thestream--2020-07-05--Don’t Laugh at the Dead

Don’t Laugh at the Dead

Why is “ It ’ s a joke ” a universal excuse for saying whatever you want ?
Many people who should know better say the worst things and when someone objects , excuse it with “ It ’ s just a joke.
” Everyone can think of someone they know who does this .
Often teenage boys who won ’ t control their speech .
When they offend someone , they don ’ t apologize .
They complain , “ I was just joking ” or “ Why can ’ t people take a joke ” or “ Everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alt Right leader named Jaden McNeil tweeted “ Congratulations to George Floyd on being drug free for an entire month !
” The tweet proved very popular , with about 4000 retweets the last time I checked , from his nearly 30,000 followers .
It ’ s since been removed for violating Twitter ’ s rules .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Many people got very upset .
Much of that was politically driven .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cruelty .
The killing had been brutal .
The president had called it “ more than eight minutes of horror ” and “ a disgrace.
” He told Sean Hannity , “ It doesn ’ t get any worse than that.
” How could you joke about such a thing ?
Malkin jumped in with a tweet saying : “ If Dave Chappelle tweeted this , no one would blink .
Instead @ KState officials , football players & virtue-signaling babies are in an uproar…and @ McNeilJaden is getting death threats & expulsion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ JOKE .
What a weak , pathetic country we live in.
” One doesn ’ t want to school another adult in little kid morality , the how-would-you-feel-if-this-happened-to-you morality that ’ s the only kind small children can understand .
But apparently Malkin needs it .
So : How would you , Michelle Malkin , feel if this happened to you ?
How would you like it if the subject of the joke were your husband , brother , son , close friend ?
Would you approve your loved one being held up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Whatever his failings , wouldn ’ t you demand more respect for his humanity than that ?
Have you never heard the ancient adage De mortuis nil nisi bonum , “ Do not speak ill of the dead ” ?
Do you not understand its wisdom ?
Would you want people to laugh at you when you ’ re dead and can ’ t defend yourself ?
Would you want your loved ones to endure seeing you mocked ?
Do you , since you identify yourself as a Catholic , know what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Like the Apostle Paul ’ s “ Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths , but only such as is good for building up , as fits the occasion , that it may give grace to those who hear.
” And his “ Let your speech always be gracious , ” meaning full of God ’ s grace .
And this too : “ In your teaching show integrity , dignity , and sound speech that can not be condemned .
… Speak evil of no one , avoid quarreling , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward all people.
” Or this from Proverbs : “ Like a madman who throws firebrands , arrows , and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says , ‘ I am only joking !
’ ” We can substitute “ mocks ” for “ deceives.
” Finally , Michelle Malkin , I assume you would not want your husband , brother , son , close friend to be spoken of like that .
As jokes .
So speak of others ’ loved ones the way you would have others speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids know to do that .
Christians don ’ t treat others as jokes .
Scripture doesn ’ t let us say anything we want with the excuse , “ It ’ s a joke.
” What a weak , pathetic idea of speech that is .
Why am I making such a point about a kid ’ s stupid joke and an adult columnist ’ s defense of it ?
Because so many in our world passionately dehumanize human beings of whom they disapprove .
Every side does it to the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other side doing it , without noticing they do it too .
Christians must refuse to do it .
We of all people must stand for the dignity and worth of everyone God created and for whom Jesus gave His life .
And speak about them that way .
Little kid morality ought to be enough to make people speak kindly and charitably of others .
Especially the dead .
But we try to reflect something greater : The love of God for all His creatures .
The Truth About Every Human Being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m sure Malkin follows Pope John Paul II .
Speaking to a pro-life gathering in 1986 , he said : “ What is needed is the courage to speak the truth clearly , candidly and boldly , but never with hatred or disrespect for persons .
… To be pro-life then , to defend the right to life , means to stand up for the truth , especially the truth about the God-given dignity and worth of every human being.
” Even recently deceased ones .
George Floyd wasn ’ t a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a joke .
He wasn ’ t much different from you or me , and despite his struggles he might well have been a better man than you or me .
In any , he was a man for whom Jesus died .
If only people like Michelle Malkin knew that , instead of adding to the ugliness in the world .
Thanks to the writer Mark Shea for the verses from Proverbs .
David Mills is a senior editor of The Stream .
After teaching writing in a seminary , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive editor of First Things .
He edits the site Hour of Our Death and writes the monthly “ Last Things ” column for the New Oxford Review and a weekly column for the English Catholic Herald .
He is finishing a book on death and dying to be published by Sophia Institute Press .

Why is “It’s a joke” a universal excuse for saying whatever you want? Many people who should know better say the worst things and when someone objects, excuse it with “It’s just a joke.”
Everyone can think of someone they know who does this. Often teenage boys who won’t control their speech. When they offend someone, they don’t apologize. They complain, “I was just joking” or “Why can’t people take a joke” or “Everyone’s so sensitive.”
Add columnist Michelle Malkin to that group.
Over a Joke?
A young Alt Right leader named Jaden McNeil tweeted “Congratulations to George Floyd on being drug free for an entire month!” The tweet proved very popular, with about 4000 retweets the last time I checked, from his nearly 30,000 followers. It’s since been removed for violating Twitter’s rules.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Many people got very upset. Much of that was politically driven. But much properly reacted to McNeil’s cruelty. The killing had been brutal. The president had called it “more than eight minutes of horror” and “a disgrace.” He told Sean Hannity, “It doesn’t get any worse than that.” How could you joke about such a thing?
Malkin jumped in with a tweet saying: “If Dave Chappelle tweeted this, no one would blink. Instead @KState officials, football players & virtue-signaling babies are in an uproar…and @McNeilJaden is getting death threats & expulsion threats across social media. OVER A JOKE. What a weak, pathetic country we live in.”
Schooling Malkin
One doesn’t want to school another adult in little kid morality, the how-would-you-feel-if-this-happened-to-you morality that’s the only kind small children can understand. But apparently Malkin needs it.
So: How would you, Michelle Malkin, feel if this happened to you? How would you like it if the subject of the joke were your husband, brother, son, close friend? Would you approve your loved one being held up for public contempt, as a joke? Whatever his failings, wouldn’t you demand more respect for his humanity than that?
Have you never heard the ancient adage De mortuis nil nisi bonum, “Do not speak ill of the dead”? Do you not understand its wisdom? Would you want people to laugh at you when you’re dead and can’t defend yourself? Would you want your loved ones to endure seeing you mocked?
Do you, since you identify yourself as a Catholic, know what the Bible says about our speech? Like the Apostle Paul’s “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
And his “Let your speech always be gracious,” meaning full of God’s grace. And this too: “In your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned. … Speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, be gentle, and show perfect courtesy toward all people.”
Or this from Proverbs: “Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, ‘I am only joking!’” We can substitute “mocks” for “deceives.”
A Sad Thing
Finally, Michelle Malkin, I assume you would not want your husband, brother, son, close friend to be spoken of like that. As jokes. So speak of others’ loved ones the way you would have others speak of the men you love. Little kids know to do that.
Christians don’t treat others as jokes. Scripture doesn’t let us say anything we want with the excuse, “It’s a joke.” What a weak, pathetic idea of speech that is.
Why am I making such a point about a kid’s stupid joke and an adult columnist’s defense of it? Because so many in our world passionately dehumanize human beings of whom they disapprove. Every side does it to the other. And every side howls about the other side doing it, without noticing they do it too.
Christians must refuse to do it. We of all people must stand for the dignity and worth of everyone God created and for whom Jesus gave His life. And speak about them that way. Little kid morality ought to be enough to make people speak kindly and charitably of others. Especially the dead. But we try to reflect something greater: The love of God for all His creatures.
The Truth About Every Human Being
Given her views on things, I’m sure Malkin follows Pope John Paul II. Speaking to a pro-life gathering in 1986, he said: “What is needed is the courage to speak the truth clearly, candidly and boldly, but never with hatred or disrespect for persons. … To be pro-life then, to defend the right to life, means to stand up for the truth, especially the truth about the God-given dignity and worth of every human being.”
Even recently deceased ones. George Floyd wasn’t a joke or a man to be treated as a joke. He wasn’t much different from you or me, and despite his struggles he might well have been a better man than you or me. In any case, he was a man for whom Jesus died. If only people like Michelle Malkin knew that, instead of adding to the ugliness in the world.
Thanks to the writer Mark Shea for the verses from Proverbs.
David Mills is a senior editor of The Stream. After teaching writing in a seminary, he has been editor of Touchstone and the executive editor of First Things. He edits the site Hour of Our Death and writes the monthly “Last Things” column for the New Oxford Review and a weekly column for the English Catholic Herald. He is finishing a book on death and dying to be published by Sophia Institute Press.


