Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 11:1 (Nov 1948)
Article: The Word Of God Versus The Totalitarian State
Author: R. B. Kuiper

WTJ 11:1 (Nov 1948) p. 1

The Word Of God Versus The Totalitarian State

R. B. Kuiper

DURING the first world war the American people were made to believe that the purpose of that conflict was “to make the world safe for democracy”. However, in the wake of victory came numerous dictatorships and totalitarian governments. In the second world war totalitarian Italy, Germany and Japan went down to crushing defeat, but totalitarian Russia rose to incomparably greater heights of power and influence than it had previously enjoyed. Octopus-like it has thrown its tentacles about much of Asia and Europe, and it threatens to draw within its grasp the greater part of the world. In addition to that grand triumph, state totalitarianism has scored several minor victories. In almost every country on the face of the globe there now exists a communist group that is both vocal and influential. Hardly had one form of socialism been defeated in Germany when another took control in Britain. And even in these United States of America, which were founded less than two hundred years ago on the principle that human government must be severely restricted, the power of the federal government has in recent decades grown by leaps and bounds. What the future holds is admittedly difficult to say, but of one thing we can be altogether certain — it is of the essence of totalitarian communism to force itself upon the whole of humanity, and it cannot and will not rest so long as it has not accomplished precisely that.

There is an easy explanation of the present ascendancy of state totalitarianism. It is said to be due to a rather natural human reaction to economic depression. In the closing years of the Roman republic there was such a depression. The people clamored for panem et circenses: literally translated, bread and circuses; in modern paraphrase, a full

WTJ 11:1 (Nov 1948) p. 2

dinner-pail and the movies. For these things they were more than willing to exchange their liberties. Inevitably the totalitarian Roman empire ensued. Today history is simply repeating itself. In 1929 came a financial crash which ushered in a prolonged depression. Once more men were willing to sell their birthright of liberty for a literal mess of pottage. If only a man gets a big pay-check at the end of each week, why should he worry about the growing power of his government? If ever increasing power of government is conducive to his economic security, more power to it!

It cannot be denied that this explanation contains much more than a modicum of truth. Materialism and a concomitant neglect of spiritual values have induced numerous citizens to surrender at least some of their liberties to the state. And yet these sins are more accurately denominated the occasion than the cause of the ascenda...