COMensarations
Monday, January 28, 2008
The Coming Fury….Second Installment
The [Cultural] Civil War of the 21st Century. Has it already begun?
There was an article in the paper the other day by my neighbor. Based on my reading, it suggested that we, as a people, were on the verge of a war of violence relating to matters of culture. It was, if you’ll pardon the term, liberally laced with innuendo and militaristic metaphor.
These tools of rhetoric were used to describe a militaristic mind-set of a particular group of christians. They implied that this group was getting ready for ‘war’. And even went so far as to convey the impression that they might even be getting ready to do violence.
Whether this is accurate or not, I do not know. As a retired Army officer, I learned the truth of an old staff puke axiom....
“Things are never as bad, nor as good, as first reported.”
I’ll gather more information. But based on what I know and I have gathered already, doing research on the web, I don’t see justification for my neighbor’s ‘concern’ that these christians are preparing to wage a war of violence, instead of rhetoric, against their perceived ‘enemies’.
After 57 years of observation and participation, I see that the culture war is, contrary to the title of my neighbor’s article, not just under the surface. Rather, it is already upon us. Those who think otherwise, have not been paying attention.
Maybe it’s just me. Maybe it has to do with my current delving into Bruce Catton’s accounts of the Civil War of the 1860s. But I see and learn from history. And the history I’ve been learning of late correlates with what I’ve been observing over the last 30 years.
There is a culture war going on. And, at times it has become ugly. And, on a few occasions, even violent. However, the violence has more often been by non-christians against christians, or other believers in the Judeo-Christian God, as described in that Old Book. And that violence has not always been perpetrated by the fanatical followers of bin Laden and his ilk. Statistics will bear this out.
On the less ugly side, we have other evidence that the war is on. Case in point, the sorry state of so-called ‘mainstream’ denominations; Roman Catholicism with it’s issues of pedophiles in it’s priestly ranks, Episcopalians, Methodists and some Lutherans over homosexual ministers. These are just a few examples that spring to mind as I write. I’m certain that I could come up with more after some additional coffee is applied.
Does my neighbor suggest that people who can—and do—read the that Old Book for themselves and comprehend that something is wrong should not speak out about it? Or is he afraid that by speaking out they may prove a certain cherished position he has held could be proven wrong?
Is he concerned that by reading such books as America at the Crossroads by Ewing and Marschall they might gird up their loins and develop the ‘fighting spirit’ to “take up their pens and enter the fray”?
I say “Good for them AND good for my neighbor and myself.” One of my guiding principles has been the idea that a clash of doctrines is not a disaster. Rather, it is an opportunity....to learn. And in learning, gain a better understanding. Besides, I always enjoy a good debate. Maybe that’s why I judge Colorado High School Forensics.
As for the debate turning violent. It, occasionally, has. I’m reminded of one incident where someone in an SUV deliberately drove over several people, in broad daylight; as the police looked on. No charges were filed against the driver.
What do you think of that?
The people who were assaulted with this vehicle, were protesting against abortion.
Did that change your previous opinion?
If so....why?
I suggest that if your opinion DID change, you’re already a combatant in the culture war. And a violently hypocritical one at that.
Think about it.
As I said, I’ve been getting a lot out of Catton’s account of the Civil War. And I see parallels between the lead-up to that violent episode in our history and what is going on today.
We may not have had a John Brown’s Raid. We may not see such an event, but I think we are seeing the period of heated rhetoric that occurred for a number of years before. We could even be in the period resembling the terrible days of ‘Bleeding Kansas’, as people come to churches across the land and start slaughtering the worshippers; anybody remember what happened a few miles up the road from here? Or have we already forgotten?
I submit that those who hate Christ are already performing the acts of violence against His followers that my neighbor proposes these christians are edging towards. However, I doubt these christians are planning to do the same. Some might, but they would be a distinct and condemned minority. Condemned by the REAL christians.
On the other hand, we have incidents like what happened in Kansas where a minister peacefully carrying a sign on the public sidewalk around a park was arrested by the police for peacefully carrying a sign on the public sidewalk around a park.
Other people were carrying signs at the same time. They were not arrested.
Why this dichotomy?
Yes. The war is on. And, occasionally, it is violent, but the violence, by and large, is against christians. Especially the REAL ones.
Will they fight back? Yes. With violence? Some may. But they will be few. Meanwhile, the vast majority will remember what their Master taught; something about “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Enemy or not....
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on 11/06 at 08:53 PM