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JOYFUL
JOTTINGS 14
ITS NEW BUILDINGS IN
LET US
EXAMINE THE STATUS QUO IN TERMS OF
FREEDOM,
FORCE AND FAITH...
whether in
(See also: News
73)
THE
Gods ?
This aspect reminds us of Psalm 82, so often
misused by JW's who fail to see, or seem to indicate
they fail, the intense and devastating irony there! These 'gods' are asked: "How long will you judge unjustly" ? But of them,
it is also said,
· "they know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness". To these He declares:
· " I have said, You are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High, but you shall die like men... Arise O God and judge the earth!"
Pseudo-gods, plastic pretenders, false christs, false prophets,
presumptuous disposers of men by their own power, ecclesiastical mafia,
judicial frauds, these are well-known in the earth, then as now.
Cultural objects or human pretenders alike, they
DIE LIKE MEN! THEIR resurrection is to the files or the vials of judgment!
As to the latter, like gods they act without light, without restraint, judgment is theirs, and they misuse it, which then rewards them! The point is strengthened further in the Hebrew where the term 'gods' CAN be used simply to refer to the powerful and mighty: not by any confusion, but simply because the concept of strength is there. Thus while in II Samuel 7:23 you see the same term applied with the singular verb for the true God (triune and majestic as in Isaiah 48:16, but one Being asin 45:22-25), its deployment for the false gods is with the plural ending (many idols as in Psalm 96, making simply a number of objects). What is meant is shown not only by this majestic singularity of the one true God, and there is no other: but by the contextual lampooning of the absurd pretensions, which cannot even beat death, of the false and the fraudulent: whether they be idols explicitly, or merely the self-adulation of those satirically exposed by the true God in this way.
The case is not different today (cf. SMR Chs. 8 - 9, A Spiritual Potpourri Chs. 1 -3, Repent or PerishCh. 7
, Joyful Jottings 5). If these absurd creations or spiritual provocateurs can DO ANY THING, let us see it! in effect, the Lord challenges (Jeremiah 10-11, Isaiah 41:21-42:7, 48:2-8, John 14:11, 15:21-23, Acts 14:8-20). But neither morally, spiritually nor in dynamic presence over nature directly wrought, is anything to be seen! Broken lives, broken matter and broken homes are almost look alikes as the prodigies of fleshly enthusiasms without God, proceed in their duly appointed paths.Jesus stands as in all things, alone. Incorruptible and immutable, He is yet available, effective, of great of heart, the very criterion of holiness, and eternal life revealed.
Yet, almost as if hypnotised, tinkering with the watch, man fails to know the watch-maker, and this in such multitudes that the world is askew all the time:
Yet it is not out of sight,
but rather immersed in revealing solvents that do nothing to remove reality,
but merely scour lives before judgment.
Where is the power of the puny innovators, these idolaters of naturalism, humanism and secularism!
Thus in Psalm 82 there is the report. It is an evaluation and degradation of these so impudently and punily ‘divine’. The judgment of God on these pretenders possesses a tungsten tipped, steely irony (cf. Ezekiel 28:9, and II Cor. 11, where Paul speaks of false apostles, another spirit and another gospel that IS NO OTHER); just as in II Samuel 7 there is the elaborate contrast between the God who made Himself a name, and the gods of the nations from which, as from their nations, God has redeemed His people.
Thus we read: "I have said, 'You are gods and
all of you are children of the Most High.'
But you shall die like
men..." - Psalm 82:6-7; and Ezekiel
28:9 is yet more trenchant in irony,
"Will you still say you are
god when I slay you!"
Of Gods, there is ONE. Of pretenders there is
any number and the Jehovah’s Witness movement seems
determined to make use of them, whom God condemns in this very Psalm! It is
old. It is also new. The trend and the use of creature for Creator is both immemorable and from time
immemorial.
It is so, always has been so since man had time
to develop his impostures and impositions in the field of the divine; and
likewise there always has been, and will be one triune God, singular in being,
triune is persons, attested super-abundantly in word as in deed (cf. John
14:9ff., Repent or Perish Chs. 2, 5, 7).
Some want to split up His majesty, making
various disgusting substitutes, either sexually, philosophically or
psychologically, either self-centred, society centred, or spiritually centred
in some imaginary ether of the universe, some material which is mere repository
of laws, some thought wave that lacks a mind, a source, a cause or
self-sufficiency, a product unproduced, undetected
and without operational visibility; thus one that lacks reality, power, and
hence omits, so conveniently, the need to be OBEYED! Such 'gods' may be
presented to society and culture by legal pen at the quill of those retained
for the purpose; but their function is facade and their future death. There is
but one God, and it is He who has displayed Himself in flesh as man as He
promised (Micah 5:1-3, Isaiah 48:16, Zechariah 2:8, Psalm 45, Isaiah 43,
52-53); and man is His invention. The misdirected inventivenss
of man alike attests the wonder of the Creator and the woe of the abuse of His
gifts.
