The first verse has an alternative paraphrase in the NIV: “to stimulate you to right thinking”.[1] Then he talks about a heresy: that Christ will not come, because Christ said that his generation would see the glory of God, but the generation was now dying. Peter was facing his own, scheduled, death.

The Romans managed to kill almost all the apostles: only John died in his bed.

The modern version of this is two-fold. The first is deny Christ using cod logic: assuming that only science can prove anything, which is something Roger Bacon, nor any working scientist, would not claim. We know the limits of our methods and knowledge.

The second part is to say that the gospel is obsolete, for we have progressed. We now signal out virtue. We are careful not to exploit the animals and bacteria. We have no need for God.

But that sin is ancient, and it reliably damns a people.

2 Peter 3:1-10

¹This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; in them I am trying to arouse your sincere intention by reminding you ²that you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken through your apostles. ³First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts ⁴and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!” ⁵They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water, ⁶through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished. ⁷But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless.

⁸But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. ⁹The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

The reason that the lie of the current year is so memetic is that it makes righteousness cheap. it is not. Though we are justified by the work of Christ, this required the death of God incarnate, for none of us can undo our sins. If we live like him we share in his suffering and that does not come without effort and tears.

But it is easy to put the correct ribbon on your suit, say the right words, and join the right party, and say that politics will save you.

What you realize is that progressives consider their politics a substitute for virtue. They consider themselves morally superior to others, simply because of their left-wing political beliefs. This belief in their own moral superiority means that leftists do not consider themselves constrained by ordinary standards of decent behavior. The rules don’t apply to them. Leftists claim the authority to pass judgment on others, no matter how bad their own behavior may be. And, quite often, leftists are guilty of the very same wrongdoing of which they accuse their enemies.

But politics saves you not. It is Christ alone who does.

Choose him, and not this year’s political fashion.

1. It is a lot faster to use a real Bible to look up verses than go to a website.