My long awaited response

So there was some disagreement  about my post here regarding how we should react to the purges being wrought upon our bloated government bureaucracy.  I expressed concern that our approach to certain professions, institutions, and those therein has been counterproductive.  I also stated that I'm not a fan of mocking those who were just informed it's to the unemployment line for them.  

First, thanks for keeping it civil.  I never mind disagreements.  One of the best parts of the Internet if used correctly - finding out that your carefully constructed ideas might not always pass the first test when contacting other views.

With that said, I think I wasn't far from the mark, even if some might quibble with a few details.  There are two basic reasons for my concern about the reactions I'm seeing from those to the right of center.  One is based on consistent principles, one on practical observations.  Since the first post ended up looking at the more practical lesson of this approach not working, let's handle the principles part in this post. 

First, my point wasn't that we can't - and shouldn't - look at the hot mess dumpster fire that is the modern status quo and its disastrous lack of ability to move our society forward.  I have no problem cutting waste, undoing the abuses we saw, holding people accountable, putting an end to the mendacity of people arguing that free speech is dangerous because it might enable those fascists over there.  And people, including conservatives, were right to look aghast at the treatment given to people who were suffering over these last several years.   I think the outrage at that abuse was more than warranted, and the Left paid a big price for the haughty intolerance we witnessed for the last decade or so.  But here's the thing. Let's step back to some story time for a minute, and then perhaps you'll see where I'm coming from. 

I entered seminary in 1993.  Contrary to lame media stereotypes, all Evangelicals are not the same.  Nor are they all rightwing Republican conservatives.  In fact, theological and social and political liberalism were well represented at the seminary when I came through the doors in my first J-Term in July, 1993.  J-Terms being crash courses where an entire semester is crammed into three weeks in the respective 'J' months.  

I entered the J-Term before Dr. Al Mohler began as president of the seminary.  He brought in both a conservative, and a Calvinist, revival that sought to put an end to the influence that the more liberal elements of the denomination had enjoyed for the previous decade or two.   

When I first arrived there, many of the students, and those professors who were a bit more conservative, told a tale of woe about their experiences during the previous years.  They were marginalized, mocked, made fun of.  Conservative professors were often hounded out of the seminary and had difficulty getting hired in the first place.  Liberals held the power and used it unjustly, shutting down debate and hamstringing an open academic environment that allowed all views to be represented.  Fair enough.  Those were valid complaints, especially if the problems were coming from the top down. 

But guess what happened once Dr. Mohler came into his office.  That's right.  Those same conservatives immediately began culling the herds of the more liberal professors and even entire departments.  Professors were pressured to leave.  No new professors anywhere close to center left were hired. And within a couple years, most had been eliminated and the few straggling students who were close to the left were as ostracized as a communist at a McCarthy cookout.  So many professors were eliminated that when I went back to get my PhD in historical theology, there weren't enough qualified professors to fulfill the requirements for a tract in that subject.  

Now, I have never liked that sort of thing.  That 'you're stupid and evil for doing what is just fine when I do it' that has been mother's milk for the post-Western Left, but a cancerous rot on the rectitude of our society. It reminds me of this scene in the television series MASH.  An AWOL solider trying to get home to his unfaithful wife holds up in the camp's mess tent during the weekly services.  When the MPs arrive to take him back, he invokes the protection of sanctuary.  The problem is, that appeal doesn't work in a mess tent church.  Fr. Mulcahy, however, takes his side and demands every chance be given to him as they call up the chain of command for a second, third and even fifth opinion.  During this time, the MPs get angrier, and those trying to help more desperate.  Finally, the final word comes from the top - a mobile mess tent church does not warrant sanctuary in this case.  And this is what happens next:

That's something I think the Christian Faith should tell the world as we witness all those lofty ideals the World has used against the Faith over the last century now being tossed aside like so many old shoes. 

