Dave, you are prophetic in your analysis and IMO, you have stated the whole situation to a T.
The way I say it, we have entered an era of "the political strongman". This is exemplified by Trump, Xi, Putin and to a lesser extent, the megalomaniacs of the EU who will extinguish themselves against the boulders of the big three.
Dave, you are prophetic in your analysis and IMO, you have stated the whole situation to a T.
The way I say it, we have entered an era of "the political strongman". This is exemplified by Trump, Xi, Putin and to a lesser extent, the megalomaniacs of the EU who will extinguish themselves against the boulders of the big three.
I find myself in an interesting mental watershed. Having spent most of my life supportive of the ideals of America's founders, reality has now caused me mentally to actually look forward to an "authoritarian regime", modified by Christian ethical restraint, that kills and suppresses the nihilistic impulses that have infected political society for the last 20+ years.
Fallen Christianity in the West has given to us a schizoid habit of mind. For example, a Westminster Calvinist will long for an authentic American Exceptionalism based upon law practise tributary of Christian Law ... and as was manifested in the original states' constitutions. But the operating reality is as you say, a strong man like the one who is now a busy bee in the issuing of executive orders. This is precisely what Augustus did with Rome. And as of yore so it is in our modern example, a rule with a thin old republican glazing pasted over the new body politic fact.
We reap what we sow. And having done so, the best we Americans can expect is an authoritarian regime quasi-conditioned by a watered down Christian past. But nonetheless, a menacing dagger lingers, poised to strike with any sudden darken shift in political fortunes. And the set in concrete reality of the moment is that there appears to be no going back to what once was. The demographics are too much changed and the memory of what once was has faded ... and is no longer taught.
"Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil" -- Thomas Mann
You put into narrative my state of mind very well. I am thankful for the day we have, that is, a Trump regime day rather than a Kamala regime day. And sufficient unto the day are the troubles of the day without worrying about tomorrow. There is much for us to do while the sun is shining. Tomorrow will take care of itself if we take advantage of the present to do what we can to prepare.
I think Providence has given us a reprieve from a complete cultural collapse for which I am thankful for the sake of my grandchildren. One cannot look at grandchildren and not realize the beauty that the future could hold because of them.
And as you pointed out in your previous comment, the demographics in America have changed so much, our old paradigms have become obsolete. These are not the demographic changes of a growing culture absorbing mass immigration such as in the 19th century but rather we have become a morally and intellectually weak geriatric culture being hit with a massive alien migration that is openly hostile to the existing culture and is not compatible.
This has got to produce a lot of internal conflict which will only get worse and on top of that, there is the fact that the USG Empire itself will eventually collapse as all empires do when they can no longer be sustained. I see two possibilities. We can disintegrate and collapse into ruin as the Roman Empire did or we can "voluntarily" pull back as Russia was forced to do and focus inward on building a strong and stable society without trying to impose our rule on the rest of the planet. I now see the latter as a distinct possibility initiated by the Trump regime. I think this is what we should be working towards. If we don't, then the reprieve Providence has given us could be short-lived.
All of which brings me to the existential question: the revival of the American church, the body of Christ, to once again be salt and leaven in the culture. There is a reason Jesus said to Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world." The American church has effectively bought into the dispensational lie that Christ's kingdom will be an earthly kingdom to be brought about by His physical return when He will impose His kingdom on earth by force. I cannot think of anything more antithetical to His teachings which is the same lie Satan offered Him in the wilderness in Matt 4:8-9. If the American church does not reject the error of Dispensationalism, then we may yet have to suffer the prior more difficult alternative of a complete collapse of society.
It's Sunday, so I read some Westminster, took in an Internet sermon, plus watched the below and mostly because De Wife alluded to it. And as you know wives are the smartest people on the planet. Or so some people think! :)
I live pretty much outside the world in which most other people dwell, and I always have done so since I was a child. My motto throughout life has been, "If you want everyone else's results, do what everyone else does." These days, not wanting every one else's result compel one straight into the camp of the resistance.
The video describes the state of things very well. I think you will like the commentary. It's pretty succinct.
They were very succinct! Thank you. Funny thing is, I posted this earlier this week to C&C - I think to someone's scripture postings - without first watching it and then failed to get back to watch it. Silly me. His description of the dispensational mindset was excellent. I have often alluded to the fact that dispensationalism causes Christians to retreat from society and simply sit in the church pew praying for the End Times. (Obviously this the Satan's purpose for this lie.) He puts it much better. And he so clearly describes the fact that the only reason people accept what they are being taught is because they have never read the Word for themselves. When you actually do THAT... one cannot help but see that this is NOT what Jesus was saying. Just pick up the Book and read His words!
I was impressed by their observation that the people that are being taught dispensationalism are the very best people of the church. All wonderful loving Christians, the very best people you would want to associate with. I had not really thought of that before. They have GOT to start questioning what they are being taught!
I identify with your motto. My attitude from my earliest days has been similar, "When everyone is going one way, go in the opposite direction, don't be part of the crowd." Not sure how I came by that attitude but it worked for me even on the playground. As a result, I've always been skeptical of popularly held beliefs. When I was in my latter 20's, I was attending a small, reformed church in CA. In Sunday school, the elders assigned a book by a reformed author for me to read and then give a presentation on what I had read. I don't remember his name but I'm sure you would recognize it. I found the book to be sound but seriously lacking in an understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit. Generally speaking, that is an area where I feel reformed theology needs some development. So I developed a critique of the book on that subject by simply applying relevant passages from the NT to demonstrate that the authors appreciation of the work of the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ is seriously understated. Apparently the elders were impressed. After my presentation, one came up to me and asked if I had ever taught classes before. I said no.
