Communism: We must not play at Church any longer

Bill Bright wrote the words below in 1969.  He was very vocal about his opposition to the rise of communism.  He viewed it as a great threat to our country but most importantly to the spreading of the message of Jesus.

Some time ago, information regarding the phenomenal growth of communism was fed to the marvelous electronic brain, Univac, with the question, “What is the future of communism?” As you know, communism has expanded rapidly during the last fifty years. In 1903, Lenin started communism with 17 people. By 1917, he had taken over Russia with 40,000 followers. Today, communists control over a third of the world’s population, and most of the rest of the world has been influenced. Univac came back with the reply, “By 1970, communism will control two-thirds of the world’s population. By 1973, its conquest of the world will be complete.”

Today, communism has infiltrated every segment of society. The great student demonstrations and riots that are making headlines around the world are led, for the most part, by known communists in the United States and in most other countries. Three percent of the student population of China turned the tide and helped capture one-fourth of the world’s population—that great nation of China—for the communist cause. Think of it—three percent! In the United States alone, it is believed by many of the radical leaders that more than three percent of the students are already a part of the communist cause.

Why are they taking the world? Because of their dedication to the communist cause. For example, a young communist gives this answer. He broke his engagement with his fiancée, and the letter he wrote explaining his decision was given by her minister to Dr. Billy Graham. The communist student wrote: “We communists have a high casualty rate. We are the ones who get shot ad hung and ridiculed and fired from our jobs and in every other way made as uncomfortable as possible. A certain percentage of us get killed or imprisoned. We live in virtual poverty. We turn back to the party every penny we make above what is absolutely necessary to keep us alive. We communists do not have the time or the money for many movies, or concerts, or T-bone steaks, or decent homes or new cars. We have been described as fanatics. We are fanatic. Our lives are dominated by one great overshadowing factor: the struggle for world communism. We communists have a philosophy of life which no amount of money can buy. We have a cause to fight for, a definite purpose in life. We subordinate our petty personal selves into a great movement of humanity; and if our personal lives seem hard or our egos appear to suffer through subordination to the party, then we are adequately compensated by the thought that each of us in his small way is contributing to something new and true and better for mankind. There is one thing in which I am in dead earnest about, and that is the communist cause. It is my life, my business, my religion, my hobby, my sweetheart, my wife, and my mistress, my breath and meat. I work at it in the daytime and dream of it at night. Its hold on me grows, not lessons, as time goes on, therefore I cannot carry on a friendship, a love affair, or even a conversation without relating it to this force which both drives and guides my life. I evaluate people, books, ideas and actions according to how they affect the communists cause, and by their attitude toward it. I’ve already been to jail because of my ideals, and if necessary, I’m ready to go before a firing squad.”

This is the reason communists are taking the world, and let there be no mistake about it, they are out to take the world. However, most assuredly I do not believe that communism will ultimately triumph.

As one considers the phenomenal grown of communism and the moral and spiritual decadence that is threatening to destroy our civilization, one must be aware that we dare not play at church any longer. The only hope is an awakened church.

By Bill Bright

©1969, 2026 Copyright Bright Media Foundation