But the point is, don't claim a principle or idea when it is convenient, and then toss it aside when not.  If you've followed me for any time, you'll know I'm convinced that the lack of integrity that defines our modern age is one of our modern age's Achilles heals.  The idea that we can talk out of all three sides of our mouth, invoke 'words speak louder than actions', follow the 'do as I say, not as I do ' principle, or just call people sinful bastards because they call people sinful bastards, all chip away at the ability to ground the Church, society, our nation, even our families in a deeply rooted stone foundation that will stand against the storms and challenges of life and history. 

During the last four years, the Left became almost giddy over its willingness to tell people to screw themselves when they were suffering or in some ways harmed by the developments being driven by our progressive institutions.  At best, tens of millions of Americans were ignored who were suffering under the Biden administration, from Covid measures, from the border crisis, from rampant crime rates, from the disastrous skyrocketing inflation, all while watching the world blow itself halfway to hell and America stand by impotently unable to do anything about it.  

At worst you actually had those on the Left - including Christians and Catholics - openly mock and attack those trying to speak to the suffering.  I lost track of how many times I saw people informed that any concern on their part about floundering job prospects was merely the result of crying over losing their white, often male, privilege.  Charges of racism, sexism, phobic bigotry, and anything under the sun were leveled at people observing that Biden seemed a bit slow on the draw or that the immigration crisis is hurting people on both sides of the border.  Women concerned about being put upon by men in women's garb? Comes from being a transphobic fascist, don't it. Sucks to be you people I guess, get used to the street because that's where you belong having been part of the oppressing class for so many years. That approach to people hurting was something conservatives rightly condemned and, quite frankly, benefited from in November. 

Again, I have no problem asking workers to account for their daily work, or cutting excess waste in anything, or even burning the Department of Education to the ground because it's clearly failed and failed miserably in its mission. 

With that said, let's not forget these are people we're talking about.  Because that was a major lament and valid criticism from the Right over the last four years. These women objecting to being thrown up against men in athletic competitions, or shower rooms for that matter, are real people. People being hurt by the crime and general upheaval brought by the immigration crises are people.  Those who lost their jobs and livelihoods because of the lockdowns were people.  People who were often ignored by the Left/Press, and sometimes outright mocked and derided as they watched their prospects dwindle, were people nonetheless. 

So let's not turn right around do the same thing. Beyond admitting that not everyone being impacted is a leftwing commie, it's enough to acknowledge that many are no doubt just people.  People trying to get by and earn a living. The importance of working hard and providing for a family is itself praiseworthy. People who are doing what conservatives value - trying to work hard, provide for the family, and make a better life for themselves and their loved ones - should be celebrated in this day and age.  Even if it's in the government, schools, or heck, the media. Even, dare I say, if it's done on the other side of the aisle. 

Conservatives gained the upper moral hand by pointing out the suffering over the last several years, and rightly condemning the outright smugness and dismissiveness of the Left to that suffering, not to mention those on the Left telling the ones suffering that they were getting what they deserved.  Now don't do the same thing.  Not because of the obvious fact that this could backfire on us - once again - in a few more election cycles.  But because it's the right thing to do.  As conservatives made clear for the last several years.  

NOTE:  I removed the last paragraph, in which I mused on the broader implications of the Christian call by invoking the Good Samaritan.  One of the great teachings, it can be used to unpack an endless number of teachings and principles for the aspiring Christian.  But in so doing, it can also bring many different views and discussions to the table.  When the first comment  out of the box is about that, I don't want a postscript paragraph to become the focus.  Not that there is a problem with the comment.  It's certain a fair one and a valid point.  I've just learned that sometimes, on the Internet, you can write out War and Peace, and then add a Sunday comic as an afterthought, and the comic becomes the focus.  So in deference to the larger point of not doing what we so rightly condemned when done by the Left, I'll bring that last paragraph back some other time when we can look at that most famous of parables and have at it.   

As a general rule

Those upset about this in our schools:

Are fine with this in our schools:

And vice versa. Therein lies the division. 

