Well stated. Our problems are not political, they stem from moral decay both outside and inside the church.
The modern Christian church has fallen into the same mindset as the first century Jews did...looking for a savior that is a fighter. That would "destroy" and "own" the enemy.
It is easy to look for someone to create change because it takes away the individual burden to create change locally. Just elect the right politicians and my work is done; the burden falls on government and not on us as individuals to solve problems.
The church needs to go back to teaching Biblical right and wrong and loving sinners...judgement is reserved for God.
Evil is what happens what Man does what is right in his own eyes, according to his own desires, feelings, and rationality apart from God’s wisdom and goodness. As we, as a Society, wander ever farther away from God, these events will increase and destroy the Grand Experiment that our Founders undertook so many years ago.
"Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith." -- Alexis de Tocqueville, “Democracy in America”
Well said, Erick. May all of us called Christians humble ourselves and pray and turn from these evil ways. O God, hear our prayer. Forgive our sins and heal our land.
Erick, this is right on. I would only say that Evil. Again is really Evil STILL. Godless people do godless things, and this is a prime example of what happens in a home where parents are absent, and Godly influence and action are not present at all. I am sure when more of this detail is known, this lost soul will be a poster boy for a free-range child with no rudder or steering wheel. Just like darkness is the absence of light, evil is the absence of God. Timely and true article...Thanks
Scripture warns us that the right will be considered wrong and what is wrong will be considered right! I think we have been seeing this for a long time and it will NOT get better! We all have free will and we will have to choose! Jesus said we cannot serve two masters! Who do you choose God or Man? Pray for the lost sheep, become Christ like in all your ways and bring the light of Christ into the darkness of the world, that's all we can do. It's up to those who see the light whether they want to stay in the light or run back into the darkness! We will all be made to choose!
If doctors treated disease like we address the ills of post-Constitutional America, we’d all have long ago died. The Founders understood implicitly that public virtue stems from, and is based upon, the private virtue of the citizenry.
Our decaying society, in which the social contact was broken years ago, continues to celebrate and hold blameless the basest of desires and actions on some twisted notion of diversity of ideas and/or lifestyle in which even the most evil of impulses must somehow be accepted as valid with any dissent treated as the real moral failing.
The old song from 1969 was weirdly prescient: “Just as every cop is a criminal/And all the sinners saints….”
Great points Erick. Very accurate description of where we stand. The only thing missing was how successful the forces of Mordor were at leveraging the COVID panick and fear (Especially among the secular christian left) to hasten and broaden the divide.
Want to go protest? We leftist clergy are with you! We'll be right there beside you cheering on the mayhem. You want us to have a church service? Are you crazy? You are leading lambs to the slaughter!
As a vestry member in the Episcopal church I went through my first "White Priviledge" training 14 years ago, so they had all the buzz words down to a science, and were ready and raring to go. Only what now? The truly transactional have had two years to learn that those messages they received in the pews for an hour a week are kind of hollow. They didn't miss them all too much, so why go back? ...and they haven't.
Who knows maybe the next round of fear from dissapearing retirement accounts will lead to a reawakening.
Thank you Erick for stating clearly and boldly what so few if any are willing to say. We have a spiritual problem, a sin problem - in this nation, in this world. The enemy of our souls wants us hating each other, fighting one another, accusing one another - so that we will not notice what he is doing to us. WAKE UP AMERICA! WAKE UP Believers!! We need God not another politician.
One of your best commentaries. For people— especially Christians of any ilk, to wring hands and moan “ whatever shall we do?”… you just listed so many things here - if we would allow God first of all to be the Supreme being- and by JUST acknowledging our God — order & healing could be restored
The battle for the soul of man is on display. Since that standing snake in the garden heard those words of mercy "he will crush your head" instead of the expected thunder and the return of mankind to the dust he was formed from, the battle has been for the soul of man
The church must once again preach clearly and love passionately. "By this will you be known as my disciples, by how you love one another." The world has chosen to deny that "We find these things self-evident all men are CREATED equal" We must once again clearly articulate that our value comes from the one who CREATED. We are the work of his hands. He gives each of us an eternal soul and therein a stamp of eternal value is made.
Pray for that young man who denied both his own value and the value of those he murdered. Perhaps someone will still preach the gospel to him so he to might say, "I am getting what I deserve, L:ord remember me, when you enter in your kingdom." He deserves hell, but so do we all. May the Lord's grace extend, and may we all point to the only one who can make a difference. He will change our tears from tears of sorrow to tears of joy. Grant us oh Lord, words to say and lives to live that reflect who you are. And may many still come while the day of salvation remains.
One word...BAM! Nailed it Erick. The elephant in the room rears its massive trunk yet one more time. And no one wants to deal with it. Is it because it is so large? Or is it because it necessitates a hard look in the mirror and a 180 lifestyle change? We are in a cultural decline that has turned into a free fall. God help us.
Would be curious as to the games he played on the computer..possibly shooter games ?? They love to blame guns for all the problems, but I have to believe that the total disregard for human life and the acceptance of violence as a way to settle differences in our society played a role in this tragedy.
I agree with the analysis but I think the church is made to look like it it is fixated on politics by MSM. The church is portrayed as white supremacist, etc. It is a narrative pushed by MSM. Our church focuses on Bible.
I think only part of the church is fixated on politics. The corporatist, mainline denominations are especially vulnerable. There are too many of the secular left in these pews substituting their lack of awareness and what they "Know" for worship, humbleness, kindness, and service. I can't tell you how many have told me how they refuse to "Check their reason at the door".
In the words of Jerimiah Wright, "The chickens have come home to roost."
Well stated. Our problems are not political, they stem from moral decay both outside and inside the church.
