Darwin vs. Christ; The Massive Hypocrisy Award

Double-standards are so brazen these days that we really need to rank them by number. One of the worst is, "Minority groups can never be racist because they are victims of racism." Reverse racism is common now, as so-called "victimized groups" seek revenge and reparations. For this reason we have Black History Month, Black Entertainment Television, and so on. Some of the worst racism in the world is practiced by minority groups against other minority groups. The Japanese are legendary in their abuse of Koreans, and a Caucasian would never be accepted on equal terms in their society.

Here in the U.S. racism in the application of so-called Affirmative Action is accepted under American law, and is a deadly poison in the body politic. Martin Luther King's ideal of equality and color blindness has been discarded by the very people who still champion his name.

Ironically, the hallmark of those who are loudest in their condemnation of racism and unfairness is their policy of redressing grievances with new grievances, all in the name of "fairness".

The ultimate prize goes to the so-called progressives; mostly Democrats, but some Republicans too. I'm not talking about people who really believe in progress, because I'm one of them. I'm talking about extremists who narrowly define progress as liberal. It's anything but liberal, as liberality was originally defined. Liberalism originally meant human freedom and individual rights; non-obtrusive government and personal responsibility. Not anymore. Today it stands for hostility toward all conservatism, free market economies, religion, and individual excellence. It relentlessly expands government to tyrannical authority. Worst of all is the atheism and anti-theism in progressivism.

When we say "Christ", they say "Darwin". When we say "Darwin", they say "Christ".

Let me explain. Charles Darwin and his brilliant understanding of evolution appears to have disproved the Creation as understood by religious people everywhere. I say "appears to" because Darwin didn't actually disprove an intelligent Creator, he just forced us to change our understanding of how life on earth is perfected over geologic time. The hierarchy of life forms as described in Genesis doesn't conflict with Darwin at all.

Darwin is disconcerting to believers in God if they haven't thought about how to respond to his Theory of Evolution. It is still a theory, but the fundamental recognition of  "survival of the fittest" and the adaptations that life forms make cannot be doubted. The fossil record doesn't lie. Species either adapt or die. The ones who survive change shape over time.

Progressives and Liberals always pretend to honor Darwin and adhere faithfully to his theories; while directly working to undermine them with destructive social programs administered by powerful governments.

For this reason the idea of Social Darwinism was born in the 19th Century. It states that human beings also must make themselves fit to compete in the world, and that each one of us must learn to adapt to changes and difficulties on our own. If a parent or government steps in and 'saves' a child or grown person - particularly when that individual is suffering the consequences of their actions - they're actually harming them and enabling more bad actions. Subsidizing children out of wedlock and giving welfare checks to drug addicts are prime examples. In both cases, those evils grow exponentially.

We can learn only when we sow and reap, act and experience the results of our actions, good or bad. It's well known that addicts must "bottom out", and really experience the hell and degradation of their wrong choices and withdrawal before they can break the bonds of addiction.

This is where the progressive mindset really breaks down. Progressive do-gooders are forever trying to save people from themselves. Look at what's happening in Europe today. The whole economic foundation of modern socialism is crumbling, going bankrupt. The Chinese saw this coming years ago and told their people they must be more self-sufficient.

When we conservatives point out the validity of Darwin's "survival of the fittest" ideas, progressives always revert to an attack on our compassion, and yell "Christ!", as though Jesus was a socialist who believed in rescuing people from the consequences of their bad acts and choices. He absolutely did not. In fact, on many occasions Christ warned us that wrong moral choices will doom us forever. He correctly pointed out that the governments of this world are not godly, and more often than not are working against God.

It's critically important to the survival of civilization that people understand the deadly serious stakes of this game we're in, the game of life.

The harsh truth is that most progressives are tyrants, pandering to human vices to buy votes, get elected, and seize power.  If this were not true they would long ago have changed course, admitting that most of their schemes have been abject failures that are destructive to human progress and civilization itself.

Mocking God Degrades Us All

Look at what we've come to. All the leaders and rulers of the earth are clearly in over their heads and flailing. Their glowing promises and honeyed words are now seen as worthless. This is good, because it is the truth. We have far to go if we want to save ourselves and our souls.

