What on a breakpoint, a daily look and an ever-changing culture through the lens of

unchanging truth? For the Colston Center, I'm John Stone Street.

Almost 50 years ago now, renowned Soviet dissident Alexander Solzhen gave a famous commencement

address at Harvard University. In it he argued that communism was not the only nor even the primary

problem that should be concerning Americans. Instead, they should be concerned about the rapid moral decline that was evident across the

West.

In Solzhen's diagnosis, the West had lost what he called civil courage, had exchanged

eternal truths for what he called a relentless and

superficial legalism. Now the absence of civil courage played out in three

tragic realities, said Sultanizan. First, the worship of unbridled freedom freedom, second the decadence of art in a corrosive pop culture,

and finally the lack of great statesmen.

And that last point especially, the lack of courageous leaders worthy of respect has only become

more evident in the year since Olsonitson

and delivered that speech.

Judges more loyal to political agendas than to the law.

Political leaders embroiled in scandals and affairs,

clergy from all sides of Christendom,

guilty of abusing those they're called to care for,

or removed from ministry for all kinds of other failings.

And more recently, those who've typically

been the most trusted among us, you know, doctors,

counselors, educators, are now encouraging minors to hate and even mutilate their own bodies

...