THE SURGE OF INIQUITY - Gunerius C. Lee

The surge of iniquity
Rolls o’er the land
Like the billows of ocean
Upon the wide strand.
Like the wave that oft follows
The earthquakes dread shock,
Like the Deluge of old
Inundating the rock.

All nations are sick
From the ravage of sin:
Nearly all are preparing for
War’s savage din.
Holy things are profaned
In high places and low
And Christianity’s used
As veneer, just for show.

And here in our land
So exceedingly blest
By an All-loving Father
Who gave us the best,
Very few give Him thanks
For his generous love
Or admit that our blessings
Have come from above.

The powers of darkness
Triumphant appear
Pressing forward wit boldness
Into every sphere
Of endeavor that men
Are inclined to pursue
In effort to blast
What is noble and true.

Let Christians awake
To the dangers ahead—
To the net that the enemy
Satan, has spread
To entice our dear children
And youth into sin—
For unless we can beat him
He surely will win.

Now Satan has helpers
Or slaves, I should say,
Whose main duty it is
To lead others astray.
And whose main joy in life
And whose main heart’s desire
Is to lead the most
Innocent into the mire.

That coffers may ring
With the coin of their prey
They will show themselves
Friendly and kind in a way
Thus deceiving the young
Who are easily led
To regard them as friends
Who are robbers instead.

These robbers will pilfer
Not only the wealth
But will undermine
Character, habits, and health
Of the youngsters whose parents
Such apathy show
That they seem not to care
Where their children may go.

Our civil authorities
Local and state
Seldom show proper care
Or concern in their fate.
But since parents allow things
To go as they will
Then the easier way
Is for them to keep still.

This challenge should ring out
To all Christian youth:
That they rise in defense
Of all honor and truth
Taking part with a will
In the fight against wrong
With full faith in our Master
Who maketh us strong.

The church will soon wither
And die in our land
Unless youth will enlist
In that militant band
Which shall fight with one weapon
—The Savior’s own word—
It shall cleave flesh and bone
Like the blades of a sword.

As Luther found courage
And strength in the word
To reveal to the people
Where Papacy erred
And to hold his position
Against every foe
Tho’ they used every means
That they might lay him low.

So, too, should his followers
Lutheran folk
Gather courage and strength
To throw off the dread yoke
That our sin has so treacherously
Placed upon man—
By the use of His word—
‘Tis the Savior’s own plan.

Let’s study the Word, then
With prayerful zeal
For therein doth our
Heavenly Father reveal
His plan of Salvation
By faith in His Word,
Through the work of redemption
By Jesus our Lord.

And pray for the guidance
And strength we may need
To resist all temptations
And earnestly plead
with those who are weaker
To pause and reflect
That they, too, may conquer
And join the elect.

Gunerius C. Lee 1871-1943