Thanks for drawing my attention back to this interview.
Dave, you are prophetic in your analysis and IMO, you have stated the whole situation to a T.
The way I say it, we have entered an era of "the political strongman". This is exemplified by Trump, Xi, Putin and to a lesser extent, the megalomaniacs of the EU who will extinguish themselves against the boulders of the big three.
I find myself in an interesting mental watershed. Having spent most of my life supportive of the ideals of America's founders, reality has now caused me mentally to actually look forward to an "authoritarian regime", modified by Christian ethical restraint, that kills and suppresses the nihilistic impulses that have infected political society for the last 20+ years.
Go Trump!
Fallen Christianity in the West has given to us a schizoid habit of mind. For example, a Westminster Calvinist will long for an authentic American Exceptionalism based upon law practise tributary of Christian Law ... and as was manifested in the original states' constitutions. But the operating reality is as you say, a strong man like the one who is now a busy bee in the issuing of executive orders. This is precisely what Augustus did with Rome. And as of yore so it is in our modern example, a rule with a thin old republican glazing pasted over the new body politic fact.
We reap what we sow. And having done so, the best we Americans can expect is an authoritarian regime quasi-conditioned by a watered down Christian past. But nonetheless, a menacing dagger lingers, poised to strike with any sudden darken shift in political fortunes. And the set in concrete reality of the moment is that there appears to be no going back to what once was. The demographics are too much changed and the memory of what once was has faded ... and is no longer taught.
"Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil" -- Thomas Mann
You put into narrative my state of mind very well. I am thankful for the day we have, that is, a Trump regime day rather than a Kamala regime day. And sufficient unto the day are the troubles of the day without worrying about tomorrow. There is much for us to do while the sun is shining. Tomorrow will take care of itself if we take advantage of the present to do what we can to prepare.
I think Providence has given us a reprieve from a complete cultural collapse for which I am thankful for the sake of my grandchildren. One cannot look at grandchildren and not realize the beauty that the future could hold because of them.
And as you pointed out in your previous comment, the demographics in America have changed so much, our old paradigms have become obsolete. These are not the demographic changes of a growing culture absorbing mass immigration such as in the 19th century but rather we have become a morally and intellectually weak geriatric culture being hit with a massive alien migration that is openly hostile to the existing culture and is not compatible.
This has got to produce a lot of internal conflict which will only get worse and on top of that, there is the fact that the USG Empire itself will eventually collapse as all empires do when they can no longer be sustained. I see two possibilities. We can disintegrate and collapse into ruin as the Roman Empire did or we can "voluntarily" pull back as Russia was forced to do and focus inward on building a strong and stable society without trying to impose our rule on the rest of the planet. I now see the latter as a distinct possibility initiated by the Trump regime. I think this is what we should be working towards. If we don't, then the reprieve Providence has given us could be short-lived.
All of which brings me to the existential question: the revival of the American church, the body of Christ, to once again be salt and leaven in the culture. There is a reason Jesus said to Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world." The American church has effectively bought into the dispensational lie that Christ's kingdom will be an earthly kingdom to be brought about by His physical return when He will impose His kingdom on earth by force. I cannot think of anything more antithetical to His teachings which is the same lie Satan offered Him in the wilderness in Matt 4:8-9. If the American church does not reject the error of Dispensationalism, then we may yet have to suffer the prior more difficult alternative of a complete collapse of society.
It's Sunday, so I read some Westminster, took in an Internet sermon, plus watched the below and mostly because De Wife alluded to it. And as you know wives are the smartest people on the planet. Or so some people think! :)
https://rumble.com/v6rgv6p-andrew-isker-building-a-christian-refuge-to-fight-wokeness-transgenderism-a.html?e9s=src_v1_ucp
I live pretty much outside the world in which most other people dwell, and I always have done so since I was a child. My motto throughout life has been, "If you want everyone else's results, do what everyone else does." These days, not wanting every one else's result compel one straight into the camp of the resistance.
The video describes the state of things very well. I think you will like the commentary. It's pretty succinct.
They were very succinct! Thank you. Funny thing is, I posted this earlier this week to C&C - I think to someone's scripture postings - without first watching it and then failed to get back to watch it. Silly me. His description of the dispensational mindset was excellent. I have often alluded to the fact that dispensationalism causes Christians to retreat from society and simply sit in the church pew praying for the End Times. (Obviously this the Satan's purpose for this lie.) He puts it much better. And he so clearly describes the fact that the only reason people accept what they are being taught is because they have never read the Word for themselves. When you actually do THAT... one cannot help but see that this is NOT what Jesus was saying. Just pick up the Book and read His words!
I was impressed by their observation that the people that are being taught dispensationalism are the very best people of the church. All wonderful loving Christians, the very best people you would want to associate with. I had not really thought of that before. They have GOT to start questioning what they are being taught!
I identify with your motto. My attitude from my earliest days has been similar, "When everyone is going one way, go in the opposite direction, don't be part of the crowd." Not sure how I came by that attitude but it worked for me even on the playground. As a result, I've always been skeptical of popularly held beliefs. When I was in my latter 20's, I was attending a small, reformed church in CA. In Sunday school, the elders assigned a book by a reformed author for me to read and then give a presentation on what I had read. I don't remember his name but I'm sure you would recognize it. I found the book to be sound but seriously lacking in an understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit. Generally speaking, that is an area where I feel reformed theology needs some development. So I developed a critique of the book on that subject by simply applying relevant passages from the NT to demonstrate that the authors appreciation of the work of the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ is seriously understated. Apparently the elders were impressed. After my presentation, one came up to me and asked if I had ever taught classes before. I said no.
Thanks for drawing my attention back to this interview.