Our choice in a nutshell

Choose God and choose life.  Embrace the Gospel.  Flee the hellish culture of death that sees life as important only when expedient.  Carl Olson chose well: 

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice, and clinging to him; for that means life to you and length of days... " 

Deuteronomy 30.19-20a

The time to choose is fast arriving

To side with the Lamb of God or the Beast of the Pit

Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed.

And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.

It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived.

He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

Revelation 13.1-18

Don't worry, I'm not going all premillennial dispensationalism on you.  I took classes and seminars on the textual development of the Greek New Testament.  It's one of those little majors I spend little time harping on here at the blog.  But it is an interest of mine.

Now I'm not looking for helicopters and The Beatles by reading between the lines of Revelation.  But it was written and included in Sacred Scripture for a reason.  Long reason and short, the church was by its writing routinely being targeted by the Roman Empire.  Many believed a faith that hadn't delivered in the 'eternal life' promise wasn't worth dying for, and jumping ship wasn't unheard of.  

Using the imagery of apocryphal literature, John weaves a wild phantasmagoric ride through a very symbolic end of times, but with the same consistent messaging:  keep hope.  It will get worse before it gets better.  But stay close to God.  Many won't.   Many will curse God rather than repent, while others will abandon God.  But don't let that be you.  No matter how many join Baal, Moloch or Ashtoreth, including apostacy, stay with the new covenant.  

As we watch our society and our world lurch down the next step of the ladder, it's worth brushing the dust off this last book of the Scriptures and pondering that message. It's not going to be easy, but it is as simple as that. 

Modern Christianity and Roe in a nutshell: A final reflection

When  I compare the reaction to the Roe decision, I notice something.  Among those modernist Christians who have swung to the Left, there is an almost dearth of celebrations over the abolition of Roe and how it might save even one unborn life.  On the other hand, the reaction by so many traditional pro-life believers, is prayers, rejoicing, and celebrating that even one baby might be saved, or one life kept from the hellpit of our modern debauchery and decadence. In thinking on that, I have come to a sad conclusion. 

Traditional pro-life Christians try to find things like this to celebrate:

While new, modernist, post-historical Christians spend their time defending this:

I'd say that's about right.  Nothing.  Nothing I have seen in the many reactions to the Roe decision suggests there is any error in this observation.

I was given a link to this piece.  It's a somewhat whimsical comparison to the destruction of the Death Star and the end to Roe.  We know ending Roe doesn't end everything.  Nor did destroying the Death Star for that matter.  But for anyone who cares about All Life, there should at least be some happiness over even one baby not aborted.  Somehow, some woman - or birthing person - might not get an abortion.  And isn't even one baby saved worth rejoicing over? 

Apparently not.  Since almost everyone who has cozied up to the modern Left found anything to say other than a simple praise over the decision.  Except for Deacon Gredyanus, who did celebrate the decision before echoing pro-choice talking points about the problematic ramifications of the decision.  Otherwise, not a single Christian I know who has aligned with the Left said anything positive about the SCOTUS decision in a clear and explicit way.  

Not one bothered to at least say if it helps save one baby, that's a good thing.  They either posted vague, strange, ramblings (my old classmates Greg Thornbury and Russ Moore), or shifted the posts and regurgitated old pro-abortion talking points about sexist men or pro-lifers not carrying about babies.  That was all.  Even Pope Francis's response was watered down and restrained.  Not a single praise over the possibility that even one baby might be saved.  Not from Mark Shea.  Not from Sean Dailey.  Not from our very Catholic president.  Not from Dawn Eden.  Not from Simcha Fisher.  Nobody I know who swings left of center had a modicum of praise for what unborn life might be saved.  That, to me, screams volumes. 

So point and match goes to the pro-lifers.  Most I know aren't fooled over what is ahead.  They know the fight is only beginning.  They also make sure the world knows we always have been about helping the moms and the babies. Sometimes they have done this to such an extreme they echo the objection from pro-choicers.  But on the whole, they prayed, rejoiced, and took the attitude that if even one baby is saved, or this gives someone second thoughts about indulging in our modern AIDS era sex and drugs culture, then it's a big win.  