thestream--2020-07-05--A Letter to Conservative Christian Churches in America

Conservative Christianity in America will succumb to sexual identity activism unless it embraces those leaving the LGBTQ subculture .
As the dust settles after the recent Bostock Supreme Court decision , Christians everywhere are questioning how to respond to the rising tide of LGBTQ Pride .
Conservative Christians across the world want to hold the opinion that the Bible condemns same-sex sexual behavior and that homosexuality has a negative impact on our culture .
At the same time , many of these congregations don ’ t accommodate people who have responded to that message .
Leaving LGBTQ Behind — Born @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Born Gay ” Today there is a crisis among those of us who have exercised obedience to our faith and left LGBTQ behind .
We are being forced deeper and deeper underground .
Our voices and stories are being suppressed .
Avenues of care and discipleship are being abandoned .
Don ’ t be confused by the accusations of LGBTQ activists .
Thousands of “ oncegay ” people ( or “ ex-gay , ” though most of us don ’ t identify with any such label ) are the fruit of conservative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
We are pursuing God for sanctification and enjoying the wonderful redemption of Jesus ’ love .
Many of us now have opposite sex marriages ( not blended orientation marriages ) with biological children .
We have overcome gender traumas and identify fully as men and women who are born of God ’ s will — not “ born gay.
” Most Americans believe we do not exist , but we feel our stories reveal the heart of God and His power to redeem all people .
Churches are becoming afraid to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emotional healing or restoration in one ’ s sexuality could be called “ conversion therapy , ” or worse , anti-LGBTQ hate .
We Christians who have experienced LGBTQ , whether openly gay or closeted in our churches , wrestle with our public response to Christ .
The uproar over so-called “ conversion therapy ” reveals the painful challenge of that pursuit .
Activists say thousands have undergone a “ discredited and abusive ” practice that is tantamount to “ torture.
” But look , that statistic doesn ’ t point to individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a back room .
It tells us there are thousands who want out of LGBTQ .
We want to escape .
We don ’ t want to embrace same-sex sexuality .
What this actually means is that some have submitted to questionable and even ineffective approaches in their desperate efforts to gain freedom .
Let that sink in .
But so-called “ conversion therapy ” isn ’ t a therapeutic method , it is a subjective experience that can be avoided .
Two people pursuing emotional healing and physical wholeness in the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finds meaning in what is learned , and through application undergoes some fresh measure of fulfillment .
But imagine the other has a less productive outcome and finds no resolution .
Disappointment and despair close in .
This process happens weekly in our churches as “ regular ” disciples mature , but the pain for one who experiences LGBTQ is deep .
Accusations and fear arise .
Misunderstandings of God ’ s beautiful character often reinforce the hopelessness .
The issue demands a healthy community and a relational discipleship process where Christ ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change in one ’ s “ orientation.
” Christ ’ s Love is the Goal — Who Will Offer It ?
But , who is offering this ?
To find help and support in leaving the LGBTQ subculture one must look to like-minded individuals .
They are often found in parachurch ministries led by others who have pursued redemption because most Christian leaders feel unqualified to help , leaving a tangible vacuum in churches .
And now these very parachurch ministries ( often our only hope to receive the full gospel ) are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversion therapy ” bans .
The further we are pushed from the larger fellowship of Christian congregations , the more likely moral failures become as parachurch leaders try to stand alone against the onslaught of activist accusations .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Individuals following Christ out of the LGBTQ subculture need churches that are centers of refuge .
And we need proponents who are willing to stand with us in the public arena as laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gay.
” We need Christians to take a bold leap of faith for the sake of those of us seeking wholehearted identity in Christ .
Will the Church effectively stand against sexual immorality in the face of the United Nations ?
Our U.S. Congress ?
Our state governments ?
All of these entities are pushing Christian conservatives to embrace LGBTQ identity and abandon the faith .
Meanwhile , we pray that Jesus continues to draw men and women to Himself from the highways and byways of sexual sin just as He did in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He find faith when He returns ?
Elizabeth Woning is co-founder of the CHANGED Movement , an international grassroots network of men and women who have left the LGBTQ subculture and identity to follow Jesus .
changedmovement.com | IG : changedmvmt

Conservative Christianity in America will succumb to sexual identity activism unless it embraces those leaving the LGBTQ subculture.
As the dust settles after the recent Bostock Supreme Court decision, Christians everywhere are questioning how to respond to the rising tide of LGBTQ Pride. Conservative Christians across the world want to hold the opinion that the Bible condemns same-sex sexual behavior and that homosexuality has a negative impact on our culture. At the same time, many of these congregations don’t accommodate people who have responded to that message.
Leaving LGBTQ Behind — Born of God’s Will, Not “Born Gay”
Today there is a crisis among those of us who have exercised obedience to our faith and left LGBTQ behind. We are being forced deeper and deeper underground. Our voices and stories are being suppressed. Avenues of care and discipleship are being abandoned.
Don’t be confused by the accusations of LGBTQ activists. Thousands of “oncegay” people (or “ex-gay,” though most of us don’t identify with any such label) are the fruit of conservative Christianity. We’ve been born again. We are pursuing God for sanctification and enjoying the wonderful redemption of Jesus’ love. Many of us now have opposite sex marriages (not blended orientation marriages) with biological children. We have overcome gender traumas and identify fully as men and women who are born of God’s will — not “born gay.” Most Americans believe we do not exist, but we feel our stories reveal the heart of God and His power to redeem all people.
“We Want to Escape”
Churches are becoming afraid to offer us support since any approach suggesting emotional healing or restoration in one’s sexuality could be called “conversion therapy,” or worse, anti-LGBTQ hate. We Christians who have experienced LGBTQ, whether openly gay or closeted in our churches, wrestle with our public response to Christ. The uproar over so-called “conversion therapy” reveals the painful challenge of that pursuit.
Individuals following Christ out of the LGBTQ subculture
need churches that are centers of refuge.
Activists say thousands have undergone a “discredited and abusive” practice that is tantamount to “torture.” But look, that statistic doesn’t point to individuals who have been handcuffed and forced into a back room. It tells us there are thousands who want out of LGBTQ. We want to escape. We don’t want to embrace same-sex sexuality. What this actually means is that some have submitted to questionable and even ineffective approaches in their desperate efforts to gain freedom.
Let that sink in.
But so-called “conversion therapy” isn’t a therapeutic method, it is a subjective experience that can be avoided. Two people pursuing emotional healing and physical wholeness in the same setting may have different perceptions. One finds meaning in what is learned, and through application undergoes some fresh measure of fulfillment. But imagine the other has a less productive outcome and finds no resolution. Disappointment and despair close in.
This process happens weekly in our churches as “regular” disciples mature, but the pain for one who experiences LGBTQ is deep. Accusations and fear arise. Misunderstandings of God’s beautiful character often reinforce the hopelessness. The issue demands a healthy community and a relational discipleship process where Christ’s love is the goal — not change in one’s “orientation.”
Christ’s Love is the Goal — Who Will Offer It?
But, who is offering this? To find help and support in leaving the LGBTQ subculture one must look to like-minded individuals. They are often found in parachurch ministries led by others who have pursued redemption because most Christian leaders feel unqualified to help, leaving a tangible vacuum in churches. And now these very parachurch ministries (often our only hope to receive the full gospel) are being outlawed across the world through “conversion therapy” bans. The further we are pushed from the larger fellowship of Christian congregations, the more likely moral failures become as parachurch leaders try to stand alone against the onslaught of activist accusations.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Individuals following Christ out of the LGBTQ subculture need churches that are centers of refuge. And we need proponents who are willing to stand with us in the public arena as laws increasingly demand “once gay, always gay.” We need Christians to take a bold leap of faith for the sake of those of us seeking wholehearted identity in Christ.
Will the Church effectively stand against sexual immorality in the face of the United Nations? Our U.S. Congress? Our state governments? All of these entities are pushing Christian conservatives to embrace LGBTQ identity and abandon the faith. Meanwhile, we pray that Jesus continues to draw men and women to Himself from the highways and byways of sexual sin just as He did in the first century. Otherwise, will He find faith when He returns?
Elizabeth Woning is co-founder of the CHANGED Movement, an international grassroots network of men and women who have left the LGBTQ subculture and identity to follow Jesus. changedmovement.com | IG: changedmvmt


