Theologian John Calvin once noted men’s hearts are “a perpetual factory of idols.” As people across the political spectrum move away from religion and fill the void with politics, idol worship runs rampant. All of us have a voice within us that whispers there is more to life. Many people go in search of it. Atheists spend an inordinate amount of energy turning the voice off, often turning science into the religion of scientism. Others, on the left and right, turn from “love your neighbor” and “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” and embrace “save the culture and win at all costs.” This voice pulls them away from the Creator towards creation.
Stand up for the unborn Eric. The pope isn’t the Apostle Paul. This new Pope has people around him that deserve worse than prison for molesting children. This pope has changed with the times but God’s word doesn’t change. This pope will be judged by our father in heaven and held to a higher standard. May God come into all our heart’s to stop evil.
Well this explains--and very well--the recent obsession with "the narrative" on both sides.
And Erick, I must say that your side journey from politics to theological study certainly proves to be beneficial! Your theological lens focuses on the deep issues of cosmogony an mythology that you incorporate so well into this analysis. . . which is the best explanation I have seen, to account for what has happened to America in these last two months, and especially these last two weeks.
Keep up the good work. And let us remind the distracted world that Jesus is Lord!
Well said. There will , of course, be push back to this revelation. However, that inevitability is merely reflective of the natural human disdain for receiving correction from a seductive course. Defensiveness over correction offered by an ally is destructive. Thoughtful consideration of it is wisdom. May we be all the wiser today. Thank you Erick.
Stories are easy to write and easy to remember. Truth is hard and sometimes uncomfortable, because we have to face up to our complicity in not using it or recognizing it.
And facts are hard too, because even our normal source of facts (books, people we respect) can come from bias.
So you have to work at finding the bias, finding it in the story or fact, putting it aside so you can see what's true, and then writing up or speaking the truth without letting your own bias creep in. (And then, I add grumpily, hardly anyone reads it. Truth and facts can be boring.)
In a world where our value is judged by people clicking on a story or video...it's so much easier to give up on the facts and just write a myth.
I would like to reassure you that all of us over 50 people do not fall for conspiracy theories like the ones you described. I was not a Trump supporter in the beginning, though I reluctantly voted for him since Hillary was not an option. I was surprised to see that he did accomplish some things that I believe were good for the country. I am not a fan of his over the top tweeting at times. On the other hand, the democrats have been so vile and vicious, there were other times I admit I completely understood his attacks. I have never read or watched a Qanon anything, don't even know where to find them. I don't believe Trump instigated the breach on the Capitol the other day. I do believe that the lawsuits that specifically questioned the validity of votes that were cast under rules changed at the last moment by state officials and judges which were in violation of their own constitution should have been heard by the courts. I don't believe that all the people who stormed the capitol were ANTIFA. I do believe that some of them were. One has now been arrested, so we know for sure there was one and if there was one there were more. I think it is very likely that ANTIFA stirred the pot amongst the Trump supporters who are more easily led to this kind of activity, and probably got it started online before the event even happened. All of that is not only likely but logical. So when anyone says "There were no ANTIFA involved", it is as unlikely as those who say "It was not Trump supporters, it was all ANTIFA". Far more likely to have been both, egged on by ANTIFA. And I excuse none of it because I don't think anyone has any right to attack any building full of people. We may have a "revolution". It seems inevitable to me. But if there is, it has to be in accordance with the Constitution.
Stand up for the unborn Eric. The pope isn’t the Apostle Paul. This new Pope has people around him that deserve worse than prison for molesting children. This pope has changed with the times but God’s word doesn’t change. This pope will be judged by our father in heaven and held to a higher standard. May God come into all our heart’s to stop evil.
. . . and Cyrus was a Persian who lived about two and a half millenia ago.
Well this explains--and very well--the recent obsession with "the narrative" on both sides.
And Erick, I must say that your side journey from politics to theological study certainly proves to be beneficial! Your theological lens focuses on the deep issues of cosmogony an mythology that you incorporate so well into this analysis. . . which is the best explanation I have seen, to account for what has happened to America in these last two months, and especially these last two weeks.
Keep up the good work. And let us remind the distracted world that Jesus is Lord!
I really appreciate your thoughts Erick and helping us stay of the fray as Believers. Come Lord Jesus come. Share the Gospel. Be ready when He comes.
Good piece Eric
Well said. There will , of course, be push back to this revelation. However, that inevitability is merely reflective of the natural human disdain for receiving correction from a seductive course. Defensiveness over correction offered by an ally is destructive. Thoughtful consideration of it is wisdom. May we be all the wiser today. Thank you Erick.
I think you and many others give way to much credit to the qanon BS. Similarly, people give too much credit for what is "said" on Twitter.
Stories are easy to write and easy to remember. Truth is hard and sometimes uncomfortable, because we have to face up to our complicity in not using it or recognizing it.
And facts are hard too, because even our normal source of facts (books, people we respect) can come from bias.
So you have to work at finding the bias, finding it in the story or fact, putting it aside so you can see what's true, and then writing up or speaking the truth without letting your own bias creep in. (And then, I add grumpily, hardly anyone reads it. Truth and facts can be boring.)
In a world where our value is judged by people clicking on a story or video...it's so much easier to give up on the facts and just write a myth.
When a culture has no Center,
When the Gospel Truth’s untold,
Soon the darkness fills the vacuum
And The Fringes seize control.
When the Church abandons Scripture
‘Til there is no God to fear,
Wisdom makes a hasty exit,
Solid ground then disappears.
When the Word is deconstructed
And reduced to Feel Good Spin,
Trouble’s brewing in the caldron…
And we’re sowing only wind.*
When Emotion mans the ramparts…
(On the Left or on Right)…
The descent will be quite rapid
Into bedlam through the night.
Yes, when Chapter Three of Romans
Is removed from center stage,
We’ll discover in short order
Why indeed the heathen rage.
Law turns quicky to disorder.
Natural Man will lose The Way.
Brother, Cain will turn on Abel,
Suddenly…there’s hell to pay.
* * *
* “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind:…” Hosea 8:7
I would like to reassure you that all of us over 50 people do not fall for conspiracy theories like the ones you described. I was not a Trump supporter in the beginning, though I reluctantly voted for him since Hillary was not an option. I was surprised to see that he did accomplish some things that I believe were good for the country. I am not a fan of his over the top tweeting at times. On the other hand, the democrats have been so vile and vicious, there were other times I admit I completely understood his attacks. I have never read or watched a Qanon anything, don't even know where to find them. I don't believe Trump instigated the breach on the Capitol the other day. I do believe that the lawsuits that specifically questioned the validity of votes that were cast under rules changed at the last moment by state officials and judges which were in violation of their own constitution should have been heard by the courts. I don't believe that all the people who stormed the capitol were ANTIFA. I do believe that some of them were. One has now been arrested, so we know for sure there was one and if there was one there were more. I think it is very likely that ANTIFA stirred the pot amongst the Trump supporters who are more easily led to this kind of activity, and probably got it started online before the event even happened. All of that is not only likely but logical. So when anyone says "There were no ANTIFA involved", it is as unlikely as those who say "It was not Trump supporters, it was all ANTIFA". Far more likely to have been both, egged on by ANTIFA. And I excuse none of it because I don't think anyone has any right to attack any building full of people. We may have a "revolution". It seems inevitable to me. But if there is, it has to be in accordance with the Constitution.
Well said