Be the light, not the darkness

Jonathan Pageau posted an excellent video today on the Christian's role in a rapidly de-generating society. It is to continue to be the little lights in the darkness. To trust that what Christ told us was true, and to avoid being drawn in to accelerationism, to the desire to "push things over the edge." Because when you participate in the destruction of something, you will be sucked in behind it and destroyed also.

His message applies equally to secular Libertarians who want peace between men, and to Christians who want to see the Kingdom of God manifest in their daily lives and on earth.

Guest post from Jim in Kenai...(Thanks Jim!!)

There are certain philosophers I find to be particularly good, and when I hear them say something radical and think, "There is no way that can be true. They're great on X and Y, but on Z they've just gone too far," I for these particular people, though I invariably later come to the conclusion that they were right on X, Y and Z, but I was just not ready to hear about the Z part.

To demote Jesus to the level of philosopher for the purposes of this discussion, He is one of those. So much of my early Christian life was spent in rationalizing away the uncomfortable parts of His teachings, with the help of my pastor. "The kingdom of God is within you." The disciples didn't want to hear that. They wanted something to DO NOW which would make the kingdom of God a physical reality. They wanted the reins of political power, "Jesus, who'll sit at your right and left hand?" They recognized the truth of some of what He said, but they were unable or unwilling to let go of their preconception of what He was here to do. But even knowing how that story ends, we're no different! How many Christians sort of think that the US is the Kingdom of God? They don't say it, but they believe it, as evidenced by their actions, the warmongering, the desire to legislate everything, etc.

"What is to be done?" Live a free life in obedience to Christ (those two are amazingly compatible thoughts!). The state sets an unending list of positive laws as snares before us to keep us ever in fear, but violating those isn't an offense to God or conscience. Dealing with the consequences provides an opportunity to witness to the liberty in Christ to be compared to the slavery of being in State/Satan.

If Christians were actually FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST we'd be a light unto the world for temporal living as well as eternal salvation, rather than what the majority of us currently are.

Cynicism is the reaction of someone who's put his faith in the wrong place and hasn't yet put his faith in the right place. I'm working to come out of my cynicism. It has been a tough 7 years, but it is coming.

Jim