But to return to
Brussels, "the caprice of the gods", the whim, the idle frothy thought
of the gods, of the mighty, of
those who abound in their own importance, casting about their power for
whatever purposes seem good, awaiting arrest as they rise like wax to be
melted, somewhere in the clouds of their thoughts, by the sun. It is an old
theme. It has a new face. This
Amidst the
frustrations and power, the aspirations and difficulties, the US presence and
the Russian complaint, registered in the Kosovo capital's captured airport (for
how is that not capture which imposes its sovereign will on the NATO warriors,
without agreement through consultation, grasping raspily
the very location chosen as its centre!), so that the NATO rule will not take
over in Serbia without formal thrust from beyond it: amidst all this, there is,
says Time, a pressure for something else.
THE EUROPEAN AND THE
And that ? "a European defense identity", which it characterises as "a code word for a military
compact operating from (perhaps even against) the
Is the
Nevetheless the presidency rolls on. No rebuke! Nothing. The nation continues, and evidently with it, that incredible concept, reportedly pushed earlier in the CIA, that moral power and faithfulness is NOT an issue, but rather the power to perform. Perform, however, just what ? Perform in faithfulness to such slight affairs as due order, mandate, reliability in crisis, accountability at all times, moral perception of the actual order of priorities that is not confused with a few phrases and clichés, but heart-deep, intensely felt and operable even when the mud is knee-deep ?
It is NOT a question of a fault which, as
with the famed King David of Israel, comes and is repented of:
It is rather one of a vast splendour
of "investigation", argumentation, prima facie equivocation
and so forth, and allowing this admitted and multiple misuse of presidential
authority in the very place of power and in its interstices of operation, as
not really "relevant" enough to require action IN THE END! So
With trillions in debt, and moral vacuum
coming into vogue, and indeed "the religions" becoming a way of
handling social needs with some in political power, as an item for the agenda,
are we not moving in the the case of the US, towards
the Empire of Rome of old, with its many gods... gods who nevertheless die like
men, UNLIKE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. It is He, in the short history of the
If POWER, in its drab bastions, its pluses and minuses, in the arena of nations, really were the REALITY with which to bargain and to make concords and resolutions of problems, what then
THIS, for such an approach to politics and international bargaining: nothing! That is how far this once great land has fallen in this regard, in its contrivings and conceiving at the high level of strategic interplay.
Not that it is specifically the
Of course in both lands,
With such leadership dwindling on BOTH sides of the Atlantic, and in Britain, the at least ostensible impact of Protestant, of Biblical and of moral power and force signally departing from the national arena, both godly vision and moral truth at that level are draining away, like wash-up water, first dirtied and then let to flow out of the place.
In
1. the economic, the political, the administrative
2. the military and the operational 'realities' of the United States of Europe, with due reference to its 'historic' ... shall we say, past,
to become the aspirant medium: reluctant a little, lordly rather more.
Such is the breathing of that
De Gaulle's grandeur was not a mere passing
phase, nor was that of the Kaiser, nor for that matter, that of Napoleon.
Empire dominion and domination has shaken the lands and the world often enough
from this source. Now ? Growing in intimacy and with
So does the 'necessity' loom; for the spirit of the Age says clearly these two things: that Europe must ALL BE ONE, for one and of one; and that the ONE TO RULE MUST NOT BE GOD (precisely, indeed, as in Luke 19:14 - "We will not have this man to reign over us!" - the man there being God as man, Jesus the Christ, relayed by parable, apparent as judge). It is as simple as that. Indeed, this is a cry which is heard in the UN and one which echoes in the misplaced entities which loom where the heart of man should be.
With such encouragement to UNITY and POWER to
OPERATE, such RESOLUTION of the forces and means that Kosovo showed to be SO
important, and with such tensions, the incorrigibly inventive spirit of man, a
fine thing when in its place, but endlessly outrageous when it becomes the
spirit of "the gods", who nevertheless 'will die like men':
with THIS, comes the next
phase. It moves towards the spurious new
'unity' as Biblically predicted; and that is of the utmost importance in
this review of news in the setting of world history and Creator’s
News in the Bible (cf. SMR pp. 726ff.,
750Bff.). The spirit of
In the same issue, Time magazine refers without too much clarity or concern, to the new telecommunications law which is showing desire to VET, to PRUNE, to INHIBIT, yes, let us say it, to CENSOR internet content which is ... ILLEGAL (if the laws are good, that is good, but when are the laws centred in truth, these days, when the very meaning of the term (cf. SMR Ch.3) is not fashionable to define. Illegal ? yes that is to be prohibited. But that is not all. Expression on the internet which is to be removed, remedied or crushed, which is "offensive", says Time.
