Comm20- Fata Morgana, a mirage to the wanderer– be warned; One has come from over there

      This concludes from Part 19 (Table of Contents in Part 1), a series presenting a new translation of C.F.W. Walther's Communism and Socialism from 1878. — Walther now summarizes the truth about these false ideologies. 
      These lectures should be required reading for every Christian school child today, not only for their history lessons, but more importantly for their spiritual content and warnings.  Walther does not exaggerate or falsify history, he quotes from the writings of many of the proponents of Communism.  He properly presents the ideology of Communism.  Neither does he allow Holy Scripture to be falsified.

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Translation of Walther's 1878 Communismus und Socialismus by BackToLuther primarily using DeepL online translation service; highlighting and bolding are my emphases, red text within square brackets [ ] are my comments, underlining is Walther's emphasis.

C.F.W. Walther's Communism and Socialism, (Part 20, p. 57-59)

Conclusion

Fata Morgana or mirage: Communism

So let every Christian, if he still allows himself to be warned, be seriously warned against the agitations of the Socialists and Communists. Their goal is a mirage [Fata Morgana], i.e. an apparition that shimmers sweetly in the distance, glowing golden and can be seen as if it were a fairy castle. The poor wanderer uses his last strength again to reach the beautiful castle. At last he reaches the place where the magical airy structure [Luftgebilde] had made itself visible. And, lo and behold, it has disappeared, and the deceived wanderer now finds himself in the more desolate night and distress.

Well then, my dear brethren, let us therefore pursue another goal — that goal which our heavenly calling in Christ Jesus ​​holds up to us.  This is not a mirage, this is reality, this is truth.  For many do say: “No one from over there has ever come over here to tell us whether there is another life.”  But there has come One from over there, He is our Lord [page 60] Jesus Christ, who has torn the bonds of death and called out to us all: “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” [John 11:25] Well, Jesus going before us, we will follow Him over mountain and valley, through good fortune and bad, [1947-78] through darkness and light! At last the eternal blessed light will shine upon us, then all our tears will be dried, all our sighs will be stilled, and eternal, everlasting joy will have entered our hearts. May He, our Lord Jesus Christ, who has acquired this for us, help us to attain it. Amen.

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Links: The complete series may now be download as one DOCX file here, German text DOCX here.

     What did I learn from these lectures of Walther to his congregation? 

1. What was going on in 1878: labor unrest, Communist agitation, just like our racial agitators today;
2. the logical fallacies, to any reasonable person, of Communist/Socialist ideology; 
3. Scripture truths from lessons of the Bible, refuting the Communists' misuse of it against Christians; especially the Biblical teaching on personal property was helpful. When the Communists condemn "Capitalism", what they really mean is to condemn all personal property, an anti-Biblical ideology.
4. the fallacies of the charges against Christianity  
5. A tremendous array of lessons from proper History, tracing, from the beginning of time, most of the major efforts to promote the ideology of Communism. I will remember Cain and Abel.

      I spent many weeks, days, and hours preparing this series because I wanted a proper presentation that is illustrated and hyperlinked for ease of reference in the future when I need to review again just what the deceptions of Communism  and Socialism are, and how to stand on God's Word against all lies.  May others also benefit from this as I have, and Walther's prayer be our prayer: "May He, our Lord Jesus Christ, who has acquired this for us, help us to attain it. Amen." And Amen!