thestream--2020-07-05--Time to Cancel Darwin

Time to Cancel Darwin

As much as I despise the cancel culture , if there is any cultural icon who deserves to be cancelled for racist attitudes , it is Charles Darwin .
Or were you not aware of how his ideas helped fuel the fires of eugenics ?
I tweeted a poll on June 23 , asking , “ Who said this ?
The ‘ western nations of Europe … now so immeasurably surpass their former savage progenitors and stand at the summit of civilization.
’ ” Of the four choices offered , 4.2 percent voted for David Duke , 10.5 percent for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adolph Hitler , and 55.7 percent for Charles Darwin .
The majority got it right !
But is this knowledge widely disseminated ?
Do the countless millions of fawning Darwinists know about Darwin ’ s racial theories ?
And if they do , do they simply a turn a blind eye to them ?
The same day I did the poll , I sent the link of a disturbing article about Darwin to a friend of mine who is Black and a historian .
The article , written by Austin Anderson and posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was titled , “ The Dark Side of Darwinism.
” I asked my friend , “ I assume you knew this about Darwin ?
” He replied , “ What ?
That he was a racist ?
Sure .
That ’ s race history 101.
” He added , “ Racist philosophy , eugenics and white supremacy are the love-children of Darwin .
Survival of the fittest is the core of European philosophy and its approaches to colonization and imperialism.
” Did we learn about this in our schools ?
Darwin ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identity , notes from his diaries , or quotes from people who knew Darwin .
His accusers , on the other hand , often directly cited text from The Descent of Man .
Conclusions drawn from the authorial approach to the question , in which defenders focused on proving that Darwin himself was not a racist , starkly contradicted conclusions drawn from the approach of consulting Darwin ’ s text itself .
I ’ m familiar with Darwin ’ s theories , but I had never actually read his books ; I suspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you .
However , I found that to determine whether or not Darwin ’ s theories are racist , the text of his books is revealing and conclusive .
Information outside the text of The Descent of Man can help us understand the man behind the pen , but it does nothing to soften the brutal racism and white supremacism found in the text of his theory.
” Which peoples does Darwin describe as “ savages ” ?
He is quite generous in his use of the term , including , Australians , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans , Polynesians , and Eskimos .
Darwin asks , “ How little can the hard-worked wife of a degraded Australian savage , who uses hardly any abstract words and can not count above four , exert her self-consciousness , or reflect on the nature of her own existence ?
” This was virtually identical to the reasoning used by European and American slave traders , who viewed the Africans as intellectually inferior human beings , therefore deserving of servitude to the white man .
“ Survival of the Fittest ” = Whites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to Darwin , also had lower morality , lack of ability to reason , and less self-control .
And , quite naturally , given the survival of the fittest and the ruthlessness of the evolutionary process , the superior whites should conquer and colonize the savage ’ s lands .
As Anderson notes ( while quoting Darwin ) , “ As white Europeans ‘ exterminate and replace ’ the world ’ s ‘ savage races , ’ and as great apes go extinct , Darwin says that the gap between civilized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ widen .
The gap will eventually be between civilized man ‘ and some ape as low as a baboon , instead of as at present between the negro or Australian and the gorilla ’ .
” Yes , the illustrious Darwin wrote those very words .
Darwinian Naturalism Should Also Be Cancelled Of course , Darwin should have been cancelled intellectually decades ago due to the abject scientific failure of Darwinian naturalism .
As atheist philosophy professor Thomas Nagel argued in his book Mind and Cosmos , “ the modern scientific story of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ ripe for displacement ’ and it represents ‘ a heroic triumph of ideological theory over common sense , ’ which will be seen as ‘ laughable ’ in a couple of generations.
” ( The subtitle of Nagel ’ s book is , “ Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature is Almost Certainly False.
” ) There is no viable , materialistic explanation for the origin of the universe , the origin of life , and the origin of human beings ( as distinct from animals , with a conscience and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too , however , is not something you are likely to hear in school .
As Nagel wrote , “ I realize that such doubts will strike many people as outrageous , but that is because almost everyone in our secular culture has been browbeaten into regarding the reductive research program [ about the origin of life ] as sacrosanct , on the ground that anything else would not be science.
” Can I give an amen to an atheist ?
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our Day .
Unfortunately , the intellectual cult of Darwinism does not seem ready to collapse just yet , as it remains thoroughly entrenched in academia to this day .
To oppose it is to be a heretic .
But perhaps , given the dark side of some of Darwin ’ s theories , theories that were intrinsic to his evolutionary views , Darwin can be questioned morally .
Starting there , it will be easier to topple his intellectual house of cards .
Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radio program .
His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
Connect with him on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

As much as I despise the cancel culture, if there is any cultural icon who deserves to be cancelled for racist attitudes, it is Charles Darwin. Or were you not aware of how his ideas helped fuel the fires of eugenics?
I tweeted a poll on June 23, asking, “Who said this? The ‘western nations of Europe … now so immeasurably surpass their former savage progenitors and stand at the summit of civilization.’”
Of the four choices offered, 4.2 percent voted for David Duke, 10.5 percent for Robert E. Lee, 29.6 percent for Adolph Hitler, and 55.7 percent for Charles Darwin. The majority got it right!
But is this knowledge widely disseminated? Do the countless millions of fawning Darwinists know about Darwin’s racial theories? And if they do, do they simply a turn a blind eye to them?
The Dark Side of Darwinism
The same day I did the poll, I sent the link of a disturbing article about Darwin to a friend of mine who is Black and a historian. The article, written by Austin Anderson and posted on the Philosophy for the Many site, was titled, “The Dark Side of Darwinism.”
I asked my friend, “I assume you knew this about Darwin?”
He replied, “What? That he was a racist? Sure. That’s race history 101.”
He added, “Racist philosophy, eugenics and white supremacy are the love-children of Darwin. Survival of the fittest is the core of European philosophy and its approaches to colonization and imperialism.”
Did we learn about this in our schools?
Anderson wrote,
Darwin’s defenders most often cited his abolitionist identity, notes from his diaries, or quotes from people who knew Darwin. His accusers, on the other hand, often directly cited text from The Descent of Man. Conclusions drawn from the authorial approach to the question, in which defenders focused on proving that Darwin himself was not a racist, starkly contradicted conclusions drawn from the approach of consulting Darwin’s text itself. I’m familiar with Darwin’s theories, but I had never actually read his books; I suspect the same is true for most of you. However, I found that to determine whether or not Darwin’s theories are racist, the text of his books is revealing and conclusive. Information outside the text of The Descent of Man can help us understand the man behind the pen, but it does nothing to soften the brutal racism and white supremacism found in the text of his theory.”
Which peoples does Darwin describe as “savages”? He is quite generous in his use of the term, including, Australians, Mongolians, Africans, Indians, South Americans, Polynesians, and Eskimos.
Darwin asks, “How little can the hard-worked wife of a degraded Australian savage, who uses hardly any abstract words and cannot count above four, exert her self-consciousness, or reflect on the nature of her own existence?”
This was virtually identical to the reasoning used by European and American slave traders, who viewed the Africans as intellectually inferior human beings, therefore deserving of servitude to the white man.
“Survival of the Fittest” = Whites in Darwin’s Eyes
These savages, according to Darwin, also had lower morality, lack of ability to reason, and less self-control. And, quite naturally, given the survival of the fittest and the ruthlessness of the evolutionary process, the superior whites should conquer and colonize the savage’s lands.
As Anderson notes (while quoting Darwin), “As white Europeans ‘exterminate and replace’ the world’s ‘savage races,’ and as great apes go extinct, Darwin says that the gap between civilized man and his closest evolutionary ancestor will widen. The gap will eventually be between civilized man ‘and some ape as low as a baboon, instead of as at present between the negro or Australian and the gorilla’.”
Yes, the illustrious Darwin wrote those very words.
Darwinian Naturalism Should Also Be Cancelled
Of course, Darwin should have been cancelled intellectually decades ago due to the abject scientific failure of Darwinian naturalism.
As atheist philosophy professor Thomas Nagel argued in his book Mind and Cosmos, “the modern scientific story of the origin of life through evolution is ‘ripe for displacement’ and it represents ‘a heroic triumph of ideological theory over common sense,’ which will be seen as ‘laughable’ in a couple of generations.” (The subtitle of Nagel’s book is, “Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature is Almost Certainly False.”)
There is no viable, materialistic explanation for the origin of the universe, the origin of life, and the origin of human beings (as distinct from animals, with a conscience and a state of consciousness).
That too, however, is not something you are likely to hear in school.
As Nagel wrote, “I realize that such doubts will strike many people as outrageous, but that is because almost everyone in our secular culture has been browbeaten into regarding the reductive research program [about the origin of life] as sacrosanct, on the ground that anything else would not be science.”
Can I give an amen to an atheist?
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Unfortunately, the intellectual cult of Darwinism does not seem ready to collapse just yet, as it remains thoroughly entrenched in academia to this day. To oppose it is to be a heretic.
But perhaps, given the dark side of some of Darwin’s theories, theories that were intrinsic to his evolutionary views, Darwin can be questioned morally. Starting there, it will be easier to topple his intellectual house of cards.
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test? Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


thestream--2020-07-05--Marxist Utopia or Hell on Earth?

Marxist Utopia or Hell on Earth?