Goats.  Sheep.  It's about more than just giving a drink to someone who is thirsty.  And unless Pope Francis's little asides about there probably not being a Hell are true, I'd say the broad and narrow gates are being defined as sharply as they ever have been in the 2000 year history of the Faith. 

Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Matthew 12.33

Suddenly it's fine to pray for someone's death

In this case, Christianity Today lets us know that praying for Putin to kick the bucket and do so quickly can be a right biblical thing to do.

Here's my thing.  I know from a purely historical, traditional, pre-modern Judeo-Christian understanding of Creation and salvation, such an attitude could be, and was sometimes, advocated.  My problem is, since I've been a Christian, at no time have mainstream Christians condoned such attitudes.  Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, or Christianity Today. 

In fact, when people cheered for the death of Osama bin Laden, more than a few Christian leaders and pundits and publications bemoaned such attitudes.  We pray for people, we don't cheer when they die.  We certainly don't pray they die.  God loves everyone.  All can be saved.  We end the death penalty because this life and salvation are practically the same.  We no more pray for someone's death than we say it's good to execute them because it forces their hand on reconciling with the Almighty.

And on and on.  But the greatest thing about modernity, especially as incarnate in the political Left, is its 'here today, gone later today' approach to principles, ethics, standards and anything else you want. So you heard it said yesterday that it's entirely unchristian to pray that someone should die? Well by the sacred dogma of progress, today we say that it's perfectly acceptable  to pray for someone to die since it's today, and it's convenient. 

Again, I'm not saying the debate was settled.  I'm not saying there were never arguments from parts of the church advocating for the old ninja warrior approach to our faith, including death penalties and praying that the Hitlers of the world meet with an untimely end.

I'm saying those Christian outlets that tried to stay relevant to our modern sensitivities  - and that was the bulk of most mainstream traditions - tended dispense with those olden ways. Often they outright condemned such thinking.  Even now, I'm trying to recall anyone of credible worth arguing that modern, 20th Century Christians should pray for the death of someone.  

I know, I know.  The article is very agreeable in its tone.  It's careful.  It's cautious.  It's trying to not come out and say it directly and with gusto that we should gleefully petition Heaven for Putin's quick entry into the netherworld.  But its attempt to open up this possibility when I'm at pains to think of anyone mainstream coming close since I've been a Christian, shows just how almost anything we took for granted is on the chopping block.  Even if it's topics Christians were forced by the world to reconsider being reconsidered again because the world says so. 

My private prayer?  That after several generations of Christians trying to modify the Faith to keep up with the Joneses, we'll stop it.  It hasn't worked well, and the world has shown itself to be a rather fickle and unreliable guide. 

Mark Shea, Gollum and a Lenten reflection

The late M. Scott Peck once wrote that the character Gollum, from The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, "is perhaps the finest depiction of evil ever written."  It was from his book People of the Lie. In that book, Peck took a look at evil from the view of psychoanalysis.  Much of that appraisal of Gollum could be wrapped up in the singular obsession Gollum had for the One Ring to the exclusion of almost anything other priority or action. 

I thought of that when I saw this over at The American Catholic:

Whew.  Tough to stomach.  Tough to imagine that this is what Mark came away with after that horrible news of mothers and babies killed and maimed in a war zone.  I think Donald McClarey says it right: 

Imagine hearing about a possible war atrocity and thinking that this is an opportunity to bash your domestic political opponents.

That's serious Gollum level obsession there on Mark's part.  I would like to think that Mark doesn't see every bomb and every dead child as an awesome chance to attack those white conservatives he so clearly despises. But I have a hard time doing so.

A word of warning to all of us:  Mark can make us rather complacent because, well, most of us aren't Mark, so we imagine we're not doing all that bad.  But as Elrond said of Sauron, even Sauron was not evil from the beginning.  Mark was not always this way, no matter what you think of him.  Why Mark is where he is now, I don't know.  How he incarnates almost everything he once condemned about Internet discourse, while spending his online life attacking so many things and people he once cherished or valued, I don't know.  I have my gut feelings, but I could never be sure.

