Why has the love of the Church gone cold? Why are our pews empty? Why is there no fervor? Why do we struggle with sin?
It is because lawlessness has increased. There has been entryism: those who hate the right and good have corrupted all institutions. They have taken the true and beautiful and hidden it in the library or museum stacks — if not removing such artifacts to the nearest recycling station for destruction.
For as our princes go (and yes, republics have princes and princesses: consider the Bush and Clinton progeny. Also consider that the Bushes, who are more conservative, have a clan, while the Clintons, good progressives, are dying out: they have but one aging princess).
In this, of course, the FBI is just one of many federal agencies whose reputation for professionalism has taken a hit during the Obama years. The IRS, complicit in targeting Tea Party groups for their political views, is one. The Secret Service, which has figured in numerous sexual scandals and failures to protect, is another. And, in fact, the notion of a “non-partisan” and competent civil service has taken quite a knock, as one agency after another has seemed ready, willing and able to be compromised by politics.
Politicians have a short-term focus, seldom looking past the next election. But for those of us with a longer view, this is a serious problem. As The Atlantic recently noted, trust in government is collapsing around the world. The reason for this, I’m afraid, is that government isn’t trustworthy. We used to try to do better in the United States, but lately the powers that be seem to be rubbing our noses in their untrustworthiness and their ability to avoid the consequences. This, I predict, will not end well.
Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:1-14 ESV)
So what then should we do? The elite are corrupt, venal, and covetous. Nothing new here. It is akin to people of the Highlands of PNG or the Victorian Fijians: generations of payback, headhunting and clan warfare don’t stop. There is hope: a hundred years of Christianity the Fijians are not the same: they have reformed.
But, like the Tongans and Maori, they take their aggression out on the rugby field. Because the drive to compete physically is still there.
In earlier times, the Church preached that those to whom much was given much would be required. There was a culture of honour. Now, the culture matters: the traditional tribal or clan cultures of Japan, Arabia and Polynesia were destructive. But this abandoment of decency has left us alone.
We mistrust fervour because those with zeal are played as useful idiots. The cuckmercials want to monetize our needs and get us to accept the lowest common denominator. The government is not that which stops this: it encourages it. For the State is a jealous God, and hates those who worship truly.
We need to know that such is happening. We need to seek that which is true: we need to unplug from the sources of lies. We need to live within the laws. And then, again, we may find we can love God and our sisters and brothers, truly, and without fear.
