This morning I am alluding to a Scots preacher. Knox wrote a diatribe about what he considered the unnatural government of women — aimed at the Catholic Mary Queen of the Scots. Needless to say, it was offensive to both Mary, Queen of England, and her sister Elizabeth.
Knox felt it was his duty to correct this error. He was concerned that people would be silent. As he writes.
I am assured that God has revealed to some in this our age, that it is more than a monster in nature that a woman shall reign and have empire above man. And yet, with us all there is such silence, as if God therewith were nothing offended. ]I know the natural man, enemy to God, shall find many causes why no such doctrine ought to be published in these our dangerous days: first, for that it may seem to tend to sedition; secondarily, it shall be dangerous, not only to the writer or publisher, but also to all such as shall read the writings, or favour this truth spoken; and last, it shall not amend the chief offenders, partly because it shall never come to their ears, and partly because they will not be admonished in such cases.
So why am I alluding to such an argumentative and well deceased Scottish Theologian? It is because of something that a woman wrote yesterday. Alte pointed out that the reason that the Conservative Catholics and Protestants are getting abused by the Menz Rights people on one side and the Feminixtz on the other
This. The problem they have is that our opposition is based upon our Bible-based morality (which isn’t restricted to women), and they’re not so keen on all of that
We are dealing with the shameless, and the uncorrectable. And today’s readings are about the judgment of God, upon his people, when they fall away.
1 Ah, soiled, defiled, oppressing city!
2 It has listened to no voice; it has accepted no correction. It has not trusted in the LORD; it has not drawn near to its God.
3 The officials within it are roaring lions; its judges are evening wolves that leave nothing until the morning.
4 Its prophets are reckless, faithless persons; its priests have profaned what is sacred, they have done violence to the law.
5 The LORD within it is righteous; he does no wrong. Every morning he renders his judgment, each dawn without fail; but the unjust knows no shame.
6 I have cut off nations; their battlements are in ruins; I have laid waste their streets so that no one walks in them; their cities have been made desolate,
without people, without inhabitants.7 I said, “Surely the city will fear me, it will accept correction; it will not lose sight of all that I have brought upon it.” But they were the more eager to make all their deeds corrupt.
8 Therefore wait for me, says the LORD, for the day when I arise as a witness. For my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all the heat of my anger; all the earth shall be consumed.
9 At that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord.
10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, my scattered ones, shall bring my offering.
When a nation becomes without shame the very people who should be correcting and confronting the actions and morals of the nation are silent, the justice system is corrupted, and all that is sacred is shat on.
Contrasting this is what Peter tells us we should do.
11Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. 12Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.
13For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, 14or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. 16As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. 17Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Now, here I have got into arguments in the last 24 hours. I’d argue that the move to universal suffrage has encouraged politicians to listen to the incontinent, the feckless, and the irresponsible. Before the late modern era — universal suffrage was a Victorian invention — one had to declare (and be taxed on) a certain amount of property to vote. The republic did not take its guidance from the crowds… what they called the mob.
State that now, and you will be called uncaring, unChristian. State that you have a duty of loyalty (not rebellion or sedition) to the authorities and you will either get Knox and Cromwell used as examples against you (when both worked through lawful means until they were exhausted) or be told you do not care for the poor.
The poor will always be with us. But we can minimise the damage that bad decisions make. If we use the rules of society, including honour and the converse shame, we can develop networks of trust. (This is how peer review should work: however peer review is not infallible and relies on honesty, which disappears when science becomes political).
What does all this mean today? Well, I need to fight my tendency to argue intemperately, (an election brings out the snark in me). I need to respect the leaders of my nation. I need to not follow my carnal desires. And I should not be scared to use shaming language.
For the current culture of the media honours the shameless, And they will fall.