The modern Christian church has fallen into the same mindset as the first century Jews did...looking for a savior that is a fighter. That would "destroy" and "own" the enemy.
It is easy to look for someone to create change because it takes away the individual burden to create change locally. Just elect the right politicians and my work is done; the burden falls on government and not on us as individuals to solve problems.
The church needs to go back to teaching Biblical right and wrong and loving sinners...judgement is reserved for God.
Evil is what happens what Man does what is right in his own eyes, according to his own desires, feelings, and rationality apart from God’s wisdom and goodness. As we, as a Society, wander ever farther away from God, these events will increase and destroy the Grand Experiment that our Founders undertook so many years ago.
"Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith." -- Alexis de Tocqueville, “Democracy in America”
Well said, Erick. May all of us called Christians humble ourselves and pray and turn from these evil ways. O God, hear our prayer. Forgive our sins and heal our land.
Erick, this is right on. I would only say that Evil. Again is really Evil STILL. Godless people do godless things, and this is a prime example of what happens in a home where parents are absent, and Godly influence and action are not present at all. I am sure when more of this detail is known, this lost soul will be a poster boy for a free-range child with no rudder or steering wheel. Just like darkness is the absence of light, evil is the absence of God. Timely and true article...Thanks
Scripture warns us that the right will be considered wrong and what is wrong will be considered right! I think we have been seeing this for a long time and it will NOT get better! We all have free will and we will have to choose! Jesus said we cannot serve two masters! Who do you choose God or Man? Pray for the lost sheep, become Christ like in all your ways and bring the light of Christ into the darkness of the world, that's all we can do. It's up to those who see the light whether they want to stay in the light or run back into the darkness! We will all be made to choose!
If doctors treated disease like we address the ills of post-Constitutional America, we’d all have long ago died. The Founders understood implicitly that public virtue stems from, and is based upon, the private virtue of the citizenry.
Our decaying society, in which the social contact was broken years ago, continues to celebrate and hold blameless the basest of desires and actions on some twisted notion of diversity of ideas and/or lifestyle in which even the most evil of impulses must somehow be accepted as valid with any dissent treated as the real moral failing.
The old song from 1969 was weirdly prescient: “Just as every cop is a criminal/And all the sinners saints….”
Well said.
Great points Erick. Very accurate description of where we stand. The only thing missing was how successful the forces of Mordor were at leveraging the COVID panick and fear (Especially among the secular christian left) to hasten and broaden the divide.
Want to go protest? We leftist clergy are with you! We'll be right there beside you cheering on the mayhem. You want us to have a church service? Are you crazy? You are leading lambs to the slaughter!
As a vestry member in the Episcopal church I went through my first "White Priviledge" training 14 years ago, so they had all the buzz words down to a science, and were ready and raring to go. Only what now? The truly transactional have had two years to learn that those messages they received in the pews for an hour a week are kind of hollow. They didn't miss them all too much, so why go back? ...and they haven't.
Who knows maybe the next round of fear from dissapearing retirement accounts will lead to a reawakening.
Thank you Erick for stating clearly and boldly what so few if any are willing to say. We have a spiritual problem, a sin problem - in this nation, in this world. The enemy of our souls wants us hating each other, fighting one another, accusing one another - so that we will not notice what he is doing to us. WAKE UP AMERICA! WAKE UP Believers!! We need God not another politician.
Amen
One of your best commentaries. For people— especially Christians of any ilk, to wring hands and moan “ whatever shall we do?”… you just listed so many things here - if we would allow God first of all to be the Supreme being- and by JUST acknowledging our God — order & healing could be restored
God bless you Erick.
The battle for the soul of man is on display. Since that standing snake in the garden heard those words of mercy "he will crush your head" instead of the expected thunder and the return of mankind to the dust he was formed from, the battle has been for the soul of man
The church must once again preach clearly and love passionately. "By this will you be known as my disciples, by how you love one another." The world has chosen to deny that "We find these things self-evident all men are CREATED equal" We must once again clearly articulate that our value comes from the one who CREATED. We are the work of his hands. He gives each of us an eternal soul and therein a stamp of eternal value is made.
Pray for that young man who denied both his own value and the value of those he murdered. Perhaps someone will still preach the gospel to him so he to might say, "I am getting what I deserve, L:ord remember me, when you enter in your kingdom." He deserves hell, but so do we all. May the Lord's grace extend, and may we all point to the only one who can make a difference. He will change our tears from tears of sorrow to tears of joy. Grant us oh Lord, words to say and lives to live that reflect who you are. And may many still come while the day of salvation remains.
Charles
Our country seems to have lost its way with no way back on course. The pirates are waiting. God help us. 🙏
One word...BAM! Nailed it Erick. The elephant in the room rears its massive trunk yet one more time. And no one wants to deal with it. Is it because it is so large? Or is it because it necessitates a hard look in the mirror and a 180 lifestyle change? We are in a cultural decline that has turned into a free fall. God help us.
Would be curious as to the games he played on the computer..possibly shooter games ?? They love to blame guns for all the problems, but I have to believe that the total disregard for human life and the acceptance of violence as a way to settle differences in our society played a role in this tragedy.
Agree 100%!
I agree with the analysis but I think the church is made to look like it it is fixated on politics by MSM. The church is portrayed as white supremacist, etc. It is a narrative pushed by MSM. Our church focuses on Bible.
I think only part of the church is fixated on politics. The corporatist, mainline denominations are especially vulnerable. There are too many of the secular left in these pews substituting their lack of awareness and what they "Know" for worship, humbleness, kindness, and service. I can't tell you how many have told me how they refuse to "Check their reason at the door".
In the words of Jerimiah Wright, "The chickens have come home to roost."
Well written summary of our problem in the US (and the world).