We're In A Cultural Battle Between Marxism and Christianity

 

I'm listening to a lot of people these days talking about the future of our country -- including  political, economic, and social perspectives. Sometimes it's hard to remember who said what, and there are a lot of differing opinions as to the causes and the solutions to the disorder in which we find ourselves. Sometimes I think people get too caught up in the complexity of our situation, when being able to see the root of the problem would be more advantageous to finding our way out of this mess.

That being said, I heard something this week that really got me to thinking. I'm paraphrasing here, but the idea was that when the masses [within our society] lack conviction, they are easily manipulated, and are the most vulnerable. That statement might seem self-evident and abundantly clear to you, but think of the consequences if this is a true statement. And IF it is true, then shouldn't we first understand what conviction means? And, again ... if it is true ... what does that statement have to do with the title of this blog post? How does that lead to a battle between what Wikipedia calls the socioeconomic and political philosophies of socialist revolutionary Karl Marx and the radical Jewish preacher, Jesus, who is the central figure in the world's largest religion, Christianity, [and incidentally, the Son of the Living God]?

So, let's consider what the word conviction means. From our Western Greek mindset, we understand conviction to mean "to convince, or reprove, by word of mouth or action". And carrying it a step further, from a Biblical mindset, it means "to convince the person of their sin in order to bring repentance; to change the way we think in order to see things from God's perspective". Now, let's examine the Hebrew understanding of what conviction means. That mindset sees conviction as evidence, like in a book, or a complete record of whatever you want to preserve accurately, or truthfully. 

With that in mind, let's take another look at the idea that I highlighted in bold face. If the masses of people lack conviction -- or, in other words, they don't desire to seek and know the truth, by having it proven by word of mouth or action -- and they are willing to go along with whatever is presented to them without challenging it, then they will be easily manipulated by any person or thought put before them. And they will be vulnerable to fall victim to any cause, philosophy, or movement conducted by the Father of Lies, Satan.

All we have to do is take a look at the effects of the acceptance of Marxist philosophy in our education system. Let me take one step backwards and explain that classic Marxism holds to the axiom that human societies develop through class conflict. Karl Marx sought to create class struggles [through economic means] between the wealthy and the poor, leading to eventual revolution and the forcible overthrow of the wealthy class and the creation of new, classless, communist societies. We see the dictatorships and repressive regimes that played out in the countries that adopted this Marxist ideology in the 20th century -- Soviet Union, China, Vietnam, Cuba, North Korea. 

That plan didn't work in America, because free market capitalism actually helped the working class to elevate themselves to enjoy more prosperity. So the followers of Marx changed it up a bit. Instead of an economic revolution igniting a cultural revolution, they have been seeking to transform our Western culture into believing that a capitalist society needs to be emancipated from outdated policies, making it more equitable and inclusive for all segments of society -- in other words, destroying the classes through the back door by using identity politics to create victims within our society; where the different groups are pitted against each other and can easily become influenced to hate each other and the country.

When this ideology infiltrates our educational system, and is then validated and endorsed by social media and teachers/professors, who are in the position to influence those who lack conviction, you can see how easily the masses can be manipulated and made vulnerable to anti-freedom agendas. And since we worship a God who came to set us free, this ideology is contrary to Christianity. In fact, Karl Marx is quoted as saying, "religion is the opium of the people", and "My object in life is to dethrone God and destroy capitalism". In seeing his philosophy infiltrating our culture, we are seeing good and evil being redefined. The state becomes god, and seeks to control every aspect of our lives, even limiting how successful we can become. Private ownership and freedom to pursue your life as you desire becomes acquainted with sin and is translated as unfair and unequal. 

Sadly, we are seeing the same methods of transformation happening within the established Church. The seminaries have been infiltrated, just as the universities have been. Besides the teachers and the students adopting Marxist ideologies, we now see the pastors and the church members falling victim to the "consciousness of guilt" that comes from a lack of conviction and knowing the God-given truth. Then they are easily manipulated to supporting causes and agendas that do not align with the teachings of Christ. We are seeing our cultural identity redefined right before our eyes. If we call ourselves Christians, we are accountable to God; our salvation is a personal decision; and Jesus has the answer to knowing our purpose. Life has rewards and meaning under Jesus. Life is a struggle for power under Marx. 

