Galatians 5:22 – The Keys of the Kingdom Holy Bible

²²On the other hand, the fruit of the spirit is love, exuberance, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control.

Matthew 12:31 – The Keys of the Kingdom Holy Bible

³¹On account of this I say to you, men will be forgiven for every sin and injurious speaking, but for injurious speaking concerning the Spirit men will not be forgiven.

Matthew 13:42b – The Keys of the Kingdom Holy Bible

^42bIn that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Ephesians 4:25 – The Keys of the Kingdom Holy Bible

²⁵For this reason, having driven aside the lie, let every man be speaking truth with his neighbour, because we are members of each other.

Philippians 2:1-3 – The Keys of the Kingdom Holy Bible

¹If then there is any comfort in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of spirit, if any tender compassions and mercies, ²make complete my exuberance by being of this same mind, having the same love, joined in mind, being mindful of the one thing, ³nothing being done for rivalry or groundless self-esteem, but by humility of mind esteem one another as surpassing yourselves.

I know that I’m not alone in thinking that the world has gone completely mad. Almost every day, I read or hear something that makes me wonder about our sanity, or even our ability to look upon any subject with an open mind. Part of this is that everything is viewed as black or white; there’s no nuance in any discussion, nor are many people open to new facts or opinions. Those who are open are rejected and treated as ‘deniers’. This word is used deliberately, because it tends to be associated with the word ‘Holocaust’ as an example of the very worst type of argument. As an example, if you believe (as I do) that the measures used to ‘counter’ COVID, including the mass jabbing of millions with an experimental gene therapy and the various lockdowns, were probably worse than COVID itself, then you’re a ‘COVID Denier’. If you believe (as I do) that the jury is still out about the extent to which anthropogenic action is causing climate change, (or even if you believe that there may be some impact, but aiming for ‘Net Zero’ is an unachievable, idiotic idea that’s bound to cause endless grief to the poorest and most vulnerable) then you’re a ‘Climate Denier’. You’re required to buy into the entire Net Zero line about cars, electricity generation, heat pumps, meat, farming, 15-minute cities etc, or you’re rejected as someone who at best should be ignored and refused a platform.

At worst, you should be locked up, indefinitely.

Many people have written about the fact that in recent years, Christian Values have been rejected in their entirety. Some have said that this rejection has left a ‘God-shaped hole’ in society.

At the risk of sounding pessimistic, I think it’s actually worse than that. What I think has happened, and this trend is accelerating, is that into the space that used to be filled by Christian values, has come a whole new set of ‘woke-religion’ values that don’t just reject Christianity, but attempt to indoctrinate us into almost the precise opposite.

As examples of what I mean, consider the following:

• The Christian Value of Humility is now replaced by Hubris. Humility is of course not exactly a popular concept in our modern world; it means adopting a low opinion of one’s own self-importance. Hubris is the precise opposite – inflating your own pride and self-worth to the point of sheer arrogance, and thereby inviting a subsequent downfall. If you want proof of this, look at the extent to which ‘celebrity’ is worshipped in our world, and how many ‘fallen celebrities’ we’ve witnessed.
• The Christian Value of Compassion has been replaced by Ruthless Self-interest. The social platforms, from what I can see as someone who deliberately shuns those places, are designed to encourage the rejection and demonisation of others who hold alternative views. Compassion means, literally, seeing the world through the eyes of others who are suffering. The modern world views such ideas as nothing more than weakness.
• The Christian Value of Self-Sacrifice is now replaced by Entitlement. It’s desperately sad to see that so many people now see themselves as victims. They feel that the world owes them a living, and if everything fails to fall into place as they think it should, it must be someone else’s fault.
• The Christian Value of Community is now replaced by Individualism. What became of the concept of ‘noblesse oblige’ for example? Our country had a proud record of charitable giving in the 19^th Century. Now, the desire for self-gratification results in the collection of ever-greater wealth and privilege in the hands of a few, and such ‘charitable’ giving as still exists, is aimed at using one’s money to indoctrinate, rather than help, others less fortunate.
• The Christian value of Inclusion has been replaced by Equity. Equity does not mean equality of opportunity; it means equality of outcome. Equality of outcome can only come about as a result of treating people unequally, ie excluding some, in order to benefit others.
• The Christian Value of Love of Neighbour has been replaced by Narcissism, ie love of self. In Christian teaching, traditionally God comes first, neighbour second and self last. In our ‘brave new world’, self always comes first, neighbour a distant second and God? Well, God does not feature. God is mocked, ridiculed and rejected.
• The Christian Value of I long for the Numinous has been replaced by the doctrine of I am the centre of the Universe. That’s why my feelings count more than yours; that’s why if you say anything that upsets me, you must be rejected, ostracised, isolated.
• The Christian Value of Self-control has been replaced by Avarice. I find it desperately sad that for so many people, spirituality has become a desire for possessions, money, power, and influence over others. Through some of the most grotesque excesses of recent years, our government is now indoctrinating our small children, by teaching them how to masturbate and how to change their God-given sex. May God forgive us.
• The Christian Value of Courage has been replaced by a desire to instil Terror in others. Deliberately provoking terror in others, particularly those who are less resilient, like children, is an act of supreme evil.
• The Christian Value of Hope has been replaced by Nihilism. Nihilism is the main doctrine of despair. This I believe to be the real meaning of Matthew 12:31 that I’ve quoted above. Those who preach nihilism will experience the ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth’ (if you want to read what I think that phrase means, see my earlier article here):

The look that speaks of hell. A meditation for Good Friday

• The Christian Value of Truth has been replaced by an acceptance that Lies are to be encouraged, celebrated and repeated, particularly if they help you to get your own way. All little children lie, but it’s been commonplace to hear those in influence lying on an industrial scale, and in a way that treats those listening as brainless, as incapable of detecting the scale of the deceit.

When you read this, you may think, as I do, that it’s no wonder that the world is in such a mess.

But at the very heart of Christianity is hope. Whilst most of the world has rejected Christ, as Christians we absolutely must not and will not. And with Christ, there’s always hope.

So let us all consciously embrace Humility, Compassion, Self-Sacrifice, Community, Inclusion, Love of Neighbour, Spirituality, Self-Control, Courage, Truth,

and, above all

HOPE!

It seems appropriate on this occasion to allow a verse from the Bible to form our prayer. Once again, I’m grateful to my friend Chris Sparkes of the Keys of the Kingdom Holy Bible for this translation, from Romans 15:13 (I hope he’ll forgive me for putting the Holy Spriit into capitals!):

Now may the God of hope fill you with all exuberance and peace in believing, with a view to your abounding in hope, by power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen!