The Russians launched an unmanned spacecraft designed to reach the moon ahead of the American astronauts. The competition between Soviets and Americans in the space race has been going on for years. Apart from questions of national pride, the psychological advantages of space superiority by way of prestige in international relations, and the possible misuse of this new knowledge for military purposes, the competition is healthy. If United States-Soviet relations could be maintained on a sensible basis of trying to outdo each other peacefully in sports, science, and improvement of social and economic conditions, this would be all to the good. Each nation would have its ups and downs, its victories and defeats. And they could be taken in stride with sportsmanlike conduct.
This vision of the ideal is obviously utopian—for the same reason that all human idealisms cannot be perfectly realized: sin. It is clear that resolving the sin problem may not result in the solution of all human problems. But it is clearer still that the failure to eliminate the sin problem perpetuates and worsens human problems. That’s why Christians continue to insist that sin ultimately is at the heart of all of our problems—for the Soviets as well as for Americans and all others. The Christian message proclaims that Christ has solved the sin problem—if only men will avail themselves of what has already been done.
