J Gresham Machen published a book in the 1920s describing the challenge facing the church of his day. I’m finding that some of what he predicted as the result of cultural trends in his time is impressively applicable 100 years after his writing.

For example, consider this paragraph:

The whole development of modern society has tended mightily toward the limitation of the realm of freedom for the individual man. The tendency is most clearly seen in socialism; a socialistic state would mean the reduction to a minimum of the sphere of individual choice. Labor and recreation, under a socialistic government, would both be prescribed, and individual liberty would be gone. But the same tendency exhibits itself today even in those communities where the name of socialism is most abhorred. When once the majority has determined that a certain regime is beneficial, that regime without further hesitation is forced ruthlessly upon the individual man. It never seems to occur to modern legislatures that although “welfare” is good, forced welfare may be bad. In other words, utilitarianism is being carried out to its logical conclusions; in the interests of physical well-being the great principles of liberty are being thrown ruthlessly to the winds.

-J Gresham Machen – Christianity and Liberalism

These are chilling words, especially since we do not seem to have learned any lessons from the 20th Century as we move into the 21st. In my own country, I am noticing an alarming trend where some people in power attempt to silence those who disagree with their narrative of how society should be arranged.

We need to look no further back than the Covid-19 crisis to find evidence of this tendency. During the crisis, there was no room for debate, and in many locations, there was no freedom to operate outside of the stipulations of the elites who held the power.

Liberty was sacrificed by using fear to manipulate the people into compliance. What freedoms will be taken away during the next crisis? The freedom to proclaim our belief in Jesus? The freedom to assemble to worship?

Even so, I am encouraged that Jesus promised to build his church and the gates of Hell will not prevail over it.

Jesus cannot be stopped, no matter who attempts to do so.