Our societal culture has become divisive; your identity is based on what groups you identify with; whether you are "pro" this or that; whether you are among the "oppressors" or the "oppressed". The Marxist philosophy teaches that it takes a revolution to create the kind of society where everyone is equal and no one holds all the power. But, remember, there is no allowance for God in such a society. But when you believe in Christ, you know that He has already done all the work on the Cross to erase society of these ills. Grace is available to all, and Grace is His power in us to accomplish what man cannot do on his own. We are free to be who He created us to be, and if we would each seek our own identity in Christ, we would have no desire or need to compare to another person. We would be content with who we are, and what He has provided us. 

So, we as a nation, and as individuals, must decide. Jesus has taught us everything we need to experience Utopia on earth. In fact, His parables of the talents mirror free market principles. He teaches us how to wisely use the resources He has given us to invest and reap more from our hard work. And He shows us the consequences of those who waste such resources. Do we want the peace, prosperity, and contentedness of following Jesus? Or do we want the struggles of class politics and division? Are we willing to be convicted of the Truth -- or be manipulated and influenced because of our idle minds? Our culture is in a very real battle today. Jesus has taught us how to be charitable to those who are different from us, to care for the poor and the needy, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Why would we want any alternative system? The human race's problems will never be solved without God; and definitely not with a lack of conviction in who He is, and who we are in Him. 

I visited today with two beautiful women of God, and we all agree that Jesus is close to coming back. We may very well be at the two or three minutes to midnight countdown. I pray that the masses will awaken to pull the dirty veil from before their eyes before it is too late. Lord, let them see all the ways they have been manipulated; and let them perceive just how vulnerable we are to the designs of the Enemy. Let us take our stand, supported by the Heavenly Host, as we await the sound of the trumpet announcing Your return! Come, Lord Jesus, Come! 

#marxismvschristianity

1 Thessalonians 1:5   ... for our good news [regarding salvation] came to you not only in word, but also in [its inherent] power and in the Holy Spirit and with great conviction [on our part]. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your benefit.

How The God-Shaped Hole In Our Culture Birthed Wokeism & Will It Lead to Religious Persecution?

As so often happens when I'm praying and listening for the Lord to show me what I should write about, I will receive a thought and then find myself working backwards to a surprisingly different concept for the post. At the time it appears incompatible with the original idea, and then the Holy Spirit starts connecting the dots for me, and I begin seeing how they are truly connected.

This time, the Lord put it on my heart to contemplate how wokeism has affected our culture; specifically in terms of the absence of God. And that led to how this social philosophy could lead to religious persecution if we do not remain alert to the tactics of our spiritual Enemy.

Religious persecution is a topic that I have written about since I began this blog 11 years ago. At that time, the world was focused on the growing emergence of Sharia Law across the globe and the consequences of those who did not bow down to the strict rules of worshiping that god -- and that god only. But in the America of 2012 we were steeped in our national normalcy bias ... nothing like that would ever happen here! Here in America, we are free to worship whomever we wish, and it's even written in our country's Constitution, right? We don't have a thing to worry about!

But we've been lulled into complacency over at least the last half-century. There have always been Americans that didn't adopt faith in God as a guiding principle in their lives, but there didn't seem to be rancor and malice towards those who did. Then, along came Madalyn Murray O'Hair, an atheist who protested the reading of the Bible and any form of prayer in our public schools. The US Supreme Court agreed with her, and school-sponsored prayer was declared unconstitutional. Constitutionally protected Atheism would result in a spiritual door that was opened by that legal decision, and Satan took advantage of it.

