DECEMBER 15, 1967
Christ Answers Back
You say you've been invited to a midnight Christmas party next Saturday and you have to go to church the next morning? Well, cheer up. Things could be worse.
The Man whose birthday you're celebrating, for instance, could return to plague the entire country. Imagine some poor Washington official trying to conduct a coherent discussion of our Viet Nam commitment with Him.
Official: Well, of course, the basis of our commitment is the fact that Communism is essentially wrong.
Man: Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Official: Yes, well at least You have to admit that North Vietnamese Communism hasn't improved the life of the people very much.
Man: And why beholdest thou the note that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that shines in thine eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye.
Official: Oh, You mean the riots and poverty and things like that. Well, after all, those problems aren't really products of our particular system of government. I mean You're going to find those problems under any government. Our system is basically good.
Man: A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit.
Official: Now, wait a minute. In less than two centuries America has become the most prosperous nation in history. Find even one country that even approaches the greatness of the United States.
Official: Okay, so suppose You can't be too sure that our system is all that great. You still have to agree that aggression is wrong and that we ought to punish it. What's wrong with that?
Man: But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Official: Sure, that's fine in theory and everything; but if we don't stop the Communists now, pretty soon they'll attack us. You have to consider that.
Man: Take no thought for the morrow; sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Official: Okay, okay, suppose I go along with You on all that, just for argument's sake. What about world opinion? Who'd respect our commitments if we just pulled out in Viet Nam.
Man: Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Official: You know what's wrong with You? You're just plain impractical. You wouldn't last a minute around here. I happen to know plenty of perfectly good Christians who support the Viet Nam war.
Man: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other.