I was interrupted from the serious hobby of blogging, and thus avoiding housework, music practice, and research last night when the Pro Photographer came over. She wanted to know what a Social Justice Warrior was. So I tried to explain… and that the best book was by Vox, and who he was, and why Spacebunny is real, and about Gamergate and the Sad Puppies campaign.
And then I bought it home: A couple of weeks ago I had been tweeting about the risks of bringing in Syrian “refugees”. Because I don’t think they are refugees: because I know how much work they take, and how I know that we don’t have enough staff to deal with the issues in our broken society anyways.
And people tried to dox me, and complain that this was inappropriate for a person of my position. The Photog asked why. I pointed out that I have tenure, that I am in an essential job, and have no intention of resigning under pressure and I know not to apologize for the truth. But many do not. And if those of us who can do not stand up, who will?
But if, as a nation, we scoff, then it will not go well for us.
Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD!(Psalm 117 ESV)
But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
(Jude 1:17-25 ESV)
But, what do I mean by the benediction? Well, in the reformed churches, Jude 24.25 is often used as a benediction, rather than Ite Missa est, Deo Gratias — which freely translated, with the help of New Advent — is “Go, you are dismissed, God be praised” The reformed tend to use scripture, and when I was a kid, this was followed by the congregation singing “Amen”.
Everyone has their liturgy: the more formal churches write it down, and the more thoughtful think about it.
However, consider the context. There will be scoffers. We have them: indeed they want to make scoffing compulsory. We have people who are trying to subvert the church. We have people who want their perversions praised and honoured, and any criticism of them removed.
But we are told not to be like that. We are told to build each other up, not use gossip or social pressure to drag each other down. We are told to wait for Christ.
And we are told that to save another is to snatch them from the fires of hell. We must he gentle with the penitent and the doubters: but those who scorn us we do not agree with. Instead we have but one message: you are damned, unless you also turn.
So when we look at the benediction, which gives us comfort, recall why we have these words and these promises. It is not for a sense of spirituality and feelings. It is to keep us steadfast, crunchy, and confronting the nation we are in. For the nation is full of scoffers, and the nation will not last.