We face an extremist political ideology, akin to communism or fascism, where in fact it originated. But its political currency is not social class or national identity or race: It is sex. A radical sexual ideology that began with feminism but now includes homosexualism and perhaps other sexualities has wheedled its way to the commanding heights of political power. At stake are no longer simply abstract values; basic civil liberties and constitutional rights have already been lost for many, and the jails are already filling, though this is off the radar screen of most Christian leaders.

Defenders of marriage and the traditional family continue to lose battle after battle to the purveyors of sexual liberation. So predictable have their defeats become that the judicial coup at the US Supreme Court over same-sex “marriage” surprised no one.

Moreover, it finally but slowly seems to be dawning on Christian leaders that much more is at stake than even marriage, critical as that is. The awakening fear for “religious freedom,” along with attacks on peaceable Christian organizations as “hate groups” and perpetrators of “violence” reflects a growing awareness of the sexual agenda’s authoritarian designs. Now if we can start showing concern for the freedoms of others, who already face plunder and prison at the hands of the sexual radicals, we will become leaders of a constructive response. In fact, the impositions on Christians so far are very mild compared to what others have endured.

It is time to step back and look at the broader picture of what is taking place here. When we do, we will realize that we have seen all this before, and we are making the same mistakes.

The attack is being waged by a small neo-bolshevik cadre of militants. They have momentum and organization, and they use relentless, quasi-bolshevik “salami tactics” to push their way to control over both the cultural institutions and the reins of political power.

The vast majority of people do not sympathize with the militants’ zeal, even after saturation media propaganda leads many to relent in polls or referenda. Moreover, Christians also have unifying beliefs and organization—neither of which they mobilize adequately. The agitators can be effectively neutralized, but it will require changes in the fixations and habits of conservative Christians—changes that are healthy in themselves and could regenerate the larger spiritual and civic health of the West. It will also demand leadership and courage beyond what has so far been demonstrated. “The greatest tragedy is not the brutality of the evil people, but rather the silence of the good people,” Martin Luther King used to say. “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Christian leaders like to quote King these days, but his greatest frustration was the diffidence of “do-nothing” Christian leaders, and it is hardly different now.

Niemoeller’ Warning
Matthew Staver is a perceptive Christian leader who is waking up to the seriousness of our predicament, but a little too slowly. He quotes Martin Niemoeller, the German pastor during the Nazi terror, who also famously warned of the dangers of silence:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.

Staver then paraphrases Niemoeller, updated to fit the present reality he sees:

First they came for the adoption ministry, but I did not speak out because I did not do adoptions. Then they came for the wedding photographer, but I did not speak out because I did not photograph weddings. Then they came for the baker, but I did not speak out because I was not a baker. Then they came for the florist, but I said nothing because I was not a florist. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.

But Staver is at the wrong end of the story; he has learned the lesson too late. He depicts this process as just starting, when what he is describing is in fact its culmination. For many years they have been “coming for” the others, who are already sitting in prison, while the Christian leaders (as in Niemoeller’s day) remained silent. Staver’s concern extends only to those with whom he agrees, but the essence of Niemoeller’s warning is the failure to defend those with whom we disagree. Staver is only waking up now that the gendarmes are coming for his friends. A more appropriate update might include the groups that, even now, Christian leaders refuse to defend:

First they came for the parents and daycare providers, whom they accused of child abuse, but I did not speak out because I was not accused of child abuse. Then they came for the fathers, whom they accused of abandoning and molesting their children and beating their wives, but I did not speak out because I was not an accused father. Then they came for the students and the soldiers, whom they accused of “rape” and “sexual assault,” but I did not speak out because I was not a student or a soldier. Now they are coming for the traditional Christians, and there is no one left to speak out for us.

We must wake up a little faster and cast our vision a little wider. And some critical truths must be faced.

First, we must recognize that this is no longer simply a matter of immorality or “culture.” These foolish myths have rationalized inaction for too long. We face an extremist political ideology, akin to communism or fascism, where in fact it originated. But its political currency is not social class or national identity or race: It is sex. A radical sexual ideology that began with feminism but now includes homosexualism and perhaps other sexualities has wheedled its way to the commanding heights of political power. At stake are no longer simply abstract values; basic civil liberties and constitutional rights have already been lost for many, and the jails are already filling, though this is off the radar screen of most Christian leaders. We have constructed a Maginot line against the ideologies of yesteryear, but today’s radicals easily circumvent our outdated defences.

Second, this is a broad attack on many political fronts, only a few of which have met with any substantial resistance. Christian conservatives oppose the radicals’ demands on abortion, same-sex “marriage” and a few other issues, but this is the tip of the iceberg. On the most dangerous threats, Christian leaders have been timid, self-absorbed, and silent. The same radicals pushing same-sex “marriage”:

• fomented hysterical witch hunts over child abuse in daycare centers and the homes of innocent parents, destroying lives and sending innocent people to prison;
• intimidate homeschoolers with similar accusations of child abuse and “educational neglect”;
• fabricate rape accusations against heterosexual male university students, military personnel, and others and endeavor to expand the definition of “rape” to include almosteverything and everyone;
• pressure courts to separate children from their fathers through divorce and incarcerate the fathers on various pretexts.

And the same lobby also continues to expand the crime-infested and budget-busting welfare state.

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