Ever since Nietzsche declared in the 1890's that "God is dead", we have witnessed unimaginable horrors  The years since then abound with crimes against humanity perpetrated by the faithless. Inspired by Karl Marx - who unambiguously hated religion and sought to destroy all people of faith - his followers have murdered hundreds of millions.  When anti-theists are not openly warring against God, they are mocking Him.

Some openly ridicule God out of jealousy, but that's not by any means the worst thing they do. Persecuting those who believe is much worse, and trying to take God's place is worst of all.

Everyone is attracted to the idea of God; that is, the concept of an all-powerful, omnipotent, omnipresent creative force that rules our lives and the universe. The kings of the earth throughout history have drawn on the human need for an earthly god.  But the rise of industry and science created a new, educated middle class that refused to put up with the old belief in the "divine right of kings". Industrial democracies were born, but most devolved into tyrannies; and the age of modern dictators arrived. These deluded individuals and the people who kept them in power sought to be gods in a new, godless technological world.

The very definition of God has had to change in order to keep up with the powers and advancements of scientific knowledge. When the whole universe was thought to be no bigger than the Mediterranean world and the visible stars and planets in the sky, it was easy to imagine a human being competing with God. But today we know infinitely more, and know how puny the earth is. Still, the ancient Utopian dream of godlike power persists in spite of all failures. But it is so un-credible that we must wonder how it survives.

In order for God to exist - as humans have always imagined God would exist - requires that God be infinitely more powerful and intelligent than it is humanly possible to conceive.

The universe is far larger, more violent, deadly, and unruly than anyone imagined even a hundred years ago. Our own Milky Way galaxy was thought to be the whole universe until a century ago. At that point telescopes improved so much that we now know that our little Milky Way island galaxy is as a grain of sand on a veritable beach of galaxies, seemingly lost in a staggeringly huge void.

Here at home on planet earth people still dream of unlimited power and wealth; godlike stature. Most who crave it are willing to commit any crime, no matter how heinous, to achieve that power. In order to defeat those who get in their way, people must become amoral and cruel. Imagine how absurd and pathetic that conceit must look to the real God of All Creation. 

The way is still open. We can know the Creator of the Universe, and share in God's power. But if we go it alone, trying to be like gods, we mock and degrade ourselves.

What Is The End Game?

It's a game, this life on earth and the battle between good and evil. It's a game with stakes so high we can't  imagine it. Our lives - this one now and the one to come - are at stake. The danger is very great. But what is so surprising about that? Life on earth has always been a dodgy proposition. We have many more comforts than our ancestors, but suffering and loss are always with us.

All the really important and worthy deeds of history involved great risk. Jesus risked all, and gave all. So have millions of Christians since. They well knew what they were doing. The greater the risk the greater the reward. God has an unimaginably wonderful Paradise prepared for us. The Old Testament story of Job spells it all out, how God and Satan are warring. Any good interpretation of this book makes great viewing:

Our world is a battleground, an arena for the conflict between good and evil; and we are players in that game whether we recognize it or not. If we become aware of the game and our role in it we gain enormous strength, and can influence its outcome. But we can help God only if we do His will, not our own, most of the time. If we voluntarily become pawns in God's hand our reward will be unutterably rich and wonderful. But many people are too proud to allow this, and they reject the subservient role, volunteering to work for the other side. They often announce that they're Satan worshipers, or Wiccans, performing what they think is good magic. Most have no clue what they're really doing. Some do, however.

The great poet John Milton wrote about this in his book Paradise Lost. Satan says to God early on, "I would rather rule in hell than serve in heaven!" And Lucifer falls.

Are you ready to serve heaven? Or do you insist on ruling in hell?

To say life on earth is a game does not trivialize it, but merely helps us to understand. Chess, too, is a game, but there are people who devote their whole lives to it and make a very good living. Many an epic chess game has been lost because a winning player couldn't visualize what's known as the "end game", the final combination of moves that seals their victory with a checkmate. In these cases the weaker player will win or draw.

Consider NFL Football. It's a multi-billion-dollar industry, and we fans know it's much more than a trivial game. It is lives and careers; a passion for us who love it. Love is the key, isn't it? That which we love we take very seriously.