Offensive to whom ?
To bigots who do not like Jesus Christ, and consider that to proclaim the Bible
is offensive ? It has been done. It
happened in this State, even in a program on radio which was nothing but
straight Biblical exposition. It MIGHT offend someone! It COULD be offensive!
Christian love and concern was interpreted to mean hate; but that is merely the politesse,
the diplomacy of iron in the affairs of broadcast. It was a libel on Christ,
but then it was not exactly put in writing, merely the refusal and the law were sent. What law ?
Incredibly something about 'ancient hatreds', thus libelling
the Bible which is the doctrine of love! So it goes when social groups, be they
radio or political, or as in this current case, political appointees such as
the Australian Broadcasting Commission or its adjuncts, are put in charge of liberty.
That is it. It is terse, concise, taut. WHO
ARE these reasonable adults ?
The question has been secularly asked since Plato ... and HE AT LEAST had some concept of the righteousness of God, as seen in the Timaeus (cf. SMR p. 1005), though his relevant material, for our present purpose, in The Republic, deals rather with the ends of things, based in some concept of the good which is undefined. Rulers who have the vision splendid, special to themselves alone, are to direct the affairs of lesser beings. They literally then become a law to themselves.
Now in our Australian case*1, there is not even any vision splendid assumed, be it ever so inchoate, so confused or so uncertain. It is just what is acceptable to the "reasonable". This confused rhetoric is an abyss. 'Likely to' cause OFFENCE ? Some are offended when alcohol is not freely available at a wedding, some when immediate retribution is not measured out to offenders, some when any retribution is measured out to them, instead of psychological affairs and suspended sentences. The mighty, the gods, have ever new combinations and perorations in morals, in ethics, in principles, or in being unprincipled as the only just principle, so humorously twitted by Sir Humphrey in 'Yes Minister', in terms of what was presented as an operationally appropriate "moral vacuum"*2, on which he doted as a civil servant.
The thought is not so acrid to reality as all that, but it is nevertheless an invitation to morbidity in morals. NOT doing this because it might offend THESE persons, interests, groups, cultural components, this element of the spirit of the Age, whatever: and not quite putting something this way or that, in case THOSE will complain: where does this horror story lead, a narrative of subterfuge and indirection, of fake and obsession with the comfort zone at the expense of truth. Where indeed does it lead ? The subtle and diplomatic art of selling truth to avoid "offence" on the part of those always 'reasonable' gods: is it not common as dirt ? Dirt, however, being not morally culpable for its state, is preferable.
The morally gutless sacrifice of Christ is one thing: that is common in all races and not new to any government. What however of the refusal to allow those who do not so capitulate, to present the CONFRONTATION OF GOD ? What of the not uncommon case where the populace is to be PROTECTED from the FREE presentation of the ULTIMATUM OF THE ALMIGHTY, which on its obverse side, is THE GOSPEL OF THE FAITH, the ESCAPE HATCH FOR SINNERS and the WAY HOME FOR THIS WANDERING RACE, and the ONLY ONE ? It is this: the refusal to allow Christians to point this out, is of course the last stage in the moral obliteration of any people.
It is like hospitals REFUSING people not only the liberty to HAVE medicines, if they can stop it, but making it an offence to TELL them of their existence or availability or both!
Will it happen here ? It is often said, ‘Of course it couldn't happen!’ It is always 'of course not', until it does! THAT is the
trend. The NAZIS COULD NOT be as bad as Churchill said; and the COMMUNISTS HAD
TO BE GOOD in essence, some carrying the delusion to the point that 10 million
slowly whittled down 'offensive' labourers in Siberia
or corpses in the groves and the dirt, did not alter this persecution! Such is
fanaticism. Judgments are one thing; delusions are another, and self-serving luxuricrats (if one may coin a term), the fatter end of the
leading bureaucrats, dead to vision and simple oppressors of the people whom
they affect to serve: what were they like ? They were
like doctors who had mistaken their calling for that of morticians, and whose
call was, Kill where
necessary, and use up the (human) goods in service where possible, in
That of course is an end product of false
vision, fatuous vision, pretentious and mendacious vision, which neither helps
nor could help, but it was defended in many an
Australian institution of learning while
All that then, is a possible consequence in ONE DIMENSION of the loss of freedom, of that enervating failure to have COMPETITION of ideas, DEBATE of issues, and falsifying the ring by tying one hand of one contestant behind his back, or both; or just shooting him.