What I do know is that I don't want to end up like Mark, or the many on Catholic sites and outlets who know what Mark is and cheer him all the more because he's on their side.  That sort of thing is as good as giving Jesus two black eyes and a bloody nose.

Therefore, especially during Lent, let us all reflect and make sure we're not heading down that broad path that Mark and so many of his supporters have chosen, and all for politics and defending the latest media narrative.  That could also include those fighting the latest media narrative, or siding so passionately with the other side of the political aisle.  As believers, our sights are supposed to be set on higher things.  Things that tell us the appropriate response to the awfulness of Mark's above Twitter post is simply to pray for his soul. 

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  Colossians 3.1-4

Mark Shea is absolutely ...

 Correct: 

Credit where it is due.  

The Christian Faith is a religion of doctrine and belief.  It is Truth incarnate.  But belief is a verb, not a noun.  It's only valid in that you live your faith.  See James.  And living the faith requires everything the Lord commands.  It requires mercy and charity.  It also demands we not follow the sins of the world.  It also insists we don't enable those who indulge in the sins of the world.  

There are many aspects of being a true, practicing believer.  And one of the most important is that we make sure not to step over Lazarus on our way to the party.  Nor do we cross the street to avoid the man beaten by robbers.  Rather, like the Good Samaritan, we cross the road to help, to heal, to aid, to stand beside and minister to.  And always so that the sinners or tax collectors we encounter will leave their lives of sin and believe.  And by belief, don't' forget, we mean a verb, not a noun. 

FWIW, if this is what Mark spent his time focusing on, you'd find no greater supporter of Mark Shea's ministry endeavors than this former Protestant/Agnostic. 

Laura Klassen contuinues to be a bright star in the pro-life movement

And more courageous than most who wear the label 'pro-life advocate.' 

The Pro-Life movement, which is not a heresy, has certainly got its work cut out.  We live in an age where old understandings of human life and its value are being overturned by forces with no concern about human life or its value at all, unless it befits the individual in question.  Hence the nations banning capital punishment are generally the same ones falling over themselves to broaden abortion rights, suicide rights, and flirting with euthanasia for the worst of these. Those who align with this modern culture of death are left with repeating the lies and slanders used by pro-abortion activists against those who would protect the least of these.

One lie is that pro-lifers don't give a rip about poor mothers or starving babies.  As much as I've asked for stats to back up that claim, I've never had anyone provide me with the data to prove it.  And as if to make sure that lie is shown for the BS it is, Ms. Klassen does yeoman's work making sure mothers-to-be of any stripe are taken care of and new mothers and new babies are cared for to the best of our abilities.  

So for instance:

I don't know how to link to the Amazon page.  Here is a link to her Facebook account, and perhaps you can go from there.  It might be a widow's mite.  But it's nice for Christian allies of the pro-abortion movement to remember Christ was rather silent on Rome's various measures used to maintain the Pax Romana.  He did, on the other hand, have great praise for that widow who gave what she could to the cause. So as we celebrate that birth of births, here's a chance to help other births that are precious in the eyes of God, even if they rank lower in our modern godless nation. 

And just because these little gems say what most religious leaders are scared to say, here's another reminder of Ms. Klassen's fine (and witty) work for life: 

An Advent greeting from the Pride Community

 Here:

Any movement that takes its name from one of the Seven Deadly Sins should be avoided. 

On the other hand, Pride fits.  Only a movement wrapped in pride would continue in the same direction as millions of its own members die from the very goals the movement has obtained.  In America, the majority who have died of AIDS identify as homosexual.  But that seems to be small potatoes.  As does the endless millions of others who of have died of AIDS worldwide.  Never mind the hundreds of millions of abortions and millions of lives otherwise wrecked and shattered.  It takes a certain golly-gee-wiz to stand on a pile of bodies higher than Everest and still have pride in your accomplishments.  Such is the 21st Century in a nutshell. 

