Ethnocentrism
and propinquity
By Jim Killebrew
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[December 26, 2013]
Every
few days a giant issue rocks our world, having at its core a set of
values with polar opposites. I think the dilemma our nation faces
today has its roots in ethnocentrism and propinquity. Simply put,
the groups of which we are each a part believe their foundational
values are superior to all other values, and we seek out those people
who believe the same way as we believe. The process has come to be
called "multiculturalism."
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Ours is a unique nation built on immigrants who have assembled
from all over the world. Through the years people have left their
home of origin and migrated toward the United States, some
voluntary, others by force. With each individual or people group, a
homeland with a unique culture and society was left behind. Some
were fleeing from that culture; others wanted to bring it with them
to transplant in their new world.
We have a nation where perhaps the majority of people believe in
God, at least by some measure. Yet we have all but discarded
Christian principles in favor of a secular form of government that
through the years of growth and maturity has become powerful and
strong. It has developed into a form of government that is believed
to be "we the people," yet it has become a government with men and
women holding powerful offices for limitless terms, building for
themselves spheres of personal power and great wealth. Their will
prevails through the laws, regulations, taxing powers and bestowed
favors. Oftentimes they exempt themselves from the adverse effect of
the laws they pass for others. They secure for themselves special
interest groups who surround them with protection and favors,
allowing them to write special "riders" to major legislative laws,
providing special favors to the special interests that favor the
individual lawmaker. It is simply another byproduct of the secular
form of government.
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In our own government, as well as others throughout history, we
eventually embrace the secularism and humanism to dilute God's
absolute truth to a form of "situational ethics." To control the
larger population, the ideas of secularism must be infused throughout
the citizens of the "collective." This has been done in our culture
and society through the mandated public education system, higher
education and through the dissemination of employment in both the
public and private sectors. Social justice issues are brought to the
fore as "humanistic" efforts that reinforce the pervasive learning
through the educational systems in the communities by
"standardization" of curriculum and texts. Those who resist the
influence of a growing, powerful government are ostracized by those
who have "bought" into the system. Members of the media
are rewarded for partnering
with the powerful figures in government and reap plentiful rewards
of associations and privilege and celebrity positions in society for
supporting those powerful lawmakers. The cycle of dependency
permeates those whose livelihood is sustained by the "entitlements"
endowed by those who "represent" them. The entitlement is purposely
kept at subsistence levels to ensure dependency, but at the same time
not build motivation and strength to leave the dependency model.
Secular society measures morality against the social mores accepted
by society at large; Christians measure morality against the
standards established by the God of the universe. It always comes
back to our individual choices. The Christian should never totally
depend on the government to sustain their livelihood. The government
may be sustained for many more years; or it could end abruptly. For
the Christian, it is their belief in the God of creation and His plan
of salvation through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross that
sustains, not the dependency model of government. We must remember
it is God Who is the Righteous Judge in the long run, not a society.
[By JIM KILLEBREW]
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