152 Advent 1: Wake Up
152 Advent 1: Wake Up
"I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house of the Lord.'" ~ Psalm 122
Wake Up
(Part 9 in the multipart series “Where We Stand”)
Election is presented in the Bible as a dogmatic confidence. It is not complicated:
The entirety of mankind is blood-bought by the Almighty Creator God’s own self-sacrifice in the one man Jesus Christ.
This, as merit, is freely given as the “good spell,” as a promise made by Words that can neither lie nor fail.
The effect of this Divine Wind on the human heart, this Holy Ghost’s inspiration of the hearer, is entirely his prerogative.
All who find themselves impacted by such hope incarnating in them, already thus experience eternal life as the down payment of regenerated trust in God the Father.
This justification also sanctifies, “sets apart,” the believer from the merely wicked.
You are thus oath-born (God’s oath, not yours!) to never stumble in such a manner so as to fall.
This knowledge is fueled by prayerful use of the Scriptures under tribulations.
This is God’s plan for you (a) without your help, (b) with your participation, (c) to your glory, and (d) in His glory.
All debates about the role of the will are a distraction from the power of the promise. But such distractions are bound to come because believing that salvation is not up to you, that there is nothing you can do about it, that you are entirely reliant on God’s good graces, is damned near the hardest thing in the world to do. In fact, “with man it is impossible” (Matt. 19:26.) That’s the point!
Evil cannot reform itself to be good. Death cannot renew itself to be life. There must be an inflection point, an intervention, a new creation. Only God can do that. The “good spell,” the εὐαγγέλιον, is the promise that such is His everlasting intent.
That such promise will only be believed by a remnant is no counter-argument. This too is declared to us. Our need to ask “Why?” is not wisdom but folly, not insight by pride. Bantering over words will not stop the reality that there is and will remain a people awakened by the story of Jesus in the midst of a world gone and going mad in their enmity with their Maker up to the very Day of Judgment. Complaining about it, calling it “unfair,” or trying to make conciliatory apologies to justify God’s mysteries is to sacrifice the potency of His religion.
Don’t do it.
You are born-again out of the cowardly, self-justifying, excuse-driven sacrificialism into a holy mortification of every present impassioned rage and hunger by the confident assertion of God’s own Name, certain that whatever fiery losses may come, they are, better-still, subsumed in the saving flood of Jesus Christ’s incontrovertible resurrection from the dead to reign as GodKing.
For Christianity to survive in the West it is imperative that we remember this, and then with it the subsidiary reality: that if a man is not awake, he is most definitely asleep.
Till angel cry and trumpet sound,
The Mad Christian
Clickbait Paradise
In this issue:
hate crimes
more COVID gaslighting
the appeal of a good conscience!
Lies we tell ourselves
Can we all agree that our media complex is a bit of a cesspool? After recent attacks on gay clubs, corporate media scrambled to see whether they could find the definitive piece of evidence to prove that the perpetrator is a product of the ideology of the "other side". But, as is often the case, it's fools who rush in and the facts can't be tied off in a neat bow.
A shooter killed 5 people at a Colorado club and injured many others before being tackledby a retired veteran. While mainstream media were quick to blame conservative policymakers for fostering hate with their stances on marriage and family, conservative outlets made hay with the news that the suspect was claiming a non-binary identity. Another incident occurred in New York where a man threw a brick through the window of a gay bar. Far from being a "hate crime", the attacker is gay and has a beef with the establishment.
In the end, the search to find a killer's "motive" is a fool's errand. Honest observers have noticed there is animus between the letters in the rainbow array and that some folks are just angry, regardless of their politics. Playing the "hate crime" card when it comes to violence in minority communities may be politically expedient, but really leaves an unsatisfying explanation.
Some thoughtful journalists will point past politics to poverty, housing shortages, over-prescription of anti-depressants, or the failures of a mental health system. However, we live in a time when people are unmoored, without fathers, families, church, or country to ground them with purpose or instill virtue. The nebulous trauma of life in Modernland will send you insane if you don't have an anchor.
Our materialistic society has long moved on from believing in the devil and his schemes, or that his minions torment humanity with their lies. We're too clever for that. Yet until we repent and acknowledge that no amount of education, money, or playing at equality can change a human heart, every attempts to prevent sinful human behavior will just be a band-aid.
