[Updated 23 November, 2020.] The fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November, 1989 and the break-up of the Soviet Union on 26 December, 1991 seemed to mean the failure of communism in Europe in general.  It continued in Asia, notably in China, although with a duplicitous and aggressive control of capitalist enterprise, including an economic colonialism in Africa.  Western Europe continued with various forms of socialist governments.  European countries have typically supported a democratic socialism, which affirms democracy by the people and big government as the means by which a country can bring about more equity and care for the poor.  This is all an ongoing experiment in theory and in practice that never manages to get the same results, and the debates continue. Communism, however, always meant the oppression and persecution of Christians, whereas many Christians have hoped to find in socialism a good form of government because of its purported concern for the poor and a more equitable j

Christians speak of various practices or spiritual disciplines that develop a believer’s spiritual life, such as prayer, worship, good works, and reading Scripture.   We need to distinguish between activities, practices, and skills when we consider spiritual disciplines.   An ‘activity’ suggests no discipline, no regularity, no discipline—it is something one might engage in without training or devotion.   A discipline entails all of these.   It is spiritual when directed to one’s relationship to God.   One becomes an expert or craftsman through the disciplined development of habits and skills.   The study of Scripture involves certain disciplines of reading that guide the practice of reading Scripture.   Doing so over time forms a habit and results in some skill.   By understanding the study of Scripture as a spiritual discipline, we see that discipline is needed to become good at the practice.   Like any discipline, learning, exercises, and effort are involved.   Also, the reading