In a sporting event, it’s not always the most talented team that wins. Often it’s the team that has the most desire…zeal…commitment. The team that wants victory the most.

That’s a troubling fact in light of the present cultural wars in our nation. From all appearances, Antifa, anarchists, and other revolutionaries are more committed to victory than the Christians and conservatives are. Cunningly playing upon America’s sins and injustices, they’ve convinced a generation of young people that it’s best to just burn the place down.

This is a stunning reversal. With few natural resources, the early Christians were so radically committed to King Jesus that they turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6-7). They were deeply aware that Jesus died for them, and in gratitude, they were passionate about living for Him (Romans 14:8, 2 Corinthians 5:16-17).  

Likewise, America’s founders were radically committed to victory at all costs. Putting themselves in great danger upon signing the Declaration of Independence, they wrote: “For the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

Do we have any national leaders with such a commitment today? If so, they seem to be on the side of the anarchists.

Before his untimely death in 1982, Christian singer and revivalist Keith Green wrote a challenging article comparing the lukewarm believers of his day to the radical commitment of communists. If anything, we face an even more dire situation today, as the precepts of Marxism have infiltrated our society while Christians sleep.

Keith quoted a letter first cited by Billy Graham, written by an American college student who had been converted to Communism in Mexico. The purpose of the letter was to explain to his fiancé why he must break off their engagement in order to pursue the radical Marxist agenda:

“We Communists have a high casualty rate. We’re the ones who get slandered and ridiculed and fired from our jobs and in every other way made as uncomfortable as possible. A certain percentage of us get killed or imprisoned. We live in virtual poverty. We turn back to the Party every penny we make above what is absolutely necessary to keep us alive. We Communists don’t have time or the money for many movies or concerts or T-bone steaks or decent homes and new cars. We’ve been described as fanatics. We are fanatics! Our lives are dominated by one great overshadowing factor – the struggle for World Communism.

“We Communists have a philosophy of life which no amount of money could buy. We have a cause to fight for, a definite purpose in life. We subordinate our petty, personal selves into a great movement of humanity. And if our personal lives seem hard or our egos appear to suffer through subordination to the Party, then we are adequately compensated by the fact that each of us in his small way is contributing to something new and true and better for mankind.

“The Communist cause is my life, my business, my religion, my hobby, my sweetheart, my wife and mistress, my bread and meat. I work at it in the daytime and dream of it at night. Its hold on me grows, not lessens, as time goes on. Therefore, I cannot carry on a friendship, a love affair, or even a conversation without relating it to this force which both guides and drives my life. I evaluate people, books, ideas, and actions according to how they affect the Communist cause and by their attitude toward it. I’ve already been in jail because of my ideas, and if necessary, I’m ready to go before a firing squad.”

This is the kind of passionate commitment we’re seeing today from those who want to tear down America’s historic foundations and replace them with anarchy. Make no mistake about it: Unless we care enough to fight back and become salt and light again, they will win.

Keith Green concluded, “If Communists can be as devoted as this, how much more should Christians pour themselves out in intense devotion for their glorious Lord?…We are in grave danger of being judged as the Church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:16-17). Remember, there are just two runners in the race – Revival and Judgment. Let us get on our knees and win!”

In this season of pandemic and racial tension, it has never been more important for the people of God to be set on fire once again. Instead of remaining apathetic and lukewarm, we must regain our mission to demonstrate His love and preach that His kingdom is at hand.

The battle will not be won by those who are selfish, soft, or halfhearted. Isaiah 60:1-2 challenges us to “arise and shine” before it’s too late.

To read Keith Green’s article in its entirety, Total Commitment: Communism vs. Christianity, click this link.