It is the eternal desire of the devil to prevent free competition in the realm of religion, for the very simple reason that he HAS to lose. His case is false, his claims are fraudulent. Never has one found that where truth is free, error triumphs, in nearly half a century of Christian living. The Biblical position is - as shown on this site and in particular in SMR - not merely right systematically and formally, it is without logical contestants, in the end, all becoming invalid, while the word of truth verifies itself with the same aplomb as it is in the first place, demonstrable to be true: on all sides.
There is good enough REASON to prevent freedom of speech, or so to harass it that people for safety’s sake will not speak freely, or cringe victims of conscience, before the expected slap, to be delivered with high legal tone, by ‘the gods’, in the face of the Lord; for after all, Christ had to be silenced, as the priestly party acknowledged, for OTHERWISE all men would follow Him (John 11:47-53).
What then ? "You know nothing at all," said the High Priest as the party gloomed about the following Christ
was obviously gaining, and which could swamp the land, they felt. So the deadly
silence continued to its end in murder. The objective truth was murdered (John
14:6), and ever since, the treatment accorded to His presentation is frequently
barbarous, and sometimes sophisticated, but in whichever way it moves, the
assault is continual. Sometimes it becomes law, hiding even in alleged
religious liberties, as in
WHERE the denial of freedom leads is one thing, and empirically it is interesting to watch the various directions this action takes; THAT it leads astray however in a palpitating democracy is quite sure. The balance of powers politically has long and well been argued by Locke, and freedom is one mode of access, essential in universities, in schools and in politics, in the Press and in books, in the electronic media and in the street. Where it is denied, the REASON for such godlike assumptions on the part of authority is one question; and the RESULT is another.
It happened in
Why ? Because we have had Christian Prime Ministers like Sir Robert Menzies ? They are not with us now. Because God Almighty is enshrined in the preamble to the Constitution ? It may be changed. In any case, with the English official religious pattern now obscure even to that nation, to judge by its numerous changes and various aspirations (cf. The Other News 13, A Question of Gifts pp. 65), the definition of that term, perfectly clear at the time of 1901, is not so allowed now. A socially NON-OBJECTIONABLE, that is acceptable 'compromise' could allow Allah with NO SON, to be merged with the Lord with ONE, to make a very pinnacle of power bow to the machinations of "the gods", who nevertheless will die like men, and meet their Maker, as Churchill reputedly put it, "soon enough".
A socially NON-OBJECTIONABLE - that is
‘acceptable compromise' - could perhaps allow Allah with NO SON, to be merged
with the Lord with ONE, to make a very pinnacle of power bow to the
machinations of "the gods", who nevertheless will die like men, and
meet their Maker, as Churchill reputedly put it, "soon enough".
Perhaps they will make this mockery, or something like it, subject to the
State, by sundry laws*3 and exclusions in
practice, and so ‘Caesar’ could rejoice with others of his ilk, from long ago,
now in the grave. (See Matthew
However truth is not available for further mutilation. It was done once in fine old style, on the Cross. Its merger, its synthesis with sin, its dismissal, its prohibition (in terms where there are any nails, that is, that pierce below the fleshy surface of futile wordings to obscure their reality, and that of Him into whose flesh they bore they message of hostility which continues, world-wide in the courts of the great), what is this ? This is the norm when the Babel spirit is out, when what is 'likely to be objectionable to a reasonable adult' becomes the criterion of liberty, as sure as the winds, as secure as the waves, as ill-defined as the clouds, nugatory, nebulous, nubilous extravaganzas of unholy humbug, waving phrases, not praises, and making the very waves the ruler.
Yet
The stage is
prepared, and so
THE RUSSIAN AFFAIR
Meanwhile, the Russian maverick position, a case rather like that of son on pocket money from his dad, crashing the family car, illustrated rather well in the airport take-over, something which however impermanent it may be, is likely at least to have some more permanent consequences, either in Kosovo or Europe or both.
it is all in the exact Biblical line. It is like a
submarine lining up its missile tubes, slowly, but surely, in a cat-and-mouse
game in the
JOY! This is joy. Do not show me sorrow! say the exasperated.
But it is! Do
you not feel it ? It is a joyful thing to see men like
ants lining up for what the directions say. Joyful ?
Yes, it shows as all things do, the power and sovereignty of God, the precision
of His testimonies, the unhurried, unflurried
performance criteria (Isaiah 48) being met as normal, and the world as witless
as blind, and as deaf as defiant, moving to its appointed roasting (cf.
Revelation 16:15-16, 19:19 ff. Micah 3:5, 7:16ff., Malachi 4, 3:1ff.).