Take note of Marx ’ s description of government , “ the proletariat organized as the ruling class.
” Don ’ t we see thuggish actions to “ wrest power ” now ?
Destroy the symbols of our civilization , and we lose who we are .
Destroy the small business owners ’ shops and stores in areas the thugs control , and the business owners have no capital , no power .
How does pure “ democracy ” work in CHOP/CHAZ ?
It looks like a precursor to Hell on earth to me .
How Bad Can it Get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black Lives ” as the “ Proletariat.
” It seems the Black Nationalist Marxist founders of BLM want a Marxist State with “ blacks ” as the “ ruling class.
” It ’ s why AOC wants all people of color included as black .
Could it be a Marxist utopia with her and her people left out of the ruling class ?
How crafty of them .
Just plug in their terms for Marx ’ s .
Skepticism and secular atheism birthed Karl Marx — the father of socialist economics .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He then began his attack on the foundational economic and societal principles .
How bad can it get ?
So man , not God , becomes master of the universe .
Abolish religion , the opiate of the people !
Rise to human potential !
Adam Smith ’ s “ invisible hand , ” which many understood as the hand of Providence , becomes only an excuse for exploitation .
Man ’ s cynicism replaces “ natural liberty.
” Marx declared : “ It [ religion ] is the opiate of the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ illusory happiness of the people is to demand their real happiness.
” All things sacred in bourgeois society Marx endeavored to destroy .
No saving the old system for him .
With a vengeance , at all levels , he called for cleansing and total reordering .
As he wrote in The Communist Manifesto : The Communist revolution is the most radical rupture with traditional relations ; no wonder that its development involves the most radical rupture from traditional ideals .
Abolition of the family !
Even the most radical flare up at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On what foundation is the present family , the bourgeois based ?
On capital , on private gain .
The bourgeois family will vanish when its complement vanishes , and both will vanish with the vanishing of capital .
“ Its complement ” meant the proletarian family .
The working people become obedient to the state too .
Children will no longer obey their parents .
The Communist Party knows best !
In a tirade , Marx accused the ownership class , the bourgeois , of exploiting the wives and daughters of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engaging in prostitution .
He was disgusted when they held up religion and family values .
He called them hypocrites because they objected to a Communist government offering professional prostitutes .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
“ The bourgeois claptrap about the family and education , about that hallowed correlation of parent and child , becomes all the more disgusting … ” He goes on to say it ’ s because current society destroys proletariat families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instruments of labour.
” Marx ’ s pure socialism is very dark .
It ’ s all accusations .
He uses a pervasive tactic among liars and hypocrites .
If some sin gravely , he accuses the whole group of it and condemns them all .
He blames others for violence , for prostitution , for brainwashing the kids into their way of life .
Then , he mean-spiritedly declares the Communists will do all these things .
Do you charge us with wanting to stop the exploitation of children by their parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But you will say we destroy the most hallowed relations , when we replace home education by social .
… The Communists have not invented the intervention of society in education ; they do but seek to alter the character of that intervention , and to rescue education from the influence of the ruling class .
Marx and his partner Friedrich Engels took an existing socialist movement concerned with indecent working conditions and looking for a better way , organized it and made it much more radical .
They convinced them with writings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring it on .
The Communist Manifesto ends : Today , by almost all moral measures , our traditional society is vanishing .
They ’ ve gotten into our courts , schools , government at all levels and churches .
Abortion and out-of-wedlock birth rates are up — church attendance and belief in God are down .
Man has become the measure of all things with freaks taking over .
After several decades of infiltration , the modern Marxists have brainwashed middle-class white kids to scream BLACK LIVES MATTER !
If successful , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of ours .
James Malloy is the author of Economic Clarity or Political Confusion .

The Proletariat (subsistence workers) will use its political supremacy to wrest, by degrees, all capital from the bourgeoisie (owners), to centralize all instruments of production in the hands of the state … of the proletariat organized as the ruling class. ~Karl Marx
Take note of Marx’s description of government, “the proletariat organized as the ruling class.” Don’t we see thuggish actions to “wrest power” now? Destroy the symbols of our civilization, and we lose who we are. Destroy the small business owners’ shops and stores in areas the thugs control, and the business owners have no capital, no power. How does pure “democracy” work in CHOP/CHAZ? It looks like a precursor to Hell on earth to me.
How Bad Can it Get?
They’ve plugged in “Black Lives” as the “Proletariat.” It seems the Black Nationalist Marxist founders of BLM want a Marxist State with “blacks” as the “ruling class.” It’s why AOC wants all people of color included as black. Could it be a Marxist utopia with her and her people left out of the ruling class? How crafty of them. Just plug in their terms for Marx’s. Skepticism and secular atheism birthed Karl Marx — the father of socialist economics. It gave him the ammunition he needed. He then began his attack on the foundational economic and societal principles. How bad can it get?
Man, not God, becomes master of the universe.
Abolish religion, the opiate of the people!
So man, not God, becomes master of the universe. Abolish religion, the opiate of the people! Rise to human potential! Adam Smith’s “invisible hand,” which many understood as the hand of Providence, becomes only an excuse for exploitation. Man’s cynicism replaces “natural liberty.” Marx declared: “It [religion] is the opiate of the people. … To abolish religion as the illusory happiness of the people is to demand their real happiness.”
Cleansing and Total Reordering
All things sacred in bourgeois society Marx endeavored to destroy. No saving the old system for him. With a vengeance, at all levels, he called for cleansing and total reordering. As he wrote in The Communist Manifesto:
The Communist revolution is the most radical rupture with traditional relations; no wonder that its development involves the most radical rupture from traditional ideals. Abolition of the family! Even the most radical flare up at this infamous proposal of the Communists. On what foundation is the present family, the bourgeois based? On capital, on private gain. The bourgeois family will vanish when its complement vanishes, and both will vanish with the vanishing of capital.
“Its complement” meant the proletarian family. The working people become obedient to the state too. Children will no longer obey their parents. The Communist Party knows best! In a tirade, Marx accused the ownership class, the bourgeois, of exploiting the wives and daughters of the proletariat, wife swapping among themselves and engaging in prostitution. He was disgusted when they held up religion and family values. He called them hypocrites because they objected to a Communist government offering professional prostitutes.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
“The bourgeois claptrap about the family and education, about that hallowed correlation of parent and child, becomes all the more disgusting …” He goes on to say it’s because current society destroys proletariat families as “simple articles of commerce and instruments of labour.”
Dark Accusations Spread Wide
Marx’s pure socialism is very dark. It’s all accusations. He uses a pervasive tactic among liars and hypocrites. If some sin gravely, he accuses the whole group of it and condemns them all. He blames others for violence, for prostitution, for brainwashing the kids into their way of life. Then, he mean-spiritedly declares the Communists will do all these things.
Do you charge us with wanting to stop the exploitation of children by their parents? To this we plead guilty. But you will say we destroy the most hallowed relations, when we replace home education by social. … The Communists have not invented the intervention of society in education; they do but seek to alter the character of that intervention, and to rescue education from the influence of the ruling class.
Another Communist Revolution?
Marx and his partner Friedrich Engels took an existing socialist movement concerned with indecent working conditions and looking for a better way, organized it and made it much more radical. They convinced them with writings and rhetoric and told the workers to bring it on. The Communist Manifesto ends:
The Communists disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. WORKING MEN OF ALL COUNTRIES, UNITE!
Today, by almost all moral measures, our traditional society is vanishing. They’ve gotten into our courts, schools, government at all levels and churches. Abortion and out-of-wedlock birth rates are up — church attendance and belief in God are down. Man has become the measure of all things with freaks taking over.
Today, by almost all moral measures,
our traditional society is vanishing.
After several decades of infiltration, the modern Marxists have brainwashed middle-class white kids to scream BLACK LIVES MATTER! If successful, they’ll destroy black lives with the rest of ours.
James Malloy is the author of Economic Clarity or Political Confusion.


thestream--2020-07-05--Colin Kaepernick Condemns July 4th as a ‘Celebration of White Supremacy’

