family... [is] being prepared... the break-up of the patriarchal family." Lenin 20)
"The study of the history of primitive society reveals conditions in whch men lived in polygamy and their wives simultaneously in polyandry, and the common children are... regarded as being common to them all." Engels 21)
Christianity on the Family
"Male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, 'Be fruitful and multiply!'" (Genesis 1:27-8)
"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD; and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man, so are children of one's youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them... Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house; thy children like olive plants about thy table." (Psalm 127:3-5)
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right. Honour thy father and mother... that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." (Eph. 6:2-3)
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Footnotes: 1. Lenin, Philosophical Notes, para 16; cf Selsam & Martel: Reader in Marxist Philosophy, International Publishers, New York, 1964, p. 339. 2. Engels, Review of Thomas Carlyle's 'Past and present', cf Selsam & Martel, p. 238. 3. Lenin, Philosophical Notes, p. 336) 4. Lenin, Materialism and Empirio-Criticism, p. 63, 222. 5. Lenin, ibid., p.209. 6. Afanasyev, Marxist Philosophy, Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow, p. 59. 7. Lein, Socialism and Religion, Foreign Languages Publishing House, Moscow, p. 6. 8. Lenin, 1919 Programme of the Communist International, in Anderson: People, Church and State in Modern Russia, Students' Christian Mission Press, London, England, 1944, p. 51. 9. Lenin, Über die Religion, p. 20-24, 48. 10. Lenin, Collected Works, XIX, p. 504f. 11. Lenin, Critical Remarks of the National Question, in Lenin: Collected Works, XX, p. 815-6. 12. Lenin, in Halle, p. 97-8; in Zetkin: Reminiscences of Lenin, 1929, p. 57; & in Webb & Webb: Soviet Communism. A New Civilization? Longmans, Green & Co., London, England, 1936, I, p. 815-6. 13. On Socialist Ideology and Culture, Moscow, a.d., p. 51-55, quoting Lenin: The Youth League. 14. Engels, Anty-Düring, p. 107. 15. Lenin, Collected Works, in Selsam & Martel, p. 272-273. 16. Marx & Engels. The German Ideology, p. 21. 17. Marx & Engels, Manifesto of the Communist Party, p. 66-70. 18. Lenin, Collected Works, XXVI, p. 256-264. 19. Marx, Theses on Feuerbach, IV, in Engels: Ludwig Feuerbach (appendix). 20. Lenin, The teachings of Karl Marx, Martin Lawrence, London, England, 1914, p. 35. 21. Engels, The Origin of the Family, p. 48.