 They, as a group, and individually, were shunned by the rest of society and
taught not to mention their plight or special status. The "Today" story
highlighted one man who was the product of that Nazi practice and had been
one of those children who was now speaking out as an older adult and telling
the story that had been suppressed for so long. This kind of Godless
endeavor does nothing but put people at risk.
In the 21st Century America that we now live, one wonders how such
atrocities could happen. And yet we have seen many examples throughout the
short past 100 years:
The world aflame during the "Great War" that was to be the war that ended
all wars.
The Second World War and all the death and despair it brought…along with the
advent of a nuclear age.
Korea, that still stands ready to move away from the simple "cease fire"
agreement that exists today.
And then from Vietnam to the current holy Jihad that seeks to destroy those
who can be defined as "infidel."
Perhaps we have already seen some changes toward a repeat of history. It has
been seen in part because of a growing practice of what Martin Luther King
Jr. described in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail as a group of "good"
people who fail to rise up with their voices in unison against the rabble.
Of course Dr. King was referring to those religious leaders and congregates
who believed in the right thing, but failed as a group to see the social
injustice and the tyranny against an entire ethnic group through
nullification and interposition. By not speaking out against that injustice,
they in fact tolerated and supported it. That was not unlike the "good"
people in Germany during the Hitler era that looked the other way when
millions of families were being destroyed by those whose agenda was "social
change." In the end it brought nothing but world war.
Turning to the Bible we read,
2 Chronicles 7:14
"IF MY PEOPLE, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and
pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear
from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (KJV)
This likely means in context that God is telling Solomon that the land will
be healed by the devastation of the locusts that devour the land; but the
eternal truth is that God has promised to care for those who call upon His
name, turn from their sin and follow Him.
Now, as then, in fact, we often find ourselves actually catering to those
who are screaming the loudest. We have allowed ourselves to become
submissive to those who have the loudest bullhorn. We see injustice and
illogical actions; we see the politicians finding every conceivable tax to
levy and then "redistribute" those funds as they will. Oftentimes reading in
the newspapers and watching on television those elected "public servants"
who leave their elected office after years of government salary as personal
millionaires. We lower our heads and mutter silently, "How did that happen?"
And yet, in our heart of hearts we know the answer. We just don't want to
get involved. We don't want the spotlight to shine in our direction because
we don't want to be bullied and ridiculed for being "disingenuous" or
failing to be "politically correct." Yes, we cater to the few because they
are the most vocal.
Let's face it, the ultra liberal position has captured many in the media and
the extreme left. Their message is pounding away at the American people
trying to change their hearts and minds regarding issues like separation of
church and state, abortion, marginalizing the military or catering to all
kinds of special interest groups. One definition of liberalism that seems
appropriate is: "Liberalism is the belief of a concentration of power in the
hands of a few who then use the power and institution of the government to
extinguish individualization and independent thought."
Karl Marx, who is known as the Father of Socialism and Communism held that
belief in God was the opium of the people. He did everything he could to
eliminate that belief. The more government takes over and controls the lives
of individuals, the more the masses become like the "collective."
A while ago the California Legislature discussed introducing a law that
would criminalize parents for any "corporal" punishment for any child under
the age of three. A pat on the bottom or a slap on the hand for a child in
the "terrible twos" could, under that law, have the child taken away and
raised by the state, and have the parent sent to prison. Remember, these
things come only gradually.
[to top of second column] |
 As government grows and the liberal perspective becomes more and
more dominant, one significant change will likely be the elimination
of God in our Society. Multiculturalism, instead of assimilation,
that is being taught in America's public education is at the very
least equalizing the country's own national heritage with other
national groups who refuse even to learn the language. It is
teaching a "sensitivity" that precludes "offending" anyone whose
beliefs differ from the foundational Christian ethics of the Bible.
On January 31, 2007 in Indiana on a station in Fort Wayne, the news
reported that one Legislator "broke the silence of over a year"
imposed by the courts to not have any prayer in the Indiana
Legislature. The news story related that the Legislator prayed only
to "God" but could not mention the name of Jesus as the court
injunction demanded. Mentioning the name of Jesus offended those who
do not want to hear that name.
As one generation rises and another passes into history the
values of the former overshadow the latter. It is very difficult to
see any differences between yesterday and today, or last week and
this week. But the differences begin to be noticed as one examines
last decade with present times, or last century with now. So it is
with generations, one comes with the values formed from experiences
and knowledge, while the current generation passes away. Someone has
said that we are only one generation away from extinction. Perhaps
that is true when you examine the differences in the values from one
group to another.
An oft quoted Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the
University of Edinburgh, is said to have described the way of all
past civilizations:
"Politics and Progress-
From bondage to spiritual faith;
From spiritual faith to great courage;
From courage to liberty;
From liberty to abundance;
From abundance to selfishness;
From selfishness to complacency;
From complacency to apathy;
From apathy to dependency;
From dependency back again into bondage."
Looking at the American civilization from Tyler's perspective, it
might be argued that America is on course for such a cataclysmic
change as to be swept up into bondage once again:
Seventeenth century America: Europeans of faith migrate to American
Colonies for religious freedom to escape the bondage.
Eighteenth century America: American colonists living in relative
freedom under British rule during the first half of the century.
Latter half of century the colonists fight revolution and
declaration of independence through great spiritual faith with great
courage.
Nineteenth century America: Expanded freedom through expanded
territory; bloody civil war with abolishment of slavery;
reconstruction and great movement toward liberty for all.
Twentieth century America (first half): Freedom, industrialization,
modernization, world liberation through two world wars;
establishment of foundation for dependency (New Deal).
Twentieth century America (second half): Atoms for peace, New
Frontier, War on Poverty, Guns and Butter. Movement from liberty to
great abundance and dependence on socialized government. Scientists
expanded Technology with computer advancement and application while
social theorists expanded a movement toward socialism. Introduction
of legal practices to eliminate segments of society: abortion and
"death with dignity."
Twenty-first century America: With great abundance and the greatest
economy ever, selfishness through public policies such as abortion,
greater influence of larger government, higher taxes and much more
leisure time, accompanied by a movement to a world-wide market.
Since it is generally agreed that change is inevitable, the mode of
change is what may be the most important.
Using Tyler's cultural taxonomy, the way of our civilization at the
current time seems to be somewhere between dependency with apathy
and complacency…perhaps moving toward bondage. It would be great to
think that before bondage becomes a reality we could consider a move
directly back to spiritual faith through the Gift has provided and
live in that faith in God and His leadership for Christian living.
The winds of social change are blowing hard.
[By JIM KILLEBREW]
Click here to respond to the editor about this
article.
|