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick denounced the July 4th holiday as a “ celebration of white supremacy ” on Saturday .
“ Black ppl have been dehumanized , brutalized , criminalized + terrorized by America for centuries , & are expected to join your commemoration of ‘ independence ’ , while you enslaved our ancestors , ” Kaepernick posted on Twitter with an accompanying video .
“ We reject your celebration of white supremacy & look forward to liberation for all , ” Kaepernick added .
The former NFL quarterback has a history of making divisive statements .
He previously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for killing Qasem Soleimani , the former commander of Iran ’ s Quds Force and a designated terrorist believed to be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American military members .
“ There is nothing new about American terrorist attacks against Black and Brown people for the expansion of American imperialism , ” Kaepernick wrote on Twitter following news of Soleimani ’ s death .
“ America has always sanctioned and besieged Black and Brown bodies both at home and abroad .
America militarism is the weapon wielded by American imperialism , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the non white world , ” he added .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick denounced the July 4th holiday as a “celebration of white supremacy” on Saturday.
“Black ppl have been dehumanized, brutalized, criminalized + terrorized by America for centuries, & are expected to join your commemoration of ‘independence’, while you enslaved our ancestors,” Kaepernick posted on Twitter with an accompanying video.
“We reject your celebration of white supremacy & look forward to liberation for all,” Kaepernick added.
Black ppl have been dehumanized, brutalized, criminalized + terrorized by America for centuries, & are expected to join your commemoration of “independence”, while you enslaved our ancestors. We reject your celebration of white supremacy & look forward to liberation for all. ✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/YCD2SYlgv4 — Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) July 4, 2020
The former NFL quarterback has a history of making divisive statements.
He previously appeared to condemn the United States military for killing Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of Iran’s Quds Force and a designated terrorist believed to be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American military members.
“There is nothing new about American terrorist attacks against Black and Brown people for the expansion of American imperialism,” Kaepernick wrote on Twitter following news of Soleimani’s death.
“America has always sanctioned and besieged Black and Brown bodies both at home and abroad. America militarism is the weapon wielded by American imperialism, to enforce its policing and plundering of the non white world,” he added.
There is nothing new about American terrorist attacks against Black and Brown people for the expansion of American imperialism. — Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) January 4, 2020
America has always sanctioned and besieged Black and Brown bodies both at home and abroad. America militarism is the weapon wielded by American imperialism, to enforce its policing and plundering of the non white world. — Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) January 4, 2020
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


thestream--2020-07-06--Stopping the Spread of the Wrathidemic

Stopping the Spread of the Wrathidemic

Both the cross and the guillotine present themselves as the answer to injustice .
But while one brings justice and reconciliation , the other brings only bloodshed to its victims , and addiction to vengeance to its users .
So said Dickens in his take on the French Revolution ’ s “ Great Terror , ” describing masses drunk on rage who poisoned the air with an epidemic of wrath , infecting many , intimidating the rest .
His characters , like today ’ s marching vandals , rioters , and police-haters , had their various social and political demands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Its terrorizing effect on the public was their daily bread , the execution of Aristocrats their daily entertainment .
They were pumped with rage , their drug of choice , which like all drugs gratified but never fully satisfied .
In that wrathidemic , as in ours , ragers raged , while forever jonesing for more .
But before you condemn rage , consider its origins .
Dickens does just that , beginning his Tales with close-ups of abuse in the city of St. Antoine , where families are bled dry by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so rampant that people drink spilled wine out of cracks in the street , and where Aristocrats speeding in their carriages can run a child over and shrug .
By the time the tables are turned and La Guillotine appears , it ’ s hard not to cheer .
You stop cheering , of course , once you see how tyrannical the formerly oppressed become , and how comfortably and hypocritically they assume the oppressor role .
A Tale of Two Cities shows people as drunk on power as they are anxious to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guilty alike .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
My , how far we have not come .
Our cultural Guillotine , to the cheers of many , has appeared .
It ’ s now trendy to denigrate whites as racists , police as brutes , conservatives as fascists .
Threats against all three are often made , and when violence against them is committed , plenty of folks minimize it , justify it , or both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread there were other sins , not all of them ancient .
Sure , we ’ ve always flinched at the images of slavery , Jim Crow , KKK lynchings .
There ’ s also , though , the wake up call of last May ’ s image – a prone , helpless African American begging a white man to let him breathe .
There ’ s last February ’ s image – two white men with no legal authority detaining then killing a black jogger unfortunate enough to have passed them on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unseen images ( hundreds ?
thousands ? )
of racially-motivated violence , or suspicions , or contempt , that were never videotaped , that we never saw , but that others experienced and can ’ t forget .
You don ’ t have to join the Left ’ s distorted view of America to recognize that while the nation is not inherently racist , racism exists within it .
Always has ; still does , probably more than most of us know .
The Cross is definitely being replaced with the Guillotine in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also missing anytime someone of one race abused someone of another .
Having no respect whatsoever for the Black Lives Matter movement , I know that black lives matter .
Whenever that sacred fact has been ignored , seeds for wrath have been sown .
In light of that , how do we assess the crowds rampaging across American cities ?
Most conversations I ’ ve heard break them down into three groups : • The true oppressed , whose anger , though wrongly expressed , is legit .
• The true but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought down by raising hell .
• The true pawns , funded and directed by rich elites wanting to overhaul America and usher in a Socialist Eden .
I ’ d say all of them are part of the march .
Let ’ s also , though , consider the participation of people discovering , repeating , then getting hooked on the Joy of Wrath .
People are hungry for a cause .
Specifically , they crave one in which there ’ s an Oppressor to fight , and an Oppressed to defend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Right Person fighting a Right Cause .
There ’ s your first taste of Social Righteousness .
Now march , and you ’ re aggressively declaring your rightness .
Confront , accuse , and scream at Oppressors , and you ’ re not only Right , you ’ re now Daring .
Then damage or even destroy the Oppressor ’ s property , and congrats !
You ’ ve graduated from Right Person to Wrathful Avenger .
The Ashwood Recovery clinic described this dynamic : “ Research has shown that the brain gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being right in an argument.
” Elaborating on the “ high ” you can get from that alone , they continue : No wonder people get hooked on this kind of behavior .
It lets them be publicly right , becoming the declared winners in an argument won by intimidating and silencing their opponents .
Dickens ’ revolutionaries knew a thing or two about that .
They delighted in conquering and humiliating any perceived adversary , constantly rehearsing how many had been guillotined the day before , how many were slated for beheading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough executed Aristocrats to satisfy them .
Madame DeFarge nicely summed up this attitude of her day and ours , when challenged by her husband to consider how excessive her vengeance was becoming : “ Tell the wind and the fire where to stop , but don ’ t tell me.
” The Old Rugged Always Relevant Cross Where the gospel ’ s gentle influence is refused , look for a riptide of treacherous influence to replace it .
Look no further , by the way , than tonight ’ s news .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Relevant Cross , just as surely as the Rejected Christ is still The Christ .
So those of us who cleave to it and Him are commissioned to speak to this epidemic of wrath , with empathy and action .
With empathy , because injustices have been committed .
So have atrocities , and both have , too many times , been met with indifference by an uncaring majority .
Never forget that the Cross is about , among other things , justice .
So much so that God the Father refused the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked that He be spared the cross if there was any other way .
( Matthew 26:39 ) There wasn ’ t , that ’ s how immovable God ’ s insistence on justice is .
Sin had to be punished , no negotiation allowed .
When God ’ s righteous standards are violated , He takes it so seriously that , to insure the rightful penalty , He gave but did not spare the ultimate gift .
( John 3:16 ) Let ’ s translate His intolerance for sin by weeping with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , making sure they know we may not ever fathom what prejudice has done to them , but we care and hurt with them regardless .
Then let ’ s follow tears of empathy with redemptive action , correcting the problem when we can , holding the guilty accountable , and enacting legitimate reforms instead of scorched-earth destruction .
We are not helpless in the face of national upheaval .
Indeed , it ’ s in times of greatest confusion that the Gospel has been , against the backdrop of such darkness , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Light of the World , be always and forever the same .
Joe Dallas is the Program Director of Genesis Biblical Counseling and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors .
His daily blog is Joe Dallas Online .
He is the author of Desires in Conflict , The Game Plan , and When Homosexuality Hits Home .
His latest book is Five Steps to Breaking Free from Porn .
Follow him on Twitter at @ JoeDallasTGP and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