THE GOSPEL CARE
And that ? THAT is joy ? Why yes. It shows as always the incomparable competency, the remorseless efficiency, the untouchable power, the unfathomable wisdom of the God who speaks, and who in speaking, sent His own WORD incarnate to the world, so that we might behold His grace and glory as of the only begotten of the Father, the Son whose ways are everlasting (Micah 5, John 5, 8:58), gracing our poor terrestrial establishment (impoverished by sin, compromised by divine curse on its folly, but engraced by the offers of divinity from the heights of infinite power and glory). Efficiency gives joy ? Yes again. When GRACE is efficient, it comes. When holiness if powerful, it goes.
Accordingly, when the Gospel is infinitely
powerful in its base and the word of the One who gives it moves quietly to its
effects, like a warship gliding from its launching into the silently receptive
waters (cf. Barbs, Arrows and Balms 17),
this is a a cause for joy. It is NOT a matter of
feeling only, but of fact. Its basis is not for man, but from God. As Paul put
it:
All this is found in Galatians 1. Its echoes
course through the faces and abysses of the universe.
The universe ? Yes, and this is intense joy, in the
midst of the moral gloom and spiritual vacuities of man's words: "He is the Head of the Church
...It pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness
dwell and, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to
reconcile all things to Himself - by Him, I say, whether they be things in
earth, or things in heaven."
That is in Colossians 1.
So history surges and resurges to its conclusion. But the conclusion that matters, that has been mouthed by God for thousands of years, and the message, like its Speaker, never changes. REPENT and BELIEVE in HIM, who is the only begotten of the Father, who has manifested God to man, God expressive; and RECEIVE HIM so receiving the peace which He has made, and provides, for many. HE is as defined in history and the Bible; the peace is as provided and the basis is as stated (Galatians 3:1-13 is one simple expression of it, II Cor. 5:19ff. another, and John 3 personalises it from a case).
Zechariah 12:10 further specifies the actions which, once performed on Jesus Christ when God the Father gave man the opportunity to express himself towards Him: "They shall look upon Me whom they have pierced!", then became integumental to the history of mankind. Indeed, as that particular prophecy loomed on the horizon, then opened up, and finally happened in history, that His hands should be pierced, the very 'hands' which with pre-incarnate power had fashioned the Universe (cf. John 1:1-3). As then the intolerance was expressed in His hands, being pierced, so now it is shown in all nations, towards the heart, which will not receive Him, so that one and all should fall.
Yet the joy ? It is that MANY will arise and conquer, in the conquests of Him who turned, in His wisdom, the crucifixion into the resurrection, the parade of assault on God to the empowerment of the assault on the cardinal horror of our race: its sin and the sentence of death which it both requires and gains. Intense is the joy in this: that THAT sentence has been quashed for all who receive Him, and that the brilliance of the plan of USING the hatred to SHOW the love, and turning the abuse, now so common throughout the earth, into OUR deliverance even from death, hs been consummated. History moves to its own consummation, when the lustre of Himself and His achievements will shine like the sun, just as already their light is the only one the world has - or for that matter needs.
Who so dull of heart, that seeing these things and knowing them, would not rejoice. There is NOTHING more to be done, except acceptance; there is no receipt to be gained, except the receipt of His presence; no PAYMENT is designated, but what He has paid already. As to that, it is the transfer for us, to the accounts of believers in Him, of what He has done for us, so that what is freely and sincerely offered to all (I John 2:1-2), should become what is transferred to some, which awaits (Matthew 26:28, Romans 8:32,John 8:24,42-47, 10:26 in contradistinction to 10:27-28).
The superiority, it is His alone! This, it is not the complex but rather the very complexion of superiority, that of God over man, of sin-free spiritual beauty over sinners, of that love that ransoms over the failure that requires ransom!
And that truth, triumph, transfer, redemption ? that wonder in Christ ?
It is as near as
It is as far as are the pretentious and
pretenders from humility, or the this-world
glory-seekers, of whatever sect or variety, whether
Yet it is as close as the companionship of reality to those who love
Him. Rejoice therefore; and if you fail to rejoice, use the grounds which make
it fitting; and fit it does, it all fits...
Another matter for rejoicing
? It is this. The
Kingdom of heaven "does not come with
observation", but is "in your midst" - Luke
This reference to "within" or in
the midst, was a rebuke to the power-profiteering Pharisees (cf. Matthew 23).
The kingdom of heaven involves emotional, moral, spiritual and personal
attributes, inter-relationships with God and leads to others with one another,
which are in the end, heavenly. That is why it is the Kingdom of heaven,
which is not only a destination, but the point of origin and only desirable
destination, since it is the abode of God in its spiritual immensity, intensity
and reality. For this reason, it is not primarily show or parade,
architectural, governmental or diplomatic. Without the spirit which worships God, there is NOTHING. It is ONLY WHEN the spirit is
put right (cf. Ezekiel
THAT
is a splendour which is intrinsic, not artificial,
acquired or imposed.
