A Square, Honest Look
See if the following doesn’t sound familiar:
The people were being heavily taxed, and faced every prospect of a sharp increase to cover expanding military expenses.
The threat of world domination by a cruel, ungodly, power-intoxicated band of men was ever just below the threshold of consciousness.
Moral deterioration had corrupted the upper levels of society and was moving rapidly into the broad base of the populace.
Peace propaganda was heard everywhere in the midst of preparations for war.
The latest rulers were covering the landscape with their status and images, invoking a subtle form of state worship.
Intense nationalistic feeling was clashing openly with new and sinister forms of imperialism.
Conformity was the spirit of the age.
Government handouts were being used with increasing lavishness to keep the population from rising up and throwing out the leaders.
Interest rates were spiraling upward in the midst of an inflated economy.
External religious observance was considered a political asset.
An abnormal emphasis was being placed upon sports and athletic competitions.
Social life centered around the banquet and the pool.
Racial tension was at the breaking point.
In such a time and amidst such a people, a child was born to a migrant couple who had just signed up for a fresh round of taxation, and who were soon to become political exiles.
The child was called, among other things, the Prince of Peace.
When He had grown up and had entered upon His ministry, He said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. … Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
—Sherwood E. Wirt