Christianity the Antidote to Bolshevism - A Sermon by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Durham

Sep 21, 2026

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Sermon text arguing that Christianity is the antidote to Bolshevism, using Acts iv.12 as the scriptural foundation. It describes early conflict between Christ’s church and a hostile society, focusing on Peter and John before the Sanhedrin and the offense of Christianity’s exclusive claim. The message contrasts the tolerance of ancient religions with Christianity’s uncompromising authority, traces persecution to later Christian ascendancy, and links political changes—monarchy, then democracy—to shifts in Christianity’s fortunes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Christianity the Antidote to Bolshevism

Scriptural foundation: Acts iv., 12

Early conflict and the challenge before the Sanhedrin

Christianity’s exclusiveness, persecution, and later triumph

Political development and its effects on Christianity

97-84239-15Durham,Lord Bishop of Christianity the antidote tobolshevism London [n.d.] # COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISIONBIBLIOGRAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED·EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD OCLC: 37817912Rec stat:nEntered:19971021Replaced:19971021Used:19971021Type: aELvl: KSrce:dAudn:Ctrl:Lang: engBLvl: mForm: aConf:0Biog:MRec:Ctry: enkCont:GPub:Fict:0Indx: 0Desc: aIlls:Fest: (0DtSt: sDates:1926,1 040PR1 vc PR12 007h vbd vd a ve f vf a---vg b vh a vi cvj p\# 3 0073h vb d vd a ve f vf a---vg b vh a vi a vjp4007h vb d vd a ve f vf a---vg b h a vi bvj p049PR1Aermn1000Durham,vc Lord Bishop of.24510Christianity the antidote to bolshevism vh [microform]/vc aby TheLord Bishop of Durham.8260London :b Anti-Socialist and Anti-Communist Union,rc val93008 p.;c 21 cm.\#10500Caption title.11533Microfilm.b New York,N.Y.:vc Columbia University Libraries,wdtobe filmed in 1997.ve 1 microfiim reel ;35 mm. 」「「「 Reproductions may not be made without permission from Columbia University Libraries. RESTRICTIONS ON USE: # TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA 35mmREDUCTION RATIO: 9:1MAGE PLACEMENT:IA(IIA IB IIB FILM SIZE: DATE FILMED: II-I0-97INITIALS: BB TRACKING\#: 29085 FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. 3083CZ乃.× 831 ## CHRISTIANITY THE ANTIDOTETO BOLSHEVISM. A SERMON BY ## THE RIGHT REV.THE LORD BISHOP OF DURHAM Preached in WESTMINSTER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHOn SUNDAY EVENING,March 7th.1926 "In none other is there salvation."—Acts iv.,12. THE frst contact of Christ's Church with a hostile societyhas unique interest and importance.We see at a glancewhat features of the new religion were most offensive topublic opinion,and collided most violently with the"use andwont"of life. In the Book of the Acts we have this firstconfict vividly described by one who had with his own eyeswatched its progress,S.Luke—for by that name I shall notscruple to describe the author of the Acts—had been the com-panion of S.Paul in many scenes of missionary enterprise,and,though he does not appear to have actually witnessed the riotraised in Ephesus by Demetrius and his craftsmen (in which thisconfict was dramatically disclosed),he had evidently receivedfrom the Apostle himself the account of the episode which hehas included in his narrative.In the passage from which thetext is taken we see the Apostles,Peter and John,confrontingthe Sanhedrin and meeting the formidable challenge,“By whatpower,or in whose name"they had healed the lame man“atthe door of the temple which is called Beautiful."Their answerdiscloses the rocks of stumbling which the Gospel contained,alike for Jews and for Gentiles.For the first,there was the 2 affrmation of the Messiahship of that Jesus whom the JewishHierar chy through the agency of Pilate had foully murdered onthe Cruss;for the last,there was the uncompromising claim thatJesus vas alone the rightful Lord of men,and that no rival toHis sole authority could be tolerated.This distinctive offenceboth to Jew and Gentile is uttered in S.Peter's words:"He isthe stc ne which was set at naught by you the builders,whichwas made the head of the corner.And in none other is theresalvatin:for neither is there any other name under heaven,that is given among men,wherein we must be saved." The exclusiveness of Christianity ran counter to the easytolerar ce of ancient religion.When exhibited in connectionwith a creed which commanded the acceptance of no more thanthe sr all and universally odious nation of the Jews,with whomat first the followers of Jesus were naturally associated,it was notmerels repulsive but also apparently absurd.As the world cameto see more of the new religion,and discovered that its moralitywas as little compatible with the accustomed practice of societyas its creed was consist

FAQs

Which Bible verse anchors the sermon’s main claim?

The sermon anchors its message in Acts iv., 12: “In none other is there salvation.”

How does the sermon explain why Christianity provoked offense among Jews and Gentiles?

It points to the offense of Christianity’s exclusive claims: for Jews, affirmation of the Messiahship of Jesus whom the Jewish hierarchy had condemned, and for Gentiles, the uncompromising assertion of Jesus’ sole authority.

How does the sermon connect political change to Christianity’s fortunes?

It argues that as government shifted from monarchies and hierarchies, Christianity’s ability to sustain traditional morality weakened, and later developments under democracy further altered Christianity’s position.

Sep 21, 2026

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