APPENDIX
EXCAVATIONS AND EXCURSIONS
NOTE and NOTE WELL
*1
In the field of religion, there is an
interesting feature, for
"ANY LAW FOR ESTABLISHING ANY RELIGION OR FOR IMPOSING ANY RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE, OR FOR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE OF ANY RELIGION, AND NO RELIGIOUS TEST SHALL BE REQUIRED AS A QUALIFICATION..."
In this country, the UN Declaration on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination and Intolerance based on Religion or Belief is now law (see Mystery
of Iniquity, Appendix 1, The Other News). In this UN Declaration,
Article 1, para 2 is of particular interest.
Coercion which might impair ... This means any denial or requirement which
militates against such religious freedom, instituting reward for some (by
having their religion imposed, or disposed advantageously), penalty for others,
including of course the impairment which would make an uneven field in debate,
declaration or intimation, such that one will be favoured
above another, whatever the cultural climate might be.
- as far as SA is concerned, and as in so far as
its University structure is at last partly Commonwealth funded, and the State
receives funds from the Commonwealth,
As to the School situation, see That
Magnificent Rock, Ch.8. For
the University, see Biblical Blessings Ch.11. The fact that such a slant as the
present writer has found in University work, should
exist, is not mitigated by the fact that the same is not uncommon in many other
universities. It needs to be justified, not assumed as has been repetitively
found in my own experience of universities, as student and teacher.
Let us proceed to the UN Declaration now, in Article 2, para 2. Here, having been told in para 1 that no one is to be subject to discrimination by any State, institution, group of persons or person on the grounds of religion or belief, we find what is MEANT by 'discrimination' in para 2.
Here it is to mean - that is,
intolerance and discrimination based on belief,
Rather amazingly this is quite clear.
This reinforces the Constitutional position for
Now clearly in the internet, if any religion were to be deemed UNDESIRABLE, for reasons other than what is deemed necessary (not ONLY prescribed by law, by ALSO NECESSARY, in Article 1, para 3) to "protect public safety, order, health or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others", this would be illegal. EQUALITY of platform, provided the platform is not attacked to slant it, itself, is the essence of this: for "on an equal basis" is the phrase used. That is how the thing is to go. That is the MEANING of the freedom concerned. IF ANYONE can lay down the law in the MEDIUM chosen, or have an ADVANTAGE which freedom itself cannot secure, that is then illegal. FREEDOM is to have the say, not cultural preference, statistical evidence or even political wile. If ANYONE ELSE and everyone else can do the same, and they can meet and exchange or confront or whatever the logic of the case may require, that is equal. If some one party or body is favoured a priori, get this: it is illegal.
But let us go back a little. What is the stated PURPOSE of the UN Declaration which we are reviewing in some of its parts ? It is for one aspect, "to prevent and combat discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief". Clearly then, a result which combats freedom, which combats equality, which secures a quasi-aristocratic nod to some, and against others in the field of religious liberty, this is fundamentally, to use their so well loved word, astray. It is CONTRARY TO DECLARED PURPOSE in this Declaration. We are of course abundantly at liberty to interpret the document to mean what the declared purpose indicates it is to mean. But let us now proceed to the particular...
Now clearly if the UN wants to have all men regard each other as brothers
(and in one sense, as offspring of the
Creator, they are - Acts 17;
while in another, Biblically and here
relevantly, some being rebels against reconciliation to Him, while others
are reconciled and in His purchased, redeemed family, they are not,
some in fact being called "children of the
devil" by Jesus Christ, quite explicitly - John 8:42-44 -
"You are of your father,
the devil", those refusing Him
being said to "die" in "your sins"),
this is its own religion. Whatever its reasons, that is its religion.
It is an option, abstractly, but not in spiritual terms, for the Bible believing Christian, whose Christ is as described on those pages: that is, the orthodox Christian. Thus, the UN Declaration in Article 5, paras 3 and 5 requires that a child should be brought up "in a spirit of ... universal brotherhood", and of "understanding". But what precisely is he/she to understand ? Why, that there is a tolerance about religion SUCH THAT we are all brothers in the religious (relevant, contextually) sense...This means that THAT part of the UN document is a travesty of the Articles 1 and 2.
That there should be a PEACEABLE and NON-VIOLENT, yes and an understanding attitude, yes again, and let one as a Christian go further, a loving attitude even to other religionists: this is one thing, and a good and a Christian thing. But that the understanding should be of some other kind, even a kind in part alien to the Bible, that is quite another matter.
The simple confusion is this: It is quite possible to LOVE someone, seek the welfare of that party earnestly, without in the least considering the position of that party, in religion correct, or other than exceedingly damaging to the one concerned. Love of liberty will NOT assail or assault the person, but love of the person will seek ways, as might a doctor for a sick person, of helping the outcome to be far superior to what is currently in view.
