From Marxism to Murder
He taught philosophy in the 1960s and ’70s in Ayacucho, Peru, championing Marxist ideas and causes in the classroom that spilled out into real life. Abimael Guzmán would later form Sendero Luminoso, or the Shining Path, and in 1980, he and his group declared war on Peru, its government, and anyone, rich or poor, who stood in their way. Following the steps of China’s Mao Zedong, Guzmán believed in unmitigated violence by any means to create a socialist state. Twenty years of chaos ensued, and 70,000 Peruvians died. Today, eighty-five-year-old Abimael Guzmán sits in a maximum-security prison in Lima, Peru, still callous, still cruel.
Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Guzmán dwelt much on Marxism. It filled his mind and his heart and seeped into his speech and his teachings. It was only expected, then, that he would later act on what he believed and use it to influence and justify the murder of countless Peruvians.
Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” A renewed mind is rooted in Christ and will produce actions rooted in love, servanthood, and sacrifice. Consider this: Abimael Guzmán’s Marxist mind led to Peru’s greatest tragedy. How many other world catastrophes were the result of someone’s faulty reasoning? How might your thinking affect someone else today and in the future? Are you reading, studying, and meditating on God’s Word and letting it continue to renew your mind?
About the Author
Tracy Pavel is a missionary on deputation to Chile. Connect with her at tracypaver@gmail.com