Yet, despite this, the Church has been utterly impotent when it comes to standing up to the carnage and suffering of this sexual revolution.  I'm not sure which is worse. 

Remember kids, Christmas is all about us being saved from such sin, not being given a blank check to embrace it no matter how many die.  That might be the Xmas of the world, but it isn't the Christmas of the Gospel of Christ. 

Know the difference between proclaiming the Faith and exploiting it

Case in point: M. Shea's long awaited piece on the death of Rush Limbaugh.  It was what I imagined, a chance to drag Rush through the mud, accept all accusations against Limbaugh at face value, use them to tar and feather the greater conservative movement, and then dangle the possibility that he might be saved despite his manifold evils as defined by the political Left.  A partisan political hit piece disguised as a reflection with only the thinnest veneer of religion spread about for good measure. 

Now I personally was not a huge Limbaugh fan.  Limbaugh was a phenomenal communicator, and often fun to listen to.  He also did some good things, and made some valid arguments in defense of conservatism.  Chief among my favorite contributions was him being one of the first on the national stage to pull the veil away from the media's already clear and obvious bias as early as the late 1980s.  His presence also put the lie to the Left's proud sermonizing about the importance of respecting other opinions and always championing free expression of ideas, no matter how offensive. 

Rush continued to make some good points here and there over the years.  But, IMHO, he also represented that conservative swing toward putting defense of Corporate Interests at the head of the class and the primary goal over and against any and all other goals and priorities. A tendency that is now swinging around and kicking conservatives in the tail end. 

Nonetheless, not being a fool and a partisan hack, I also knew when criticisms of Rush were valid, and when they were hit pieces by a biased propaganda ministry meant to tear him, like any other dissenters, down to size. Naturally Mark makes no such distinctions. Every attack and every criticism and accusation of Rush as racist, bigot, evil non-liberal man is taken as gospel truth. 

But here's the dangerous part.  In all of this, Mark frames it as 'there but by the grace of God go I.'  He basically says he, too, is the same type of sinner in need of repentance.  I often see that in writings by the faithful, especially of amateur status.  You drag someone through the mud, attack them with both barrels, and then make some vague 'but I, too, am a sinner in need of God's grace' to cover the tracks.  On the surface it seems fair enough, but it isn't.  It is just tossing a cloak of righteousness on a hit piece through appealing to a doctrinal technicality.

If Mark wanted to make his point, he could have written of Limbaugh, and if need be acknowledged what we all know, that Limbaugh was far from perfect and no doubt a sinner like us all.  Then Mark could have publically unpacked his owns sins - by name - and told us of his dire need for God's grace and forgiveness.  Or he could have kept his own sins vague and unnamed, while doing the same for Limbaugh.  Or, if he was unable to deal with Rush's death without doing what he did, he simply could have applied the Thumper rule.  

I know some will say Mark was very specific in the piece about repenting of his days as a conservative.  That's not what I mean.  I don't mean you can say 'Like Limbaugh, there was a time when I, too, was a vile sinner for not realizing the evils of conservatism and conservatives in America, but I'm much better now.'  That's nothing but rationalizing partisanship by acting as if it was only wrong because it was in line with the wrong partisanship. 

No, this is the type of attempted cleverness that does more harm to the Faith's witness than it does good. It also does no good for the individual in question, in this case Mark.  Mark has essentially mocked God by acting as if God isn't aware of what Mark has done and why he has done it. 

If someone dies and you feel the need to go on about his sins, but CYA by ending it with your own need for God's grace, consider the better way to do it.  Either name your own sins, or keep the sins of both general and unnamed.  Or perhaps don't bother dragging the individual's sins over his grave in the first place.  Don't use the Faith, or the teachings of the Church, to trash a dead person and then pull a clever didactical sleight of hand as if it covers up what you have clearly done.  The Gospel of Christ is many things, but a crucifix shaped bludgeon to use against those who run afoul of our political opinions is not one of them.  