It (the Guillotine) was the sign of the regeneration of the human race.
It superseded the Cross. Models of it were worn on breasts from
which the Cross was discarded, and it was bowed down
to and believed in where the Cross was denied.
— A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Eject the Cross and You’ll Erect a Guillotine
Both the cross and the guillotine present themselves as the answer to injustice. But while one brings justice and reconciliation, the other brings only bloodshed to its victims, and addiction to vengeance to its users.
So said Dickens in his take on the French Revolution’s “Great Terror,” describing masses drunk on rage who poisoned the air with an epidemic of wrath, infecting many, intimidating the rest.
His characters, like today’s marching vandals, rioters, and police-haters, had their various social and political demands. But their obsession was the Guillotine.
Its terrorizing effect on the public was their daily bread, the execution of Aristocrats their daily entertainment. They were pumped with rage, their drug of choice, which like all drugs gratified but never fully satisfied. In that wrathidemic, as in ours, ragers raged, while forever jonesing for more.
Hurting People Who Are Hurting People
But before you condemn rage, consider its origins.
Dickens does just that, beginning his Tales with close-ups of abuse in the city of St. Antoine, where families are bled dry by taxes, where starvation and misery are so rampant that people drink spilled wine out of cracks in the street, and where Aristocrats speeding in their carriages can run a child over and shrug.
By the time the tables are turned and La Guillotine appears, it’s hard not to cheer.
You stop cheering, of course, once you see how tyrannical the formerly oppressed become, and how comfortably and hypocritically they assume the oppressor role. A Tale of Two Cities shows people as drunk on power as they are anxious to lash out at the innocent and the guilty alike.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
My, how far we have not come.
Our cultural Guillotine, to the cheers of many, has appeared. It’s now trendy to denigrate whites as racists, police as brutes, conservatives as fascists. Threats against all three are often made, and when violence against them is committed, plenty of folks minimize it, justify it, or both.
Just Cause
But before this sickness started to spread there were other sins, not all of them ancient. Sure, we’ve always flinched at the images of slavery, Jim Crow, KKK lynchings.
There’s also, though, the wake up call of last May’s image – a prone, helpless African American begging a white man to let him breathe. There’s last February’s image – two white men with no legal authority detaining then killing a black jogger unfortunate enough to have passed them on the road.
Then there are the unseen images (hundreds? thousands?) of racially-motivated violence, or suspicions, or contempt, that were never videotaped, that we never saw, but that others experienced and can’t forget.
The Cross is definitely being replaced with the Guillotine in our public square. But it was also missing anytime someone of one race abused someone of another.
You don’t have to join the Left’s distorted view of America to recognize that while the nation is not inherently racist, racism exists within it. Always has; still does, probably more than most of us know.
The Cross is definitely being replaced with the Guillotine in our public square. But it was also missing anytime someone of one race abused someone of another. Having no respect whatsoever for the Black Lives Matter movement, I know that black lives matter. Whenever that sacred fact has been ignored, seeds for wrath have been sown.
But an Unjust Reaction
In light of that, how do we assess the crowds rampaging across American cities?
Most conversations I’ve heard break them down into three groups:
The true oppressed, whose anger, though wrongly expressed, is legit.
The true but poorly-informed believers, thinking heaven’s brought down by raising hell.
The true pawns, funded and directed by rich elites wanting to overhaul America and usher in a Socialist Eden.
I’d say all of them are part of the march. Let’s also, though, consider the participation of people discovering, repeating, then getting hooked on the Joy of Wrath.
People are hungry for a cause. Specifically, they crave one in which there’s an Oppressor to fight, and an Oppressed to defend.
Join up and you are a Right Person fighting a Right Cause. There’s your first taste of Social Righteousness.
Now march, and you’re aggressively declaring your rightness. Confront, accuse, and scream at Oppressors, and you’re not only Right, you’re now Daring. Then damage or even destroy the Oppressor’s property, and congrats! You’ve graduated from Right Person to Wrathful Avenger.
Aren’t you something?
How Wrathidemics Spread
The Ashwood Recovery clinic described this dynamic: “Research has shown that the brain gets both a dopamine and adrenaline rush from being right in an argument.”
Elaborating on the “high” you can get from that alone, they continue:
People who love adrenaline a little too much will use other people to get that rush – by causing conflict, instigating arguments, creating drama, and even exploding at other people in anger or frustration. When you argue and win, your brain floods with different hormones: adrenaline and dopamine, which makes you feel good, dominant, even invincible. It’s the feeling any of us would want to replicate. So the next time we’re in a tense situation, we fight again. We get addicted to being right. (Emphasis mine)
No wonder people get hooked on this kind of behavior. It lets them be publicly right, becoming the declared winners in an argument won by intimidating and silencing their opponents.
Dickens’ revolutionaries knew a thing or two about that. They delighted in conquering and humiliating any perceived adversary, constantly rehearsing how many had been guillotined the day before, how many were slated for beheading today, and how there were never enough executed Aristocrats to satisfy them.
Madame DeFarge nicely summed up this attitude of her day and ours, when challenged by her husband to consider how excessive her vengeance was becoming: “Tell the wind and the fire where to stop, but don’t tell me.”
The Old Rugged Always Relevant Cross
Where the gospel’s gentle influence is refused, look for a riptide of treacherous influence to replace it. Look no further, by the way, than tonight’s news.
But the Ejected Cross is still the Relevant Cross, just as surely as the Rejected Christ is still The Christ.
So those of us who cleave to it and Him are commissioned to speak to this epidemic of wrath, with empathy and action.
With empathy, because injustices have been committed. So have atrocities, and both have, too many times, been met with indifference by an uncaring majority.
We are not helpless in the face of national upheaval. Indeed, it’s in times of greatest confusion that the Gospel has been, against the backdrop of such darkness, especially bright and inviting.
Never forget that the Cross is about, among other things, justice. So much so that God the Father refused the anguished cry of God the Son who asked that He be spared the cross if there was any other way. (Matthew 26:39)
There wasn’t, that’s how immovable God’s insistence on justice is. Sin had to be punished, no negotiation allowed. When God’s righteous standards are violated, He takes it so seriously that, to insure the rightful penalty, He gave but did not spare the ultimate gift. (John 3:16)
Let’s translate His intolerance for sin by weeping with anyone who’s suffered unjust treatment, making sure they know we may not ever fathom what prejudice has done to them, but we care and hurt with them regardless.
Then let’s follow tears of empathy with redemptive action, correcting the problem when we can, holding the guilty accountable, and enacting legitimate reforms instead of scorched-earth destruction.
We are not helpless in the face of national upheaval. Indeed, it’s in times of greatest confusion that the Gospel has been, against the backdrop of such darkness, especially bright and inviting.
May we, the Light of the World, be always and forever the same.
Joe Dallas is the Program Director of Genesis Biblical Counseling and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. His daily blog is Joe Dallas Online. He is the author of Desires in Conflict, The Game Plan, and When Homosexuality Hits Home. His latest book is Five Steps to Breaking Free from Porn. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeDallasTGP and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.
Originally published at JoeDallas.com. Reprinted with permission.


thestream--2020-07-06--The 2020 Revolution and the ‘1812 Overture’

