It’s odd. I have this song in part of my Spotify account. And both songs make me both weep and drive me to fury. For Nic Cave knows the true religion: it may curdle in his veins all too often, but he has heard the word (at Brampton Oratory, among other places) and sees the falsity in the pious conservatism of Churchian life.

Instead, like most men in this time, when the feminine is worshipped, his adoration is for his wife. His love song is so tender, but broaches worship. As if the masculine is now forbidden.

One does not quietly shout the praises of God, As if we were mice. For we are men, and men who need to be well-armed.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.

Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

(Ephesians 6:10-24 ESV)

There are many in the church who thing that we should all be about peace and love. Not merely be pacifists (although that is not scriptural) but we need to expunge any discussion using military language, or conflict, from our church. Who will not sing the Battle him of the Republic because pacifism, or talk of God as father and son because sexism.

As if our Lord a penis did not have.

Instead we are to be well armed. We are in a battle. While Hozier write videos accusing the Church of homophobia in middle America[1], and is silent about the feral bastards from the Islamic State casting gay men from high columns to kill them, and the Iranians hanging them from cranes, we need to ask how Christian our society is; particularly when Hozier writes a good song. But not as good as Luther does.

We need to be righteous. We need to speak truth. We need to proclaim the gospel. We need to be able to defend our faith: with words, with prayer and with at times weapons. (If an Islamic mob tries to break into my church, or Femen, or Gays, and challenges the women and children, I will stand in the way. They will not pass but over my unconscious body).

So let us not listen to those who would censor our language. Let’s confront those who would silence us, or remove the masculine. For there is a role, in leadership, in prayer and protection, for men in the pews.

Our war is not with the rulers of our countries but with the powers that are evil, true. But when the Argentinian government sponsors feminist troll conferences that attempt to desecrate cathedrals, or the Italians let in immigrants that assault a man praying in front of a statue, or if a poor gay bastard gets assaulted by a mob, we need to call these things as the evils they are, and talk about it.

If you get rid of the masculine you remove courage and are left with an effete church. And all men will turn away, for their very nature is denied. And they will take the women with them, leaving only those who are so effete they consider dissembling cowardice righteousness. Those who Nic Cave mocked. In his revulsion at the compromise many churches have made with the fashions of this world, he is a far better theologian than most liberals who wear that title proudly.

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1. The Hoozier video shows, graphically, a young man being dragged from his home, murdered and immolated, because he’s got a male lover. I’m not going to link to it, as this site aims to be “PG”. (It’s not the boys kissing that made me make this choice, it’s the killing)

The implication from the lyrics is that the people doing this are Christians. They are not: in Christ we accept that all are broken, all have sinned, all have weaknesses and all have to suck it up. Including this divorced heterosexual. Killing gays? May it never happen. Letting them into the eldership? Have to be celibate, or be the husband of but one wife: the divorced are disqualified, as are those living together. And there are more straights fornicating in the pews than gays.