This then brings us to the heart of the matter. IF, and ONLY IF, there were NO TRUTH given to man about God, and His will, would this be in order. SINCE this is not the case, according to the Bible, then the faith which has this as its inspired writing from God, would be heavily discountenanced if those who held it were to be forced to consider, to think, to act as if the case stood differently. Indeed, there is LEGALLY not even to be an impairment of this necessary liberty, far less a mutation in this field! That is what the UN Declaration says.
Accordingly, since the UN is here on record as utterly against any such discrimination, it must interpret here the brotherliness so as not to clash with its liberty, and allow such concern for the welfare of others as above described, provided it does not transgress the stated will of the party concerned, as recipient. It must equally freely be made available to those who may opt to hear it, and hence be visible or audible in appropriate sites which one may visit to investigate and survey information.
Thus the Gospel must be freely narratable and audited. If this is not so, then those who have the brotherhood view for all men, religiously, would be given favour, and the others in the defined sense, discriminated against. The definition of discrimination must apply as given, so that although the brotherhood appears certainly to mean what it should not mean for 'neutrality' (that is not merely a created brotherhood, but a spiritual one, relevant to the religious topic in view), there is now a constraint to interpret it differently, if the UN means what it has just said.
Otherwise, on the basis of some sort of neutrality, it is merely a fraud in this area. Instead of not forcing this party or that, it prefers its own religion and insists on it for all! This is some impartiality! If then it proceeds with this brotherhood concept in context, it MUST be in fact be constrained to establish ITS OWN RELIGION IN THE FACE OF ANY AND ALL. That would be the RESULT (to use, once again, its own prohibited outcome, with its own chosen word for it). And that ? It is (in its own definition), what ?
It would then be practising this in the very articulation of the law PROHIBITING IT! That ? It would be good for humour, but not for religion, ostensibly to be "protected". Protected ? In such a case, it would resemble the protection which imprisons a man.
The options are simple.
Hence the liberty to be concerned at
religious issues and data, to express this, to relay it, to communicate its
grounds in the love of Christ, and in such a way as to show His own regard for
absolute truth, must for just one case, be uncurtailed electronically as in other media, in terms of
this UN Declaration. It must not be nullified à la
This is integumental to the UN Declaration. The RESULT must show this as well as the intention BE THIS. THAT is what it says. The next question or issue is simple: DO IT! If however the matter be taken the other way, and this imposition be made, favouring some, assailing the faith of others, there is only sham and shambles. Let us consider this.
WHEN a party has a sacredness in this or that imposed on law, or through law, that of course IS an aspect of the religion of that party, an indomitable, non-negotiable certainty of religion OR belief which is IMPOSED because it CANNOT BE OTHERWISE! That would make of the UN a new pope. The practice is far from new, but the international, global extent of it would be! It would also abundantly fulfil prophecy (cf. SMR pp. 683-707 etc.), and prepare for the end. THAT however would not make it better, merely a good example of the accuracy of Biblical prophecy, in its very malpractice and fraudulence, forestalled by the God whose predictions make the SCOOP OF THE UNIVERSE.
That said, let us hope that the
UN will KEEP its own requirements and hence not abuse its powers; and that
It has not happened yet. The Government has a fine time in which to show restraint, conscientious regard, thought and care, not legislating things both unconstitutional and contrary to UN 'law', in this area, but circumscribing its words with all due care. Thus can it achieve limitations against the misuse of force and of the young, without casting away the liberty which so many for so long have so prized, even fighting for something better than mere legislative betrayal.
It was not so, of course, since the MORALS were there in strength: DO NOT prevent administrative fluency and good odour, lest it corrupt progress up the tree of success. This is certainly immoral, since it pretends to serve, while being self-serving whether for a person, a sub-set or both, at the expense of the ostensible recipients. It is however a form of preference in values, and be it called anti-morals, or a negative form of morality, it certainly has a viewpoint on ‘the good’.
BUREAUCRATIC OPPRESSION AND ITS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT IN RELIGION
What then follows this early
sort of action ?
What then, is
the next step ?
This is more 'advanced' altogether ? It is this: LICENCE TO MIX what the State sanctions, or contrives, or both, to vitamise the permitted elements, in the field of religion.
Having made the brew, preferably with no label: Then insist they all get licences, this is the following gambit.
Then send scouts into the churches, masquerading as 'worshippers', to ensure they keep the 'Party Line' - but alas it is no party (terminus to that 'line' ? - hell!).
Then send police in because they didn't keep to the line, or because it is alleged they didn't. It does not make too much difference to the devoted negative bureaucrat: the police can do their stuff, however they get in, when they are in. At all events, get the police in to - shall we say, the dissidents...
