Editorial October 20, 1962 Issue

Psychological Warfare

Ralph E. Wagers

Psychological warfare is not new. The attempt to intimidate others, to confuse and discourage, accuse and misrepresent, is as old as history. The Psalmist spoke of those in his day "which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war." And he added, "They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips" (Ps. 140:2, 3).

When Nehemiah undertook to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, he met with a type of psychological warfare that has been exercised wherever a method short of military action has been utilized. But he knew the nature of such a method and how to thwart it. Confronted with one threat after another, he and his workers united in prayer to God. They set a watch against their opponents day and night. Furthermore, "they which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon" (Neh. 4:17).

It is, perhaps, not so much against Christian teachings that the carnal mind would direct its opposition as against making these teachings practical—incorporating them into the lives of the people. It is from this evil intent that we must defend ourselves while devoting our lives to the constructive side of establishing Christianity in the world.

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