Post 48-Cultural Cruelty

                            

On Mon, Jul 24, 2017 at 7:48 AM Dana sent the following

 Hey John,

      And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Matthew 24:12 (KJV)

    This past week it was announced that Senator John McCain was diagnosed with a brain tumor. That is never good news…or so you would think.  What I found terribly disturbing was the cold blooded, hateful response by many who consider themselves “conservatives,” or worse “conservative Christians,” who commented, to the effect, that the Senator’s condition was God’s justice, and, who were actually ecstatic that he is potentially facing death.   To be honest, I am not a fan of Senator McCain or of some of his policy stands. But to rejoice in anyone coming down with cancer, regardless of their political leanings is monstrous. 

     And, we grossly speak out of turn if we declare someone’s illness as God’s judgment.  That is not our call to make.  God is certainly and righteously justified to enact judgment on sin in any way He chooses, but that is His business and not ours.  We’d do well to know (or learn) our place, and tremble at His judgments, rather than throw a party when we see someone who we don’t like “get theirs,” so to speak.  We all are just one old rugged cross away from “getting ours.”

     So in the passage quoted at the beginning, there could very likely be applications to the disciples’ day and to ours.    While that may or may not be a harbinger of the “Last Days,” we do see iniquity abounding, and we also are daily witnessing the love of many waxing cold.  One can hardly take in the news, be it network TV or radio news, a newspaper, or internet news without being absolutely deluged with enough slop to warrant a shower immediately following.  Many of the stories reflect a level of cruelty on a par with Genghis Khan or Pol Pot or ISIS. 

     Jesus told us things were going to get worse before they got better in Matthew 24 and its parallels in Luke 21 and Mark 13, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise, but somehow it still does.  Just when one thinks that humanity cannot sink any lower in depravity, good old mankind will rise to the occasion and completely astound us with something even more barbarous than we could have imagined.

      Hence the John McCain incident.  Had Senator McCain been defeated by a rival in a fairly held election, I, and many in this country would have thought that to be a positive thing, in that it would be a reasonable expression of our American political will.  But his exit should be through the democratic process and not due to cancer.

      We should not be surprised when sinners act like sinners, any more than we should be surprised when our family dog acts like, well…a dog.  But many on the political left (and to be fair, some on the political right) have acted absolutely horrendously toward our current president.  This is not to vindicate Mr. Trump, his actions or his policies so much, as it is to point out the unmitigated hateful bile spewed out against him by those who oppose him.

     There are not many US presidents with whom I have totally agreed as to their political, public, or even private doings.  But outside of the assassination of John Kennedy, which was an extreme show of disapproval, I cannot recall the tone of any president’s criticism being as dark and vile as it is now.  Legitimate criticism and public discourse has turned into pure hate. Are we seeing the fulfillment of Matthew 24:12 happening right in front of our eyes?  It would appear so.

     The overarching question, in my book is what should be the Church’s response?  Now, I’m not suggesting the Church take up any politician’s cause.  If one goes to the trouble and expense to get themselves elected to public office, then that one should have a thick enough hide to weather the storms of public criticism.  In other words, “…If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

     What I am proposing is the Church going on the attack against the wanton hatred being so shamelessly displayed in our land.  For if what we see now becomes accepted or tolerated, what then, can we expect next?  But how can we do that? 

      Some would say the best way to fight fire is with fire, and in the case of out of control forest fires, that may be true.  But more fires are put out with water than with starting another fire.  Since we’re dragging out archaic sayings from a previous generation, what about “killing the haters with kindness?”

      What if the Church made a concerted effort to show love and kindness on a militant level?  We’ve spoken of this before.  We can provide a very effective witness when we do something nice to someone who is not expecting it.  More so, what about doing something nice for someone who does not deserve it?  We need to step up, and show some real love in this dark and fallen world.  Sitting back and complaining about how bad things are will only satisfy our desire to “belly ache” about things until things get even worse.

      We in the Church could all commit, God helping us, to trying to think of one person we (and possibly justifiably) do not like, and target that individual with an underserved blessing.  I mean, doesn’t that sound somewhat Christ-like?  Didn’t He provide the ultimate gift to the undeserving (us, His enemies)?  By our very drawing of breath didn’t we mock and blaspheme Jesus, and do every conceivable thing contrary to His most holy word?

     I don’t know what that might portray to one so lost (even if thinking they are following Christ) who is overjoyed that John McCain is getting what he deserves.  We all deserved something much worse than cancer…hell.  Yet God loved us!  Aren’t we commissioned to do the same?  Aren’t we to reflect the character of Jesus? 

    So where is that on a massive scale?  Hating the haters, while sometimes tempting (and we must ask ourselves just where that temptation comes from?) is not the answer.  Demonstrably loving the haters is the answer. 

