Vladimir Lenin may be the most prominent individual in the rich history of Russia. Born in April of 1870, Lenin became a supreme leader of the Communist Revolution. He would go on to become the first head of the Russian Soviet Socialist Republic, and from 1922 the first de facto leader of the Soviet Union. He was the creator of Leninism, an extension of Marxist theory.
Is it apparent in Lenin's writing that he was not wholly set against religion. He certainly looked upon religion as a "crutch" for the feeble-minded. Consider a few of these statements from the pages of Lenin's own writings:
Lenin agrees with Marx to the extent that due to the fact that religion has deep roots in capitalist oppression, it will not disappear until the people completely overcome their oppression. Lenin writes in The Attitude Of The Workers' Party To Religion:
Lenin was convinced that religion would be obsolete just as soon as the capitalist system could be eradicated.
Looking back through history, we can see the results of such a way of thinking. Under Communist rule, the Soviet Union became one of the most Godless and immoral nations in the history of the world -- a struggle that affects modern-day Russia and most of the Baltic states to this day.
In the Summer of 2006, I had the privilege of traveling to Ukraine to participate in a mission campaign. Some of the images I captured on my digital camera are priceless to me. One such image is the photo you see at above, depicting two Ukrainian gospel preachers handing out literature to the townspeople in Svitlovodsk, Ukraine.
As we were handing out these tracts and invitations to a gospel meeting, I witnessed this scene and noted the significance: Here are two young men who grew up under Communist rule doing God's work in the shadow of the likeness of Vladimir Lenin! The poetic beauty of this scene was not lost on me, I can tell you that!
So while Lenin has long since passed over into eternity (1924), and while his fleshly tabernacle remains preserved and on display in Moscow, his soul and his ideology have gone the way of the world. Each of us -- from the most humble servant to the head of state -- will stand before God to give an account on that great day.
Throughout the former Soviet empire, imposing bronze statues pay tribute to a man many former Soviets still love and admire. However, even the great Vladimir Lenin is not exempt from the great gathering of "all" spoken of in the Scripture above.
And since you and I will be there in the gathering of "all," should we not also "make it our aim to please him" (v. 9)?
Is it apparent in Lenin's writing that he was not wholly set against religion. He certainly looked upon religion as a "crutch" for the feeble-minded. Consider a few of these statements from the pages of Lenin's own writings:
"Impotence of the exploited classes in their struggle against the exploiters ...
inevitably gives rise to the belief in a better life after death."
"Religion is opium for the people. Religion is a sort of spiritual booze, in which the slaves of capital drown their human image, their demand for a life more or less worthy of man."
Lenin agrees with Marx to the extent that due to the fact that religion has deep roots in capitalist oppression, it will not disappear until the people completely overcome their oppression. Lenin writes in The Attitude Of The Workers' Party To Religion:
"No educational book can eradicate religion from the minds of masses who are crushed by capitalist hard labour, and who are at the mercy or the blind destructive forces of capitalism, until those masses themselves learn to fight this root of religion, fight the rule of capital in all its forms, in a united, organised, planned and conscious way."
Lenin was convinced that religion would be obsolete just as soon as the capitalist system could be eradicated.
Looking back through history, we can see the results of such a way of thinking. Under Communist rule, the Soviet Union became one of the most Godless and immoral nations in the history of the world -- a struggle that affects modern-day Russia and most of the Baltic states to this day.
In the Summer of 2006, I had the privilege of traveling to Ukraine to participate in a mission campaign. Some of the images I captured on my digital camera are priceless to me. One such image is the photo you see at above, depicting two Ukrainian gospel preachers handing out literature to the townspeople in Svitlovodsk, Ukraine.
As we were handing out these tracts and invitations to a gospel meeting, I witnessed this scene and noted the significance: Here are two young men who grew up under Communist rule doing God's work in the shadow of the likeness of Vladimir Lenin! The poetic beauty of this scene was not lost on me, I can tell you that!
So while Lenin has long since passed over into eternity (1924), and while his fleshly tabernacle remains preserved and on display in Moscow, his soul and his ideology have gone the way of the world. Each of us -- from the most humble servant to the head of state -- will stand before God to give an account on that great day.
So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10, ESV
Throughout the former Soviet empire, imposing bronze statues pay tribute to a man many former Soviets still love and admire. However, even the great Vladimir Lenin is not exempt from the great gathering of "all" spoken of in the Scripture above.
And since you and I will be there in the gathering of "all," should we not also "make it our aim to please him" (v. 9)?
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