Advent three.

I have had a series of conversations with Robyn about the current sexual red terror. She says, correctly, that there are many men, particularly in progressive and church circles, who call for protection and complain that they are being persecuted. She says, when I call them wimps, that All men are like that.

And she is right. In part. If you live in a relentlessly progressive town (and we do) a large number of men are like that. But not all. Not all.

And yes, I am getting to Advent in a minute.

If you observe interpersonal dynamics across a variety of classes, professions, and social milieus, you will come across ordinary men, some of whom may be intelligent — sometimes brilliant — or otherwise interesting. Others may be unassuming and not good conversationalists or not come across as having ever been an honors student. Some will be nice, pleasant guys, others will be brusque or gruff. But those men will have one quality in common: while they are not exceptional as leaders, they are liked and respected by others. They are called deltas.

A delta can be an engineer who can lead a technical team. He can be a Marine in a “band of brothers” combat unit. He can be a middle manager who keeps a department running, a competent foreman or a mechanic, a successful musician, a waiter who does his job well. Most men who are trusted, whose judgment is respected by other men, and who are satisfied with their place in this world are deltas. The difference between deltas and the minority of men who are higher on Vox’s socio-sexual scale (alphas, sigmas, betas) is that deltas are not gifted with a dominant personality or extraordinary sexual charisma.

And now, on to gammas. The dividing line between a delta and a gamma is that other men respect deltas but not gammas. Likewise, women are comfortable around deltas (sometimes too comfortable) but are uneasy around gammas.

So what the hell is this gamma? My shorthand for them is “alpha ambition without the alpha goods.” They are restless, depressive, introspective, sarcastic, snarky, visibly bitter, passive-aggressive, cowardly in confrontation, and deluded about their rightful social status. You will find gammas among condescending nerds as well as in high places like law and politics. If you get involved in left wing/progressive activism — especially feminist politics — most men you’ll come across are going to be gammas.

We went to a Christmas party yesterday with the stepson, and he came out saying that the work politics were nasty. Most of my colleagues are psychologists: introspective, sarcastic, snarky, bitter, passive aggressive and cowardly in confrontation. They want promotion. You trust them about as far as you can shotput a weightlifter.

And part of advent in these fallen times is negotiating the shoals of the work parties: Robyn chooses not to look, for it would nauseate, the stepson decided not to talk, and me and the boss went and looked at the improvements he has made to his garden. Yes, New Zealanders are passive aggressive.

And this time is fallen.

In this time of Advent, the mockery of the church increases. People say that our Lord has not come, not realizing that this is mercy. They subvert Christmas into something sickly, sentimental: two generations the carols were replaced with Christmas songs. Now the Christmas markets need protection.

And the great falling away will occur before Christ comes. The elect will be a fragment, a remnant. Most will be converged, and quite proud of being deceived and damned. In all of this, we must not lose courage.

For our witness magnifies God.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 13-17

1As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, 2not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here. 3Let no one deceive you in any way; for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction.

13But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.15So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.

16Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.

Luke 1:46b-55

46b My soul magnifies the Lord, 
47       and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 
48  for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. 
          Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 
49  for the Mighty One has done great things for me, 
          and holy is his name. 
50  His mercy is for those who fear him 
          from generation to generation. 
51  He has shown strength with his arm; 
          he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 
52  He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, 
          and lifted up the lowly; 
53  he has filled the hungry with good things, 
          and sent the rich away empty. 
54  He has helped his servant Israel, 
          in remembrance of his mercy, 
55  according to the promise he made to our ancestors, 
          to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

Mary’s song of praise is yes, a song of justice, But it is more that a series of talking points. All the things she states are allusions to the prophet Isaiah, who predicted that these would happen when the Messiah came. And we look still.

There will never be justice without Christ.

Instead there will be the ruination of all structure and beauty and honour, for the only equality the deluded can find is in slavery and submission.

We do not hold with such. We shall not be them, nor shall we be like them.