Those who want to learn about the Faith and its teachings be warned.  Check your sources for the least acceptable standards.    

Do not be deceived; God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  Galatians 6.7

UPDATE: I was made aware that Rebecca Bratten Weiss has penned a hit piece that makes Mark's piece look charitable by comparison.  No attempts to cover her loathing of Limbaugh and those even marginally right of center with any religious posturing.  It's a political attack post plain and simple.  Bonus fun goes to her last paragraph in which she tries to frame anyone who dares disagree with her pissing on those run afoul of her opinions as part of the problem.  An old trick and one that has never worked with me. 

It's worth noting that most Catholics (and in fact Christians) I've read have either ignored the news of Limbaugh's death, or have posted variations on 'he was good here, problems there, pax to his soul.'  I've seen none elevating Limbaugh to fourth person of the Holy Trinity.  So far these are the worst examples from the faith community.  But so far, at least from what I've seen, the exception to the rule. So there's always hope. 

Exposing Ravi Zacharias

Apparently explosive allegations against the late evangelist Ravi Zacharias have emerged.  It's what we've grown accustomed to in our enlightened era: he inappropriately acted in a sexual manner both by his own actions and in how he approached and touched women.  The women all worked at a massage therapist establishment in Atlanta that Rev. Zacharias frequented for, apparently, medical reasons. 

That's all we know.  The accusations came after his death, so he's not here to defend himself.  Perhaps the accusers are telling the truth.  Perhaps they are not.  In the olden days, that's what made these things difficult, the proverbial he said/they said.  In our legal tradition of presumption of innocence, not to mention the Christian tradition of charity and weariness about judging, it's tough to rush in and crucify him just because he's been accused.  On the other hand, these things happen, women don't always lie, and it could be true.  

Exactly what they seek to gain from this, given that he's dead, isn't something I'm privy to.  In our day and age, where we are no longer a human race but a loosely identified set of ever changing demographic labels whose worth and reputation is always revolving around victim and victimizer, it's even more difficult to ply the waters of justice and grace.

Best to wait and see, and not even come close to making judgements about the accusers or the accused.  In my ministry days, I had the opportunity to work with Rev. Zacharias's ministry, but never met him personally.  Like all, you hope to see the best in people, especially those doing the good work of the Christian Gospel.   We'll see.  Again, in our age of 'rush to judgement faster than the speed of light', it's best to do the proper Christian, American and English Legal tradition thing and wait for evidence and facts to emerge. 

The appropriate Christian response to President Trump's positive Covid test

 

Nothing more, nothing less.  Prayers - the most powerful thing we can bring to the table - lifted up to President Trump, his wife and family, and all who have been near him in recent weeks.  

May God heal them, work through those who would bring physical healing, and give peace to them, their loved ones, and our country as we come together to lift the plight or our president and his family up to the Lord.  And may God bring an end to this pestilence and the divisions and spiritual hurting it has brought. 

How to be a radical Christian

Example A:

I missed the Tennessee day of prayer and fasting

Because I've been cutting down on the news (and being much happier for it).  John C. Wright has a snippet on it.

Good for the Governor Bill Lee.  I have no doubt atheist and other groups are screaming and wanting the governor's head on a platter.  That's because they want to impose their beliefs on us and eradicate or exterminate  thinking and beliefs they hate.

I think now Christians should realize the big con that was secularism.  We were told Christians did terrible things in the past.  We were told it is evil to try to convert others to your religious beliefs.  We were told it is Nazi to impose your values on others, or tell others their values are wrong.  We were told religion should stay in the closet where it belongs.  We were told no religion is True, and none have superior claims to truth. And we ate it up with a spoon.

Now, we are realizing that the ones telling us all these things have every intention of doing them to us.  The days of compromise and concession should be over.  But I fear there will be a great purging as those who are either cowards, or simply don't really believe in the orthodox version of their faith traditions, but merely carry a few of them around in their wallets to use on Sundays (or pick a respective holy day), will abandon the faith.  Many will side with the oppressors, the blasphemers, the heretics, pagans, heathens and enemies of God and Christ.  After all, they have long abandoned the idea that the actual historical Christian Faith is actually true, so why resist?

