I am not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet… but as many have pointed out to me over the years, many things I predicted – based on trends I observed in society – came to pass.
I have a new prediction. Before I divulge, let me tell you on what is it based. When I was in primary school, not many dared publicly to speak against religion. Then in 1963 and the coming to national attention of one Madelyn Murray O’Hair, she brought her lawsuit to the Supreme Court and she became a loud voice for atheism. If you were alive then, you probably remember the scorn and hatred heaped upon this woman. She was so vilified that 1964 Life magazine referred to her as “the most hated woman in America. Most of America, back then, was either religious or at least saw a value in religion.
Fast forward 60 years. Although I believe that there are still many in our country who are religious and/or value religion, the percentage of those folks has dropped significantly. According to an author of an article in the Atlantic, “… in the early 1990s, the historical tether between American identity and faith snapped. Religious non-affiliation in the U.S. started to rise—and rise, and rise. By the early 2000s, the share of Americans who said they didn’t associate with any established religion (also known as “nones”) had doubled. By the 2010s, this grab bag of atheists, agnostics, and spiritual dabblers had tripled in size.” The author, Derek Thompson goes on to say, “Religion has lost its halo effect in the past three decades, not because science drove God from the public square, but rather because politics did. In the 21st century, “not religious” has become a specific American identity—one that distinguishes secular, liberal whites from the conservative, evangelical right.” (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/09/atheism-fastest-growing-religion-us/598843/)
This is not news to you. We all have seen this happen, much to the lament of many. What I am predicting herein, is not just that this trend will continue, but that it is taking a serious dark turn. After the recent series of Supreme Court decisions that indicated a return to basing decisions on constitutional authority and not current social whims, was quite a virulent response from the left. A quick web search will show a loud outcry against the Christian Right takeover of the Court. The response was not primarily directed at conservative judges and constitutional originalism, it was crying out against Christians. Since then – tell me that you haven’t seen this – there has been an explosion of rhetoric against Christian Fascists and Christian Nationalists.
And quite recently, there is an attempt by many to fuse Christianity and Republicanism/conservatism. They are not just saying that many Republicans/conservatives are also Christians; they are lumping the two together as a single unified whole. They are attacking the entire group as a whole. even though everyone knows that these are three separate and distinct ideologies. Sure, there are people who are all three, but there are many who are only in two of these groups and many that are only in one. Everyone knows this… but the left is lumping all of us together.
Why? to what end is this being done? It is simple… demonization is a powerful tool. It energizes people to act. It effectively stirs people up against a specific group even though logic and reason would argue against doing such. Let’s face it, most of us recognize that there are extremist Republicans, extremist conservatives, and extremist Christians. Let’s face it, many of us despise what many of these extremists stand for, even if we are part of the larger non-extremist group. Take that yucky feeling you have for those extremists and put in in the hearts of leftists and magnify it many times and you have what they feel. Do that same thing with how they feel about extremists in all three groups – and what do you have? Disgust and hatred for them…but not only for the extremists…. they no longer distinguish the very small minority of extremists between the vast majority of regular reasonable folks in the group. Believe it or not (I think most of you will believe it because you have seen it and have felt it yourselves) if you are at all identifying with any of these three groups (by let’s say a simple single act of voting for Trump- e.g. a post on FB today: “Trump supporters are worthless pieces of human garbage”), you are not automatically lumped into a Christo/Conservato/Rebulico extremist group – and are hated and reviled for it.
Again, this is likely not news. What is new is that is is actually fairly easy to get folks on the left to do this… but they are working on getting people in the center as well as even people on the right to focus their vitriol on Christians. All three groups are in the target, but Christians are in the center of the target. Here we are 60 years after Madelyn Murray O’Hair and now the tables have completely turned. In 2022, now Christians specifically, and people of the Christian faith generally are the most deadly and destructive force in our society and they must be silenced…or worse.
I could make comparisons with countries and regimes of the past, but I don’t think I have to. You are smart enough to do this on your own. The unreasonable and unfounded demonization of a small religious minority group has historically proven to be a powerful catalyst for not only totalitarianism, but for genocide. All they have to do is to find a fence – a defining line to put around a group of people that can be vilified and the destruction begins… and you know where it ends.
Please be aware that I am not writing this to make you afraid. I am writing this to make you aware so you can 1) resist it as long as you can and 2) prepare for it if it becomes necessary. As Solzhenitsyn said, we live not by lies. The best and most powerful tool we have at our hand is truth… Truth spoken in Love. Please, for the sake of your freedom, for the sake of the freedom of your children and grandchildren, speak the truth. Don’t be fazed by their sleight of hand defense of questioning “whose truth”. Truth belongs to no one. Truth simply needs to be declared and defended. Shout it from the housetops and from the mountainsides.
To those of you who know personally and experientially that the “Truth will set you Free,” are likely to be in the center sights of people right now who want to take your freedoms from you. I encourage you to make a loud and joyful noise to the Lord and remember the words of Peter in his second letter: ” Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” II Peter 3:13-18
Be of good cheer. He who is in you is greater than he who is in he world.
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For His Glory,
Jim