     This is a call to arms for Christians.  A call to take those two arms the Lord gave us, and put them to use to enact goodness and kindness and mercy in the name of that same Lord.  Pray about it.  Ask God to show you some miserable hateful soul who could use a good dose of Christ’s love, and, ask Him to give you the grace, courage and means to show that person love.  Do not be surprised if when shown the love, said miserable hateful soul responds negatively—(hint, hint, that’s what they do, remember the dog illustration above.)  If they respond negatively, hit them again with even more kindness.  We’re lighthouses, and Lord knows, we could use some more light.

     Talk soon,

     Dana

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John responds Tue, On Jul 24, 2017, at 3:15 PM

Hello Dana  

            One of my all time favorite movies is All the President’s Men where Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman portray the real life characters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, respectively, of the once respected “The Washington Post” newspaper. I was living in Alexandria, VA, when the Watergate scandal exploded.  I would often watch it daily on the television and of course read about it in “The Washington Post.”  Because of this, today, I often tell young journalists to watch that movie to see what good journalism can do. You’ve heard the line in the Christmas song that says, “He’s making a list and checking it twice,”?  That’s what good journalists used to do. Fact check. Not today. It is no wonder that few people read a newspaper today (Yes I know all about electronic media helping to kill print news. But I contend that a strong, TRUTHFUL AND HONEST press, especially newspapers, is one of the greatest safeguards for our democracy that there was, and should be!)

            On May 19^th of this year, in “The Washington Times” is an article by the real Bob Woodward, not Robert Redford.  In the article headlined and quoting Woodward “stop binge drinking the anti-Trump Kool-Aide,” the still respected senior journalist tells younger fellow journalists, “I think it’s time to dial back a little bit....” referring to the constant stream of vitriolic publishing against the current, sitting President.

            Then there is what used to be “yellow journalism,”  i.e  journalism based upon sensationalism and crude exaggeration. or what President Trump regularly refers to today as “fake news.” (see Wikipedia about yellow journalism, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_journalism  )  I think today’s yellow journalism is one of the more visible symptoms of the cultural cruelty that is ever more abounding today.

            While I don’t agree with your fan status of Senator John McCain, (I am) and I do not agree with your view on the Church being apolitical (I think this is one of the reasons the country is in the mess it is in); I do heartily agree with your condemnation of those who would equate the recent announcement of his cancer and tie that into God and His judgment of the man.  

            More later. I’ve got to run to the bank before it closes.

 John

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Dana responds at Tue, Jul 25, 2017 at 5:03 AM

John,

     I don't want to turn this into something political. It's just that I am using something that happened and is happening in the political world to illustrate a growing sickness in our society. The issue is how cruel our society has become, not something political or eschatological.  

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John replies at Tue, Jul 25, 2017 at 7:30 AM

Dana

            I agree. A scripture comes to mind 2 Tim 3:1-7, that might cover all aspects that we’ve touched on so far.

 

3 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. ² For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, ⁴ treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. ⁶ For among them are those who enter into households and captivate ^[d]weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, ⁷ always learning and never able to come to the ^[e]knowledge of the truth. (NASB)

 

            But quite honestly, I don’t know what to do with your statement, questions, suggestion, and challenge:   

What I am proposing is the Church going on the attack against the wanton hatred being so shamelessly displayed in our land.  For if what we see now becomes accepted or tolerated, what then, can we expect next?  But how can we do that? 

 

            You suggest

      What if the Church made a concerted effort to show love and kindness on a militant level?  We’ve spoken of this before.  We can provide a very effective witness when we do something nice to someone who is not expecting it.  More so, what about doing something nice for someone who does not deserve it?  We need to step up, and show some real love in this dark and fallen world. 

 

   Then you challenge us with this:

      We in the Church could all commit, God helping us, to trying to think of one person we (and possibly justifiably) do not like, and target that individual with an underserved blessing.  I mean, doesn’t that sound somewhat Christ-like?  Didn’t He provide the ultimate gift to the undeserving (us, His enemies)? 

 

            For the past number of months, we’ve written about various ills in the Church, most recently my agreement with Martyn Lloyd-Jones that the Church, in general, is comfortable with what they have and who they are and it doesn’t want revival.  Presuming that the Church doesn’t want revival, even though your suggestion is eminently reasonable, how can we get ones and twos in church to act on your challenge? While I am a proponent of the John Hagee almost fire and brimstone style of preaching, (good, old fashioned preaching) and you recently suggested we take a lesson from Elijah and listen for God’s still small voice, if individuals don’t take your suggestion to heart, it just won’t happen, and we’ll slide farther down the cultural cruelty slope.

            What say you now?

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Dana answered Thu, Jul 27, 2017 at 9:53 AM

       It has to start somewhere, John. Do we stand by and do nothing based on a presumption that the church might not want revival?  Brother Greenaway used to say, “If you don’t know what to do, take over.”  

      A fire most often starts with just one spark.  It’s not our job to “get” the ones and twos in the church to act, but to lead by example—to do what’s right and pleasing to the Lord whether anyone else does it or not. 

 

      “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”   Matthew 5:16 (KJV)

 

       And: “ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”   Matthew 5:44 (KJV)

 

      Dana