Bread Over Freedom? Years ago, a cartoon appeared in a Russian newspaper picturing a fork in the road. One path was labeled freedom; the other path was labeled sausage. As we might guess, the path to freedom had few takers; the path to sausage was crowded with footprints. When given a choice people will choose bread and sausage above the free market and individual liberties. The promise of bread gets votes, even if the bread is at the expense of freedom. The people of Nazi Germany weren’t any more barbaric, uncivilized, or depraved than any other Western nation of the early Twentieth Century, yet the Nazi regime will forever serve as an example of brutality and extreme racism run amok. What led so many people to such extreme ends? According to Dr. Lutzer, the German people’s progression from civility to barbarity was not extraordinary, and more than a few benchmarks from their transition can be observed in present day American society (Do any of these sound familiar?): - The Church is silenced - The economy is king - The lawmakers determine behaviors - The media controls beliefs - The Gospel and nationalism become inextricably tied to each other - And yet, heroes still have power This short, manageable book does not suggest the United States is definitely marching toward authoritarian oblivion, but that we — especially we believers — must be vigilant in our stand for truth, justice, and righteousness. We must take note of these lessons from history. The parallels are real, but the conclusion is not a foregone one.
Erwin W. Lutzer is senior pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and Loyola University, he is the author of numerous books, including the Gold Medallion Award winner "Hitler's Cross" and the best seller "One Minute After You Die". He is also a teacher on radio programs heard on more than 700 stations throughout the United States and the world, including "Songs in the Night," "The Moody Church Hour," and the daily feature "Running to Win." He and his wife, Rebecca, live in the Chicago area and have three married children and seven grandchildren.
Rebecca Lutzer
Rebecca Lutzer is the wife of Erwin W. Lutzer, senior pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago, where they have enjoyed 28 years of ministry. For more than 30 years, Rebecca has been a pastor's wife and has used her gifts of hospitality, mercy, and teaching to minister to many women. She has taught Bible studies, counseled and discipled women, organized conferences and seminars, and spoken to women's groups. Rebecca was born and grew up in Dallas, Texas, where she attended Dallas Bible College. She is an RN and enjoyed working as a surgical nurse for several years. God provided numerous opportunities for her to bring comfort and peace to those going into surgery by sharing the love of Christ with them. It has always been Rebecca's passion to teach women how to grow in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. The heart of her message focuses on helping women learn how to live faithfully in the seasons of life, waiting for God to meet their needs in His time and way. She is the mother of three lovely married daughters and the grandmother of six adorable grandchildren. Rebecca and her husband coauthored "Jesus, Lover of a Woman's Soul," a book about Jesus' real relationships with women throughout His life--and how He changed their worlds.