We who are faithful know what the end game is. It's spelled out clearly in the last chapters of the New Testament. The Book of Revelation is very specific. There will be global conflict sparked in the Middle East, and everyone will be forced to choose sides. They will gleefully do so. But right up to the last day there will be deniers who won't face up to what's really happening. Persecutions, martyrdom, and great violence - natural and man-made - mark this time. But the message is clear. The world will not be destroyed. It will be remade.

All people of faith should celebrate the Apocalypse and even Armageddon. It's the evil ones who work against God, and life, and goodness, and joy, who are going to be destroyed.

Just for the sake of argument, let's say this is all a delusion, and nothing like this is happening or will happen. Consider your own life, and your last day on earth. For you, that's Judgment Day whether you acknowledge it or not. Are your life's joys, sufferings, successes, and agonizing losses meaningless? Does it all come to nothing? People of faith know that life has great meaning. It's the other side that tells you you are a worthless
nonentity.

Fact is, we've already lived through a century of extraordinary catastrophe and degradation. A time traveler from 1895 would be shocked and horrified beyond words at the cynicism, cruelty, hopelessness, cold heartedness, and anti-theism of the modern world.  The likelihood is we've already seen the Apocalypse (which means "unveiling"), and much of Armageddon. Don't forget, whole cities and nations have been laid waste, even vaporized in the last century. The spiritual and psychological damage is immeasurable.

Armageddon means the final battle between good and evil. This is exceedingly important to understand. Being an active player for God in this battle is inconceivably greater than being in the greatest Super Bowl ever played. You are a star, a key player of unimaginable privilege and significance. You cannot lose! Even if you die. The end game is already decided. It won't look easy or safe or pleasant, but the victory will be more thrilling and joyous than anything you've ever dreamed of.
Be there. Be awake. Play your best game! Billions are watching!  

"The riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man."
  -  G.K. Chesterton 

Here is his more detailed assessment of the Book of Job:

Christianity Versus Socialism; They Aren't The Same

There is a new and sinister tactic being employed today worldwide, a final and desperate push to convince us that "Jesus was a socialist", that government hand-outs are no different from private or public charitable giving. There is a huge difference, and it has everything to do with personal moral choice and freedom.

First of all, God wants us to be free to make decisions on our own, to learn from our errors, and discover the joy of working, giving, socializing; and the value of a generous heart and a clean conscience. When governments become too powerful - as they are almost everywhere in the world - they take away our freedoms and make decisions for us by taxing and spending on a massive scale. This defeats God's purpose for us.  Always this is done under the false cover of "the public good", a "crisis", or in the name of  "fairness", or "it's for the children". This means that government bureaucracies are making decisions on what is "fair", who is "poor",  and what children really need. This is called progressivism, but it's tyranny; substantially similar to Marxist communism, and is - at its heart - disguised atheism or even anti-theism; a war against God.

It is all about power and human beings trying to become godlike; even challenging God by corrupting his finest creation, humankind. It is Satanic.

Even a cursory study of the New Testament proves that in Jesus' time there was no government social safety net, and the job of government was limited to military defense, law enforcement, public works (roads, aqueducts, baths, ports), and occasional festivals. Of course, corrupt leaders stole public funds, but at least they spent those funds within their own economies, which stimulated them. The money didn't disappear. There were no Swiss bank accounts back then.

The Roman government - and almost all other ancient empires - were not involved with welfare programs, education, scientific research, labor, etc. Pagan religions with their priests and temples tried to take care of people and cure social ills. Jesus's new philosophy proved that they weren't effective and needed radical reform. Charitable giving of one's own goods and services was the highest expression of the new Christian religion, along with generous forgiveness. It succeeded spectacularly, and permeated the Roman Empire in two generations.

Christianity's success hinged on each individual's decision to give - or not. The State was seen as a necessary evil in Jesus' eyes. He said, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's... The ruler of this world will be cast out." And he added: "He has no hold on me."  - John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11.

All the rulers and governments of our present day are suspect and should be seen as working against God's purposes, unless they prove themselves otherwise. We're now experiencing the End Of Days as prophesied by Christ. Humankind's power and malevolence - as well its saintliness - are at their zenith.

Worldwide debt is beyond control and piling up. Life and prosperity everywhere are threatened due to the unintended consequences of government intrusion and outright theft of public funds. Even in the worst days of Rome's decline recovery was possible because the Romans lacked the technology to damage the environment or create unpayable generational debt. Unfortunately, the opposite is true today, and we are doing both.