With that one ruling, the Enemy of God found many who were willing to change their definition of "religion". Those who rejected Jehovah God of the Bible found faith in a social philosophy known as Secular Humanism. Instead of believing in a Supernatural God who created the Universe and everything in it; who created us with a purpose according to His will, secular humanists doubt this Biblical worldview [and ultimately deny it] in favor of believing in the greater ability of humans to make this earth a better place and to enact justice, and a safer, more pleasant world. Rather than prayer and a belief in a supernatural God that can heal our diseases and lead us in a supernatural spiritual relationship to make moral decisions for the good of mankind, secular humanists choose to rely on science, man-made social policies, and a collective moral relativism to ensure that the world is equitable and fair. After all, they tell themselves, why would you want to believe in a "God" who can't do a better job than rational, intelligent men can?

And that moral relativism? It has led us directly to this generation's culture of wokeism. Moral relativists believe that different values exist among different people and cultures, therefore morals are relative to different people --- there is no absolute Truth (as in what God has established in His Ten Commandments); only your truth as it pertains to your personal experience. The bottom line is that each of us gets to choose what is true for ourselves.

But now we have moved beyond Atheism, Secular Humanism, and Moral Relativism to Wokeism. Like the social philosophies before it, Wokeism has become its own religion to those who reject the One True God. This movement, like those who came before it, presents itself as humane and compassionate, just and virtuous; and anyone who disagrees with its disciples is to be eliminated from the cultural dialogue. The Enemy has hijacked any moral sense of ethics, and has taken the anti-God argument to new levels. Now, it's not enough to disagree with Christians, but it's time [wokeists declare] that Biblical values be condemned as oppressive and enslaving. Faith and belief in the statutes of the One True God is a power structure that enslaves. This structure must be dismantled to make way for a more "enlightened" alternative interpretation for what society needs to perpetuate relative truth, social justice, and the newest buzz word, equity.

So, where will this lead? Atheism, Secular Humanism, Moral Relativism, and now Wokeism have all tried to accomplish the same thing ... fill that hole of human need that God once occupied. While the adherents of Wokeism see themselves as inherently more just and compassionate than "judgmental" Christians, they fail to see the most important fundamental difference ... the God of Christianity sees all men through the same lens. He created them and all are worthy to be redeemed. The religion of Wokeism attributes a person's "redeemability" based on their group identity. The color of your skin or your gender, or your particular political identity matter.

The Christian identity is based on a relationship with God, the Father, and mercy, goodness, and love are its hallmarks and its goals. But power is the goal in the religion of Wokeism, because power is how they believe corrupt structures are torn down. Therefore, the definition of justice becomes whatever it takes to destroy the structure. And if in the process, people are harmed, then that is the cost of fulfilling the goal. But remember the saying, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely". 

It then follows to ask this question ... will this latest social philosophy [that exists to fill the vacuum vacated by kicking God out of our culture] grow into the final attempt by Satan to destroy God's redemptive plan for mankind? Are we getting close to the religious persecution here in America that Christians around the rest of the world have been experiencing for some time? And is our comfortable, easy, casual American faith equipped to endure the persecution of which the Bible speaks? 

I know that this country's progression from "founded in faith" to the denial of God is nothing new. The Bible is full of generations that abandoned God and suffered the consequences of their repudiation. And there were always consequences. But the Bible also tells the stories of the faithful remnant that stayed true during the days when the Godless vacuums were filled with anti-Christ persecution and tyranny. Are you prepared to follow in the footsteps of the remnant?

My purpose is not to frighten or panic you; it is to prepare you. None of us know the day or time when the final and decisive Days of Evil will descend upon us, but this I do know: those who are not secure in their faith, or don't know what they believe, or who don't have the strength to stand in defense of faith in God, will quickly give in [and go along] to avoid persecution and oppression. 

Maybe Wokeism fades away, and we return to our Godly senses ... we must pray that it doesn't transform into the next stage that takes us further from God. I believe we're already seeing the consequences of how far down the rabbit hole we've already descended -- just in my lifetime! So, join me in praying that our faithful God hears the petitions of the True Church and defeats His Enemy one more time. Let us see His glory reign over this nation and the Gospel of His righteous Kingdom spread over the world!

#wokeism #secularhumanism #moralrelativism #abandoninggod #lossoffaith #endtimespersecution #endtimes #godlessvacuum

 2 Timothy 3:12   Yes, and those who decide to please Christ Jesus by living godly lives will suffer at the hands of those who hate Him.