The Chinese, it seems, have done something very like this - the Three Self Movement, a pitiful Buddhistic seeming quasi-Christian blight on the Christian truth, which for its own part, is this: that one is crucified with Christ and from Him takes one's life and food, so that from Him is one's fruit found (Hosea 14:8 -and study that chapter well for its delightful and evocative context, Luke 14:27ff). THAT is the Christian truth of which this three self sediment, for the actual Three, the Trinity, is a weak, socialised substitute, subsistence living in the place of the dynamic of the living God who has definitively and exclusively declared His truth for mankind in the Bible, in writing, and in Christ, in Person.
If bureaucrats do not happen in particular cases to believe this, this does not make an export licence proper for them to assail churches with their own platitudes, attitudes and paternalistic putsch. They seem very disinclined to argue, establishing anything by reason; but much predisposed to act, using mere debased force, as have some of the least of the other religions, in the past. After all, if reason is not available for a case, force is OFTEN SO USED.
Back home now, let us come for a moment. Make no mistake: What South Australia has begun in its Government Schools, fooling with schools, making authoritarian political intrusion into the fabric, design and limits of what is 'acceptable' in phases of religion and academic affairs in schools: this is merely a testing of the waters. Some may know it; some may not: this is the function however, for the normal 'historical' development of oppression in such fields, these days.
Unless it be rebutted, assuredly more will follow. It IS rebutted, but with the lack of numbers in confrontation with this intrusive clamour, the government merely makes irrational noises, authoritarian sounds, not valid in any logical exercise, and goes on its thunderous path, the new Moses as if to ape the U.N..
Until clear-cut competition in the realm of ideas and theories is renewed in this blasted heath, and until the State stops its abysmally ignorant toying with religion (which however is not a toy, but in its spiritual, rational reality, when it is found where it righteously belongs: the truth), there is matter for judgment indeed. The subjectivistic substitution of feeling leads merely to the Government feeling what it feels like, leaving any form of rational reality as far off as the ocean from the desert. It is a gross insult to God, a surrender of common-sense, an authoritarian replacement of preferred fantasy, cultural conformity - which in this case is, rather hilariously, outdated as well - for tried and tested truth. It is an embargo on scientific method in the field where biology meets religion. Its skewed concepts and unbelievable bias is then exported to social studies and made into an entire recipe for fantasy, for the school.
But let us consider it. It is also the beginning of the governmentally autocratic end - where the State calls the shots in the field of religion, and proceeds to harass the students who get in the way. How do they do this at present ?
And so on. It is treated in detail in That Magnificent Rock, Ch.8.
In discriminating against those who can attest
and logically sustain a better way - whether parents of the child-victims who
attend such schools, or the children themselves - this SA propaganda machinery
is already in advanced condition, a well developed case. It discriminates
economically as well, since wise parents may well have to pay private school
fees for their children, to prevent methodologically inept indoctrination
contrary to scientific method. They may have to do this, as well as pay their
share of taxes to allow other parents to have their own children
indoctrinated, if they so choose, or do not have the funds with which to do any
better!
Let this mould alone, and it will spread through vast resources of academic bread.
Do you recall the earnest pleas of that brave
Chinese functionary, at or near the time of
I should think the students do - those of them who are left.
Viruses are little things, and the first golden staff stumbling into a hospital environment that suited it, might to the short-sighted have seemed but a feeble foe.
However, left alone, they have their ways. That is the nature of poor hygiene, and runabout pathology.
For the Christian ?
Give a reason for faith (I Peter
Shine as light in a dark place
(Philippians
Rejoice, for this occult
pollutions of the environment of the spirit are only temporary, the
devil is as furious as spurious; for he knows his time is short (Revelation
12). Hell is long.
"Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might," (Ephesians 6:10), speak the truth in Christ with all boldness, since after all, it is the truth ,with its personal Head, the Lord Himself (Philippians 1:20, Acts 4:29, II Cor. 11:1, John 14:6, Ephesians 2:20-22, 4:15-16). With those who follow the Lord, "stand fast in one spirit, with on mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; and in nothing terrified by your adversaries, which to them is an evident token of perdition {or - a sure sign that they are lost }, but to you of salvation, and that of God" - (from Philippians 1:27-28).
If need be, as in v.29 which follows the above, reflect thus: "For to you it is given in behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake."
Suffering, if and as it comes
? What of this ? "If you should be reproached for the name of Christ,
happy are you: for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you; on their part,
He is evilly spoken of , but on your part, He is
glorified" - I Peter
And if the devil is subtle, what did you expect ! It is a weak and slithery subtlety. But God: HE is
wise, and that is a far better thing, enshrined in truth, expressed in love, glowing
with holiness, unblemished, wholesome and free. THUS BE JOYFUL (cf. I
Thessalonians