Those who are able to stay faithful, or realize the great and terrible flaws and mistakes in modern thinking and who return to the faith once for all passed down from the saints, will be there when this world we know collapses as the world the Romans knew collapsed.  And in such a horrific dark age as that will be, those who remain faithful to the true Gospel of Christ will be the ones providing what people truly need. And then the people will finally realize it and return and seek God's face.

Is a day of prayer and fasting a promise of all this?  No.  But it, and the reactions, should be seen as a start for where it will be.  FWIW, here is a nice piece from the National Review.  You don't have to be with a particular tradition of the Christian Faith, be a Christian, or even be religious to be on the side of righteousness and good.  You simply can no longer be on the side of mass slaughter for debauchery, tyranny and the destruction of Christ's church and His people.  That is the line that it's time to draw.

Well done African United Methodists

In some ways, either Africa or Asia remain the best hope for the Christian Faith. Here is a grand example.  There is some hope in other areas like Indonesia, which has a fast growing Christian community despite barriers and obstacles put in by the Islamic dominated goverment. 

Nonetheless, as ones on the front lines of Islamic expansion, or wrangling with life and death issues at the core of survival, they don't seem to have much tolerance for compromise just so everyone at the best parties will think we're swell.   Since that seems to be the biggest weapon used against Christians today - the fear of not being liked by all the beautiful people - it seems that Christian communities in these locations might be the best hope for the future. We'll see. 

The sane and Christian and American response to the bomb threats

Is to pray that nobody is hurt, that the perpetrators are brought to justice, and that we turn around before our country plunges over a point of no return.

That would be the sane response.  I still don't see a logical reason for this to be done by any sane conservative operative.  And yet, it doesn't take away from the fact that it was done.  Republicans and conservative outlets have been right to condemn the actions outright.  President Trump was right to do the same thing.  Any outlets who have carried  the story and not laid blame or used it to attack are right in how they acted.

Anyone who has already condemned without evidence, and worse, moved to call upon voters to defeat Republicans, are the reason why our country teeters on the brink of collapse and violence. Those who sent the bombs, and those who would exploit the bombs with no knowledge in order to score against their political opponents, are one and the same.

Sane Christians and Americans who value our freedom and peaceful transfer of political station would do well to condemn both.  Christians who would either support such terror tactics or exploit such terror tactics bring shame to the Gospel and harm to our nation.

The only sane and Christian response to the Soros bomb scare

Is discussed by National Review.   Yes, find out who did it, prosecute, convict. Whether the victim is on the right or left.  Period.   Anyone who suddenly rises up to condemn this if they have sat silently before the manifold attacks, assaults and threats against conservatives has done evil in the sight of the Lord.  Likewise, wait to see evidence before dismissing this as some evil Leftist plot.  Find out who, and whoever did it, condemn it and all violence against public figures.  Period.

Food for thought

Yep:

Sex and drink need ritual. They need inherited and formalised restraints. For, as Euripides taught the Athenians in their theatre, Aphrodite and Dionysus are dangerous gods. If you don't believe me, ask Hippolytus or Pentheus. When you fail to treat the divinities with respect, they take you to the cleaners. What is wrong with our society is not that the schools fail adequately to drive home the imperatives of political correctness; it is that members of the cultural elite have in the last generations prided themselves on destroying the restraints and deriding the rituals; and now the gods have descended upon them, as they did upon that Hideous Strength, and, my goodness, with what a vengeance. And those elites don't like it. And the only remedy they seem to be capable of discerning is the ancient mantra: "Doctor says keep on taking the pills". 

It's certainly worth pondering. Here is the link to the actual blog post.

Dwight Longenecker offers up some common sense for Christian living in the Facebook era

Or a little Top Ten list of Satan's sleight of hand, tailor made for the new millennium.  A reminder as we begin the last leg of Lent.