Although the world may not even be asking the question, we need to tell them the answer. This crumbling age will continue to be filled with trouble, but the Bible reveals the source: humanity "did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened". Our rebellion is killing us.
But the Word also tells us where our hope lies. No systemic solution. No unifying rhetoric. No fancy program. Just forgiveness of sins in the Word and sacraments and wisdom for this journey. One day the devil will deceive no more and Jesus Christ will restore creation, as if it were the dawn of the first day. That is our anchor and it will hold.
A good conscience
Pastor Wolfmueller was a guest on Issues, Etc. last week and brought some comforting teaching about the conscience. He explained how our consciences are informed and shaped by the Word, human laws, our peers, and by our culture. Although family, church, and state should protect consciences, in our age this is not always the case.
As Pastor Wolfmueller says, we can sharpen our own consciences by dwelling on the Ten Commandments each day. Blurring the lines of good and evil seems to be a feature of Modernland and, as sober-minded Christians, we need to be aware that we can influence other's consciences. We can bless our neighbors by helping them have a good conscience, not by shielding them from conviction, but by speaking truthfully.
In a world that has lost its moral compass, it is a gift of God that He gives to his saints clarity in His Word and by the Spirit who convicts the world of sin. More than that, Jesus gives us the balm of forgiveness in His blood and the mighty word of absolution which comforts our consciences. As Pastor Wolfmueller reminds us, on that great Day when we see our Savior face-to-face, He will be smiling. Alleluia!
You can read more from Pastor Wolfmueller on the topic here.
World Cup of Wokeness
We understand a lot of Americans aren't that interested in the World Cup, but most of the rest of the world takes it very seriously. This Cup has been controversial for off-field issues rather than the game itself. Reports surfaced that anyone wearing clothing supportive of LGBTQ causes would not be admitted to the stadium, prompting outcries from the liberal Western media.
The world's governing soccer body FIFA seemed to want to avoid trouble, saying it would yellow-card and sanction players who wore rainbow armbands onto the pitch. A number of Western teams had planned on protesting the Muslim host nation of Qatar for its ban on homosexuality.
While many feathers were ruffled by Qatar's unsurprising stance on the gay agenda, but UK diplomat John Jenkins joined the UnHerd podcast to warn that the bigger threat from Qatar is its infiltration of Western nations. The Arabic-language media company Al Jazeera is a Qatari creation and, with its massive wealth from natural gas reserves, the tiny nation is also sponsoring Islamic rhetoric in schools in Europe and buying strategic properties in the UK.
In a somewhat contrasting situation, the Iranian team remained silent during the playing of their national anthem, which many took to be a protest. Readers may know that violence broke out in Iran some weeks ago, after a woman who was arrested for not wearing her headscarf correctly died after being tortured by police. Iranian authorities have come down hard on protestors.
A Bob for a Bob
In other woke news, Disney has booted its CEO, swapping Bob Chapek for former boss Bob Iger. Most reports say it is hoped the change in leadership will help turn Disney's finances around, as the company has faced diminishing profits the last couple of years. It remains to be seen whether the House of Mouse believes its push for woke content is the cause of its troubles or its future. That will determine whether it doubles down on its liberal indoctrination agenda or tries to pitch more to the middle. Either way, read the Psalms – it's likely a better use of your time
Pawns in a game
Spanish fashion brand Balenciaga came under fire last week for launching a disturbing ad campaign, depicting children holding "bondage" teddy bears. The company is now suing the producers of the campaign, but given that there's a history of sexualising children at Balengciaga, it is hard to believe they had no idea what was going on.
Writing at Spiked, Neil Davenport points out that in so many of today's hot-button issues, children are collateral damage: "victories in the culture war simply take priority over child safety" . He's exactly right. Whether it's abortion, pornography, surrogacy, transgenderism even climate alarmism, the adults in the room need to step up and protect children from being exposed to deviancy, fear and violence. Refuse to participate in this muck ourselves and oppose it where you can.
A Gap-Year Bible School & Retreat Center for Men
Just sayin'
One of the biggest travesties of the pandemic was the lie that COVID-19 was an untreatable disease. Once you contracted it, good luck. The demonization of anyone who suggested that drugs such as ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine could mitigate symptoms or reduce the duration of illness was really something.
