The Spirit of the modern age is to be “in your face.” Anti-fur people throw blood on expensive furs; PETA people burn science labs; “We’re in your face,” is the shrill chant of feminists. Sodomites get in the face of good people by means of gay-shame parades; War-protesters throw garbage on brave warriors. Religious bullies get “in the face” of the “old fogies” in order to bring the church “up to date” in terms of the latest trends in “worship” and doctrine [or lack thereof, W]. Revolution does not value or build upon the past, but seeks to overthrow it.
There was a time when you tried to persuade, not intimidate. Children were seen and not heard, no matter how old they were. We figured that a person truly had the right to speech, but he had to earn the right to be heard. That has all changed, of course. Words used to convey reason and ideas are now used to attack, to destroy.
“My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even
the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp
sword.” (Ps 57:4 AV)
Jesus was not so. “The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.” (Pr 10:1 AV) describes his ministry. The only time he picked up an instrument of violence, was when he made a”scourge of small cords” to drive the greedy churchmen and their wares froim His Father’s House.
Jesus was no pacifist, but He did not stoop to hide an emptiness of mind by getting in anyone’s face.
From the June 2005 edition of A Basket of Figs (pp.6,7), soon to be posted here.
No comments:
Post a Comment