I hope you enjoyed a cheerful and blessed Independence Day .
For me , it was more special than any since 1976 .
That ’ s when I watched the tall ships sail into New York harbor to mark the Bicentennial .
America was in deep trouble at the time .
A stagnant economy , gas shortages , and urban blight afflicted tens of millions .
The Soviet Union was on the march , seeking control of key countries in nearby Central America .
Cuban proxies fought in guerrilla wars all over Africa .
President Ford was stumbling on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to the feckless idealist Jimmy Carter .
New York City , where I grew up , was crime-ridden , bankrupt , covered in graffiti , and reeked of urine .
Within a few years , movies like Americathon would appear , depicting a bankrupt country seeking donations ala Jerry Lewis .
And Escape From New York , imagining the city abandoned and turned into a vast prison colony .
I saw that in the theater with my parents .
The audience wasn ’ t laughing .
That future looked all too plausible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look again now . )
The celebrations of our 200th birthday didn ’ t ring hollow , though .
Instead , they brought home to us the enduring value and sudden fragility of our country .
Lady Liberty in the Harbor no longer seemed an untouchable icon , but a damsel in distress .
I felt the same way this year , as rioters goaded by the Marxist cult Black Lives Matter , and organized by the well-funded street militia Antifa , attacked monuments all across America .
In a speech I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate candidate ( who chickened out of delivering it ) I predicted 2020 .
I wrote that surrendering Confederate memorials to our cultural crocodiles would only whet their appetite and make them bolder .
Once you accept the principle that any figure ’ s flaws justify tearing him down , there will soon be nothing left .
We have all sinned , and fallen short of the glory of God .
And sadly , I was right .
Abolitionists , Union soldiers , Abraham Lincoln , Ulysses Grant , Christopher Columbus and even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacked .
The “ Star Spangled Banner ” is under assault , and Mt .
Rushmore suddenly stands on “ land wrested from Indians , ” according to CNN .
No one there seems to realize that CNN ’ s buildings , too , stand on … “ land wrested from Indians.
” Will the network give all that back ?
We don ’ t face a reasoned call for reform , but an insatiable revolution .
Not like the one begun in Lexington and Concord , but the one that happened in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderates who wanted to pare back the monarchy ’ s powers , it spun out of control .
Secret cabals of wealthy , powerful radicals manipulated mobs to “ cancel , ” then persecute their enemies .
Plans for sane reform of an overly centralized kingdom quickly went out the window .
They weren ’ t as “ sexy ” as wild , science fiction fantasies of remaking human nature and starting history over again in “ Year Zero ” ( 1793 ) .
King Louis XVI had bankrupted himself supporting the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was willing to risk calling France ’ s long-dormant version of parliament , the Estates-General .
This raised the hopes of ordinary Frenchmen that they might get a regime more like England ’ s , where the executive power was balanced against a legislature .
It also whetted the appetite of violent , Utopian revolutionaries .
When the Estates-General delegates arrived , they were led by a procession of bishops , singing prayers as people threw flowers .
But the radicals hijacked the gathering , with the connivance of naïve bishops and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : • Executed the king and queen , and left their young son to die of disease in prison .
• Seized the Cathedral of Notre Dame , stripped it of Christian symbols , and enshrined a prostitute as the “ Goddess of Reason ” on the altar .
• Declared a revolutionary “ war of liberation ” against most of the other countries in Europe .
• Suspended all Protestant services , in deference to the state ’ s cult of Reason .
• Seized all church property from Catholics , expelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fend for themselves , then sold the property to their cronies to raise money for their wars .
• Ordered all clergy to swear allegiance to the government instead of the church .
And • Launched the first universal conscription in history , drafting ordinary people — most of them devout peasants bewildered by the slogans that held sway in Paris—to fight for the Revolution .
Genocide at Home , War with the Rest of Europe When religious peasants in the Vendee and other regions resisted the draft , the regime launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the hundreds of thousands .
One sect of revolutionaries would guillotine the “ enemies of the people ” ( clergy , nobles , nuns , and hapless foreigners ) along with their rivals .
Then it would lose power to another wild-eyed faction , and end up beheaded as well .
The last of the revolutionary “ wars of liberation ” waged against the rest of Europe were led by the genius Napoleon .
His hubris knew no bounds , as he sought to conquer the Continent , even the vastness of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marching to battle was the catchy , bloodthirsty tune “ La Marseillaise.
” Here ’ s a choice selection from its lyrics : That “ tainted blood ” was that of nobles , foreigners , and Christians who resisted the revolutionary program .
And it did indeed drench the fields not just of France , but much of Europe , right up to the gates of Moscow .
And that ’ s where the story finds its happy ending , in the snows of Russia .
Every July Fourth , one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s “ 1812 Overture.
” It celebrates Christian Russia ’ s defeat of the revolutionary armies .
You might know the piece best for its glorious cannon finale , accompanied by church bells , like those that rang through Russia to mark Napoleon ’ s ignominious retreat .
The piece was first performed in 1882 in Moscow ’ s Cathedral of Christ the Savior — which Stalin would later demolish .
( It has since been gloriously restored . )
It took until 1815 for the combined forces of Europe , led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eliminate his regime .
But the tide had turned in Russia .
While that country ’ s system was far from perfect ( nor is ours ) , it wasn ’ t the outcome of some Gnostic , Luciferian dream of remaking the human race from scratch .
You really should hear the piece as it was meant to be performed , complete with a choir .
Along with Russian folk songs to honor the peasants who fought , it starts and ends with a signature hymn used in Russian churches .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parish , and I ’ ve sung it myself . )
Here ’ s part of it , the Troparion of the Holy Cross : The French Revolution : The Opposite of the American The French Revolution was not the heir or the continuation of the American War of Independence .
In fact , they were metaphysical opposites .
Our founders , most of them Augustinian Christians ( via Calvin ) , looked with grave suspicion on centralized power .
The French revolutionaries craved it , and crushed any local resistance to their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looked to the ancient liberties enshrined at the Magna Carta , and demanded for people freedom of religion and opinion .
The French radicals wadded up the French past like an old newspaper and tossed it in the fire , along with the Bible .
George Washington warned against foreign entanglements and wars .
The French revolutionaries tried to “ liberate ” all of Europe , at the point of a bayonet .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ celebrate the success of the American Revolution than to remember the bloody end of the French one ?
In 2020 more than in any year , “ The 1812 Overture ” reminds us of what went right wrong in 1789 , and right in 1776 .
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream , and author or co-author of ten books , including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .

I hope you enjoyed a cheerful and blessed Independence Day. For me, it was more special than any since 1976. That’s when I watched the tall ships sail into New York harbor to mark the Bicentennial.
America was in deep trouble at the time. A stagnant economy, gas shortages, and urban blight afflicted tens of millions. The Soviet Union was on the march, seeking control of key countries in nearby Central America. Cuban proxies fought in guerrilla wars all over Africa. President Ford was stumbling on the campaign trail, and would soon give way to the feckless idealist Jimmy Carter.
New York City, where I grew up, was crime-ridden, bankrupt, covered in graffiti, and reeked of urine. Within a few years, movies like Americathon would appear, depicting a bankrupt country seeking donations ala Jerry Lewis. And Escape From New York, imagining the city abandoned and turned into a vast prison colony. I saw that in the theater with my parents. The audience wasn’t laughing. That future looked all too plausible. (As it’s starting to look again now.)
Lady Liberty in Distress
The celebrations of our 200th birthday didn’t ring hollow, though. Instead, they brought home to us the enduring value and sudden fragility of our country. Lady Liberty in the Harbor no longer seemed an untouchable icon, but a damsel in distress.
Surrendering Confederate memorials to our cultural crocodiles only whetted their appetites and made them bolder.
I felt the same way this year, as rioters goaded by the Marxist cult Black Lives Matter, and organized by the well-funded street militia Antifa, attacked monuments all across America. In a speech I wrote two years ago for a GOP Senate candidate (who chickened out of delivering it) I predicted 2020.
I wrote that surrendering Confederate memorials to our cultural crocodiles would only whet their appetite and make them bolder. Once you accept the principle that any figure’s flaws justify tearing him down, there will soon be nothing left. We have all sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God.
And sadly, I was right. Abolitionists, Union soldiers, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses Grant, Christopher Columbus and even black abolitionist Frederick Douglass have all been attacked. The “Star Spangled Banner” is under assault, and Mt. Rushmore suddenly stands on “land wrested from Indians,” according to CNN. No one there seems to realize that CNN’s buildings, too, stand on … “land wrested from Indians.” Will the network give all that back?
Secret Cabals of Extremists
We don’t face a reasoned call for reform, but an insatiable revolution. Not like the one begun in Lexington and Concord, but the one that happened in France. Begun as a coup by moderates who wanted to pare back the monarchy’s powers, it spun out of control. Secret cabals of wealthy, powerful radicals manipulated mobs to “cancel,” then persecute their enemies. Plans for sane reform of an overly centralized kingdom quickly went out the window. They weren’t as “sexy” as wild, science fiction fantasies of remaking human nature and starting history over again in “Year Zero” (1793).
King Louis XVI had bankrupted himself supporting the American War of Independence. By 1789, he was willing to risk calling France’s long-dormant version of parliament, the Estates-General. This raised the hopes of ordinary Frenchmen that they might get a regime more like England’s, where the executive power was balanced against a legislature. It also whetted the appetite of violent, Utopian revolutionaries. When the Estates-General delegates arrived, they were led by a procession of bishops, singing prayers as people threw flowers. But the radicals hijacked the gathering, with the connivance of naïve bishops and nobles. By 1793 the revolutionaries had:
Executed the king and queen, and left their young son to die of disease in prison.
Seized the Cathedral of Notre Dame, stripped it of Christian symbols, and enshrined a prostitute as the “Goddess of Reason” on the altar.
Declared a revolutionary “war of liberation” against most of the other countries in Europe.
Suspended all Protestant services, in deference to the state’s cult of Reason.
Seized all church property from Catholics, expelling thousands of monks, priests and nuns to fend for themselves, then sold the property to their cronies to raise money for their wars.
Ordered all clergy to swear allegiance to the government instead of the church. And
Launched the first universal conscription in history, drafting ordinary people — most of them devout peasants bewildered by the slogans that held sway in Paris—to fight for the Revolution.
Genocide at Home, War with the Rest of Europe
When religious peasants in the Vendee and other regions resisted the draft, the regime launched a genocide against them, massacring them by the hundreds of thousands. One sect of revolutionaries would guillotine the “enemies of the people” (clergy, nobles, nuns, and hapless foreigners) along with their rivals. Then it would lose power to another wild-eyed faction, and end up beheaded as well.
The last of the revolutionary “wars of liberation” waged against the rest of Europe were led by the genius Napoleon. His hubris knew no bounds, as he sought to conquer the Continent, even the vastness of Russia. The anthem his troops sang marching to battle was the catchy, bloodthirsty tune “La Marseillaise.” Here’s a choice selection from its lyrics:
To arms, oh citizens! Form up in serried ranks! March on, march on! And drench our fields With their tainted blood! Supreme devotion to our Motherland Guides and sustains avenging hands.
That “tainted blood” was that of nobles, foreigners, and Christians who resisted the revolutionary program. And it did indeed drench the fields not just of France, but much of Europe, right up to the gates of Moscow.
Holy Russia Stops the Revolution
And that’s where the story finds its happy ending, in the snows of Russia. Every July Fourth, one of the culminating spectacles of fireworks displays is Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.” It celebrates Christian Russia’s defeat of the revolutionary armies. You might know the piece best for its glorious cannon finale, accompanied by church bells, like those that rang through Russia to mark Napoleon’s ignominious retreat.
The piece was first performed in 1882 in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior — which Stalin would later demolish. (It has since been gloriously restored.) It took until 1815 for the combined forces of Europe, led by England, to subdue Napoleon and eliminate his regime. But the tide had turned in Russia. While that country’s system was far from perfect (nor is ours), it wasn’t the outcome of some Gnostic, Luciferian dream of remaking the human race from scratch.
O Lord, Save Thy People
You really should hear the piece as it was meant to be performed, complete with a choir. Along with Russian folk songs to honor the peasants who fought, it starts and ends with a signature hymn used in Russian churches. (I used to attend a Russian Catholic parish, and I’ve sung it myself.) Here’s part of it, the Troparion of the Holy Cross:
O Lord, save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance! Grant victory to the true-believing Christians over their adversaries, and by power of Thy cross, preserve Thy habitation.
The French Revolution: The Opposite of the American
The French Revolution was not the heir or the continuation of the American War of Independence. In fact, they were metaphysical opposites. Our founders, most of them Augustinian Christians (via Calvin), looked with grave suspicion on centralized power. The French revolutionaries craved it, and crushed any local resistance to their world-altering schemes. America’s rebels looked to the ancient liberties enshrined at the Magna Carta, and demanded for people freedom of religion and opinion. The French radicals wadded up the French past like an old newspaper and tossed it in the fire, along with the Bible. George Washington warned against foreign entanglements and wars. The French revolutionaries tried to “liberate” all of Europe, at the point of a bayonet.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
So what better way to celebrate the success of the American Revolution than to remember the bloody end of the French one?
In 2020 more than in any year, “The 1812 Overture” reminds us of what went wrong in 1789, and right in 1776.
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream, and author or co-author of ten books, including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism.


