I really should rejoice when people hate me, tell me to disappear, or say far worse. Instead I am afraid. I generally like to be thought of as competent and liked (I have never aspired to being popular). But this general wish just to get on with one another — so useful in a society, can, when the society turns bad, lead to the society accepting and tolerating evil.

What people forget is that we will be either reformed or destroyed: church and people, princes and paupers. The elite will not be excused, instead they will be doubly damned. For the day of the LORD will come, and that coming will the terrible, as surgery is terrible. We will have the evil burned out from us.

In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning. Then the LORD will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.

(Isaiah 4:2-6 ESV)

A lot of people don’t think about this. They want to see a narrative of progress, even if this is going to lead to cultural collapse. They do not want to be held to account. They either think that there is no God, and there are no rules, or they (even more mistakenly) fall into the Gnostic trap of considering that they have been saved so they can do anything, for all that matters is one’s spiritual state.

As if there is no bodily resurrection.

Or they start looking at superstition instead of the duties they have. Praising the temple was a pious act: indeed the psalms talk about doing so. But Jesus did not have much tolerance of external piety.

And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”

Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.

(Luke 21:5-19 ESV)

Now, we should look at our newspapers and pamphlets, be they secular or religious, on-line or dead tree. And we can pray for our brothers in trouble, and collect sums of money to help them. But…. most of what we have to do in this life consists of being faithful, caring for the members of our family and congregation, and working with our hands.

We are not called to rule. We are called to witness to rulers.

And do not be deceived. this world will hate us. This world has always hated us. Seeking the approval of the elite, particularly in these fallen times, is a fool’s errand. for they will only love us if we become apostate.

Which is not our calling. Do not be them, and do not be like them.