I'm at a crossroads in my ministry. Many Christians and "non" resent my passion and furor against the unjust and immoral invasion and occupation of Iraq--that has managed to uncork Islamism from its bottle.
There is no question in my mind that for the Christian-- history is not an endless cycle of meaningless events going nowhere-- nor the clash of subjective parallel universes which begin and end in the futility of human discourse and language, as the postmodernists would have it.
For the Christian, history is the drama of the clash between good and evil-- between the utilitarian paganism of Pontius Pilate with Rome's {that eternal symbol of pagan decadence and brutal hubris} will to power--and the revelation of all goodness in Jesus Christ, who girded Himself with a towel to wash the feet of the meek and the simple of heart.
For the Christian-- history is the existential unfolding of the inevitable consequences-- {both for individuals and for nations}-- of the moral, philosophical, and political choices which all intersect in human lives and thus in history. Our current clash with Islam is just such an unfolding.
Both good and evil have their own weight. And both will play out in history until their respective fruits are ripened in the fullness of time. Neither mankind nor their elected or appointed leaders can will a victory in this war.
The revelation of "GOD" in Christ, climaxing at the end of history, is not some myth relegated to a shelf of the History of Religions School-- but the revelation of the Creator of all contingent being and the meaning of history itself.
One thing is certain from the Christian revelation-- error must fall of its own weight in time. In Romans 1 & 2 St. Paul says "GOD" withdraws his graces from persons and nations which turn away from His natural and moral laws and who choose instead to behave like {or worse than}-- red-toothed conscienceless animals exercising sheer power and lust over others, and indulging the Seven Deadly Sins {envy, sloth, gluttony, wrath, pride, lust and greed... } as a freemarket index of success.
When "GOD" in judgement withdraws his graces from human beings and nations, the deepest darkness falls on the earth and even the righteous must suffer in consequence. This is why I have counseled a withdrawl from Iraq and a return to the moral teachings of our Savior.
Romans 1:18-25-- "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
"For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
"Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen.
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isa 5:20
Tremendous choices are ours to make as free beings.Will America or it's individual citizens choose darkness or will the return to the light? I pray the later--but free will will reign.
The fathers-- both in the East and West-- tell us there are three major signs signaling the end of human history. according to scripture and the fathers, they are: 1. The Gospel is preached to all the world 2. Worldwide apostasy from Christian morals and natural law in favor of what John Paul II called "the Antiword," or the enforced inversion of Christian teaching and 3. Wars and rumors of wars and natural disasters on an unprecedented scale culminating in the revelation of Antichrist, whether that is a person or a system of the Antiword.
In light of this understanding of history wherein both good and evil are involved in the most titanic struggle which ever was, but which will crescendo in time, it is up to Christians tocontinue as we are. We cannot turn our heads from our Savior and his teachings simply for the sake of some perverted logic that implies we are traitors or cut and run artists-- if we deny the will of leadership gone astry.
Following our Savior the Lord Jeus Christ means bearing witness to the truth which of necessity involves the prophetic criticism of all powers, earnestly seeking to correct them in good faith, even as we point to and seek to nurture and encourage the residual good which still exists in the world because, as St. Paul says-- "where sin abounds grace does much more abound"-- Romans 5:20. For Christ is the Light which the darkness cannot quench--John 1:3 and the world will never entirely be bereft of His goodness, beauty and truth!
We must turn our backs on unwise counsel that denies goodness and -- continue in the spiritual and corporal works of mercy-- teaching the Sermon on the Mount, peacemaking, calling all to the Eucharist, walking as Jesus the Healer and Good Shepherd, walked--1 John 2:6-- wherein love illuminates the darkness wherever the darkness exists.
Every judgement of "GOD" is intended to be an atonement--[the Hebrew word for both judgement and atonement is the same: kippur]. Cleary it is time for the world to repent, lest great chastisements continue to befall us, in ever increasing intensity--2 Peter 3, Matt 24).
A proper understanding of the Christian view of history lends no support to the bug-eyed bunker mentality of the Bush Doctrine or those who cleave to it in desperation. Quite frankly i am shocked that this President chose the old ways of American diplomacy and warfare when he has proclaimed to all his own born again Christianity.
I have insulted some and chastised others in a vain attempt to interject these thoughts and teachings as of late and all I have to show for it is red ears and frustration. Lest I too loose my good will and humility for ever, I must either continue to shout from the rooftops as I believe my Creator expects or turn away from discussing this topic, wipe my shoes of the collective dust, and remain forever silent to the discourses posted about. How can I maintain humility when I see unfolding the very end times taught in the bible and alluded to by the church bishops? How can I not cry out for the dignity and sancity of life?
Recognizing evil when it unfolds Satans wings and begins to soar, as is presently unfolding in the middle east--and getting this message across to those who resist the very warning signs foretold in the bible is exasperating. Denying my countries leaders their vain ammoral actions cloaked in patriotism has resulted in closed minds and tarnished friendships. I find myself at times so emotionally drained that I can barely but words to sentences and sentences to a paragraph. I'm often reduced to mumbling in print! Enough said. I'm through. I'm spent for a time on this topic. For I have truly said all I can at present. In good faith I have taught and counseled as demanded by my Savior. Forgive me for any ill feelings and distress my discourses have wrought. It has only been in love that I have so fervantly advocated my stance.
As Yodi looks up and cdatches my gaze, I will pray that those meant to heed "GOD'S" message do and that those who don't-- receive what mercy and grace "GOD" bestows on their soul.
I leave the reader with this final thought.
Love will never cease loving. "GOD" is love. As Josef Pieper said so truly-- "We understand nothing about the Antichrist if we do not see him, despite all his power within history, as one who is fundamentally already defeated".
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