There are times that I should fear to state the scripture plainly, and discuss theology. Because this is offensive: this will trigger. Those who have their sensitivity attuned to any offense, so that they can point, shrink, destroy and gain status points in the doing of this.

So what is fascinating about this? It is the statement of Paul. That some of the hearers were literally not able to be saved: they could not hear the gospel, nor act on it. They were not allowed to, in case they are healed. The reformed name for this is limited atonement, and limited atonement horrifies the sophists of this age.

Because it means that they will not be saved, and all the social justice activism means less than nothing. Those who work to improve the life of the despised, the poor and oppressed do make a difference: those we need to support. But those who insist everything is done appropriately misunderstand that things need to be done in a timely manner. It is better to have imperfect paperwork and be out in the storm rescuing those who are shipwrecked than have perfect process and arrive late.

Scripture cares not a whit for the sensitivity of the sophists. Paul offended the careful scribes and Pharisees of his time — which he knew how to do, because he had been trained to be a scribe and Pharisee.

Our salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is not our doing.

After three days he called together the local leaders of the Jews, and when they had gathered, he said to them, “Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our fathers, yet I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. When they had examined me, they wished to set me at liberty, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. But because the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to Caesar—though I had no charge to bring against my nation. For this reason, therefore, I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am wearing this chain.” And they said to him, “We have received no letters from Judea about you, and none of the brothers coming here has reported or spoken any evil about you. But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against.”

When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:

“‘Go to this people, and say, “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’

Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”

He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

(Acts 28:17-31 ESV)

Looking Glass made a comment yesterday and it applies here. For we do have a duty: we have to preach the gospel by the way we lead our lives, yes, but also by words, boldly and without hindrance.

Yes, it is worse, but none of these issues are new. They’re just taking on a different form than before, but Christians like to delude themselves that this is worse than before (I think a lot of Christians from 1915-1945 would beg to differ on that point). It’s the same process we see in the book of Judges. We simply have to pick up our staffs and get to work. First for the Gospel, then for our responsibilities as Citizens of our Countries.

In the USA’s case for the time being, all of this only works for a little while. One thing with the SJW crowd is that they are, at their hearts, a bunch of utter cowards. That’s why they work so hard to co-opt the forces that have Power, as they will not actually fight their own fights. Evil rarely coordinates well. So, if the time comes, the problem can be solved very quickly. It won’t be that bloody, but it will change many things.

As for the United States, the creation & sending of the Pentecostal movement alone means the country served God’s purpose. For all of the faults of the movement (of which there are many), it’s been the single greatest driver of Christian Evangelism in a millennium. For that, this place has done the Lord’s Will.

The Pentecostals added to the missionary movement out of the USA, but the Protestants before them and the Romans did a fairly good job in getting the gospel to the ends of the earth. Says me, sitting in the Antipodes.

Now, I do not disagree that times have been difficult before. Last century had a large crop of neo-martyrs, particularly in the Holocaust and the Forests of the Gulag. But we are not living then: we are living now. We can and should look to the examples of that time — from Bonhoeffer to Solzhenitsyn. They are a witness to us.

But that is not our fight. Our fight is to confront, to challenge. To state that you need to take that plug out of your ears the progressives put there: stop trying to be a sophist, stop trying to be clever, realize the truth of your situation, repent, and seek Christ.

And yes, this will trigger the sophists. But some of there are to be witnesses of the modern form of damnation.