But now we know so much more, right? Now our experts can safely show some humility since back then we were "all in the dark" and now it's time for amnesty, right? Nope, experts have moved from lying to denial, to medical-grade gaslighting, with the CDC saying last week that their stringent campaign against the use of ivermectin was only a "suggestion". It is a convenient circular trap – the CDC says something does not work and is dangerous. When it is banned by the states and doctors are punished for prescribing it, each gets to blame the other.
Bluebird of unhappiness
Social media is pretty high stakes these days. CEO Elon Musk's reinstatement of banned accounts has many progressive folks warning that people's "lives are at risk" – yup, free speech is that dangerous! However, crowd-sourced fact-checking might prove a threat to shoddy journalism. That is no doubt a good thing. Also, Twitter is looking to make encrypted messaging available on the platform video and also add voice and video chat.
Other tech news:
Apparently there is not enough data in the world to train A.I. properly
The sad story of "cyber-slaves" trafficked into Cambodia's scam mills
That didn't take long: people are cashing in on Stable Diffusion's remarkable technology, using it to produce pornography generated by artificial intelligence which will be just about as gross as can be. Readers are probably familiar with vulgar "deepfakes" of celebrities, but this a fresh lowering of the bar, with all sorts of imagined scenarios able to be spoken into pixels. While critics worry about the objectification of women and the damage to artists who will be displaced by A.I., they all ignore how debasing and destructive pornography is to humanity.
Headlines from far away
Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen has stepped down after election losses (AP).
Australia will build a maritime base in the Solomon Islands to counter China's investment in the Pacific (Epoch Times).
China is continuing to enforce its harsh Zero-COVID strategy but some push-back is being reported, as factory workers clash with authorities and protests are being filmed in some cities (Guardian, Not the Bee, PJ Media, Reuters).
A museum heist in Germany saw thieves making off with $1.65M in ancient gold coin (CBS News).
Russian software, masquerading as American has been found installed at military, CDC and elsewhere (Reuters).
Ukraine has marked the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor famine (EuroNews).
John Michael Jones Gets a Life is produced for Mad ⳩ Mondays by E. Darwin Hartshorn. Episodes can also be found on Tuesday, along with previous episodes, on Bunny Trail Junction at bunny-trail.com.
Quick Hits for the Eyebuds
🍫 Why aluminium foil has a shiny side and a matte side
🚫 US foods that are banned abroad (video)
🦉 Owls really know how to blend in
🌎 The world is now weighed in ronnagrams
🏘️ Small town beauty
🍦 Hold up, there's an ice-cream bean?
🐊 Like an Atari? The sound of baby crocodiles
🧹 It would make Jordan Peterson proud. Japan's World Cup team left their locker room spotless
🇩🇪 Ancient German village is strewn with [tiny] diamonds
🔒 What it's like to be a competitive lock picker
🌀 What it's like to fly through a Cat 4 hurricane
🇾🇪 A drone made of sticks
The Mad Christian Advent Devotional is here!
Pastor Franson along with brother pastors and seminarians have compiled this year's booklet. Download it at our website.
November 27–Advent I: Wedding Feast at Cana
John 2:1–12
John 2:11 This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.
This beginning of signs is truly a marvel for the faithful. Not only does our Lord make manifest his sovereignty over all of creation by turning simple water into the king of beverages—wine—he also lets it be known that He wishes us to have joy. Not the passing joy of a night spent in drunken, immodest revelry, but the all-surpassing joy of the wedding feast of the Lamb and His bride, the Church.
As the Lord began his ministry, so he shall also end it, with a celebration. But what an end, an endless end! The last celebration vastly outshines the first one. All of history is but a modest prelude for this joyous eternity. Do not be fooled; do not let yourself be convinced that God is letting you down in the present. This eternal feast begins on earth in the Divine Service, which is exactly why we call our holy days “feasts.”... (continue reading at Mad Mondays website)
A Good Word: Links from the Show Notes
Jonathan and Meridith talk Mutual Trust this Thanksgiving weekend. This week they talked about:
The Human Outliers Podcast
Shawn Baker, author or The Carnivore Diet
Sermons on Ephesians 5
The Mad Christian Substack- now including long-awaited Earth chapters
Promo of Friends
You heard the Reverend- Saint Paul is on board with digesting psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sons of Solomon will get you in the habit. Learn more at SonsofSolomon.net and stay in the loop with their monthly newsletter.
Sweetness You May Have Missed
Thanksgiving Special-
A Plea for America
Let us pray: Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.