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In the late 1800s in Russia there was a debate about whether Christianity should be political or whether it should remain isolated in the church. The main protagonist was Leo Tolstoy, author of War and Peace, who spearheaded a movement to publicly promote Christianity, making it a life experience instead of just a church experience. His novel "Anna Karenina," promoted Christian values and showed how a simple faith in God promotes a healthy society and family life. His novel illustrated his ideas using a contrast between a deeply unhappy godless adulterer and a happy Christian family man. Tragically, the church elders misunderstood Tolstoy's intent, thinking he was in fact somehow promoting adultery and smut. They ultimately had him--their best and most influential ally--excommunicated. Stung by this ultimate insult, the beloved Russian writer became bitter and skeptical toward the church and his influence was lost forever.
You see, the Russian church leaders arrogantly rejected the idea that Christianity needed to be promoted publicly. They felt secure in their power, protected by the Czar. But absent any meaningful intellectual support for the church, it fell into corruption, became irrelevant, and the atheistic revolution took over very shortly. Within less than half a century there was no visible church in Russia, which was arguably the most godly country in the world at one time. When I went there in the 60s I found no one who even believed in God. The church that would not defend itself had ceased to exist.
In ways that count, James Dobson is America's Tolstoy. He too is rejected by the mainstream church, which lacks the courage to stand up to its enemies. Most Americans, Christians included, believe implicitly that America will somehow stay free no matter what and that the church will somehow never die out. They are behaving just like the church of Russia in the late 1800s.
In fact, if we can take Russia as an example, there may be little time left to protect our religious freedom. The political discussion in this country is strikingly parallel with that in Russia in the 1800s. Every Christian leader today must make a decision whether to speak out to protect our country's freedom or see it lost.
Ronald Reagan once said these prophetic words:
"You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this last best hope of man on earth or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness."
We had better be careful of our step!