Truth Was a Lost Word

In 1939, American journalist Virginia Cowles went to Russia. Two years later, she wrote about what she saw in “Looking For Trouble.”

After a few days of trying in vain to get Russians to talk with her, Cowles found out why they were afraid. Stalin had just killed untold millions of his own people for what he called anti-Communistic actions. Some of those actions were nothing more than studying a foreign language or befriending a foreigner. Consequently, people were afraid to speak to any stranger.

Cowles then gives us her analysis of life in that sad country:

The chief distinction between man and animal is the critical faculty of the human mind. In the Soviet Union–just as in Germany–the critical faculty was carefully exterminated so that the mass might sweat out their existence as uncomplainingly as oxen, obedient to the tyranny of the day. The truth was a lost word. Minds were doped with distorted information until they became so sluggish they had not even the power to protest against their miserable conditions. The ‘Pravda’ never tired of revealing to its readers the iniquities of the outside world, always pointing (out) how blessed were the people of the Soviet Union.

Sadly, we see that playing out before our very eyes today in our country, areas of employment, and even in some churches. We are being told not to question, challenge or even think for ourselves. Others will do it for us. Independent opinions are unacceptable. Troublesome questions are treated as rebellion and rebellion gets you ousted. If you question that, see what happens if you take a stand for morality and Biblical values? People today are obedient “to the tyranny of our day.”

Here’s my takeaway: These are challenging and difficult days. Let’s be wise and discerning people. Let’s stand for the truth of God’s Word. Paul said it best: “test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Be like the “Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true”