thestream--2020-07-06--Why We Can Choose Joy Amid Suffering

Why We Can Choose Joy Amid Suffering

In dealing with the worst life brings — sickness , injustice , social upheaval , economic struggle , relationship problems , death — we tend to do one of two things , neither of which is right .
We either stubbornly wallow in negative emotions or we desperately chase positive ones .
Both cost us the view of life and eternity we ’ re supposed to hold .
Moreover , neither of these approaches actually deals with anything .
They allow us to avoid fully dealing with life in its complex entirety .
They rob us of the necessity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way .
They rob us of knowing joy to its full extent .
Lament That Leads Somewhere Better The first step to dealing with the worst things in life is to not ignore them , but to lament .
Lament is something many Christians are uncomfortable with , even though it ’ s completely biblical .
“ The Bible is filled with the language of lament , ” Chelsea Patterson Sobolik writes in her book Longing For Motherhood : Holding on to Hope in the Midst of Childlessness , in which she examines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God .
“ Our spiritual forefathers were well acquainted with grief , death , pain , and sorrow .
They knew what it means to cry out , to wrestle , and to bring their raw and unfiltered pain to the Lord.
” Lament , biblically speaking , is neither embracing despair ( defined as “ utter loss of hope ” ) nor skimming over sorrow in pursuit of happier circumstances .
It ’ s mourning .
Mourning the sin , the evil , that brought about the broken world in which we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it in our own lives .
Knowing full well that this is not how it ’ s supposed to be .
Questioning why it is this way .
Times of lament can feel soul-crushing .
And no one can survive that .
“ A man ’ s spirit will endure sickness , ” Proverbs 18:14 states , “ but a crushed spirit who can bear ?
” Unlike bitterness , biblical lament doesn ’ t keep our crushed souls trapped in brokenness .
Even at the lowest point of our pain , biblical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Lord who is with us in those depths .
“ The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit , ” Psalm 34:18 says .
The Bible shows us that lament is normal and healthy , yet it offers a way forward .
“ Weeping may tarry for a night , ” Psalm 30:5 says , “ but joy comes with the morning.
” We know that the ultimate morning will be found in God ’ s presence when night shall be no more .
In the meantime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joy .
“ Rejoice in the Lord always ; again I will say rejoice , ” Paul writes in Philippians 4:4 ( emphasis mine ) .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
How can we do that ?
The Bible also says to give thanks — in all things , even in suffering .
Research shows people who are thankful are happier .
God knew what he was telling us .
Other things the Bible encourages us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are also proven to foster joy in our lives .
But is this the same trivial game as chasing positivity ?
Not unless we leave God out of it .
A godless outlook will agree that being thankful and kind boosts happiness .
It will agree that we ought to look for the good in the world .
But in this outlook , sorrow and happiness , evil and goodness are battling it out and it ’ s up to us to choose what we ’ ll focus on more , or what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more .
The cynics choose to focus on what they see as “ reality.
” Others chase happiness but know deep down it ’ s shallow and fleeting , which is why it must be chased .
The Christian view is different .
We know that though sin ravages the world at present , God ’ s victory is at hand .
Goodness , beauty , and happiness are not the flip side of the coin , but glimpses into the reality to come .
We lament deeply because we know the extent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is wrong , and we hate the way it hurts us and our fellow man .
But in our lament we hope .
We choose gratefulness .
We choose to love others .
We choose to keep rejoicing because we know that in the end , joy wins .
And that ’ s why even in the midst of suffering — even while we lament what ’ s broken in the world and in our lives — our joy can be steadfast .
It isn ’ t a puddle that will dry up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s rooted in the eternal hope of our God , in a future made sweeter by what we have endured .

In dealing with the worst life brings — sickness, injustice, social upheaval, economic struggle, relationship problems, death — we tend to do one of two things, neither of which is right. We either stubbornly wallow in negative emotions or we desperately chase positive ones. Both cost us the view of life and eternity we’re supposed to hold.
Moreover, neither of these approaches actually deals with anything. They allow us to avoid fully dealing with life in its complex entirety. They rob us of the necessity to experience sorrow in a painful but redemptive way. They rob us of knowing joy to its full extent.
Lament That Leads Somewhere Better
The first step to dealing with the worst things in life is to not ignore them, but to lament.
Lament is something many Christians are uncomfortable with, even though it’s completely biblical. “The Bible is filled with the language of lament,” Chelsea Patterson Sobolik writes in her book Longing For Motherhood: Holding on to Hope in the Midst of Childlessness, in which she examines what it means to suffer while trusting God. “Our spiritual forefathers were well acquainted with grief, death, pain, and sorrow. They knew what it means to cry out, to wrestle, and to bring their raw and unfiltered pain to the Lord.”
We know that though sin ravages the world at present, God’s victory is at hand. Goodness, beauty, and happiness are not the flip side of the coin, but glimpses into the reality to come.
Lament, biblically speaking, is neither embracing despair (defined as “utter loss of hope”) nor skimming over sorrow in pursuit of happier circumstances. It’s mourning. Mourning the sin, the evil, that brought about the broken world in which we live. Feeling the specific pain of it in our own lives. Knowing full well that this is not how it’s supposed to be. Questioning why it is this way.
Times of lament can feel soul-crushing. And no one can survive that. “A man’s spirit will endure sickness,” Proverbs 18:14 states, “but a crushed spirit who can bear?”
Choosing Joy in a Broken World
Unlike bitterness, biblical lament doesn’t keep our crushed souls trapped in brokenness. Even at the lowest point of our pain, biblical lament retains hope in the Lord — the Lord who is with us in those depths. “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit,” Psalm 34:18 says. The Bible shows us that lament is normal and healthy, yet it offers a way forward.
“Weeping may tarry for a night,” Psalm 30:5 says, “but joy comes with the morning.” We know that the ultimate morning will be found in God’s presence when night shall be no more. In the meantime, God still tells us to choose joy. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice,” Paul writes in Philippians 4:4 (emphasis mine).
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
How can we do that? The Bible also says to give thanks — in all things, even in suffering. Research shows people who are thankful are happier. God knew what he was telling us. Other things the Bible encourages us to do, like showing kindness, are also proven to foster joy in our lives. But is this the same trivial game as chasing positivity? Not unless we leave God out of it.
Joy Wins
A godless outlook will agree that being thankful and kind boosts happiness. It will agree that we ought to look for the good in the world. But in this outlook, sorrow and happiness, evil and goodness are battling it out and it’s up to us to choose what we’ll focus on more, or what we’ll “believe in” more. The cynics choose to focus on what they see as “reality.” Others chase happiness but know deep down it’s shallow and fleeting, which is why it must be chased.
The Christian view is different. We know that though sin ravages the world at present, God’s victory is at hand. Goodness, beauty, and happiness are not the flip side of the coin, but glimpses into the reality to come. We lament deeply because we know the extent to which the suffering in this world is wrong, and we hate the way it hurts us and our fellow man. But in our lament we hope. We choose gratefulness. We choose to love others. We choose to keep rejoicing because we know that in the end, joy wins.
And that’s why even in the midst of suffering — even while we lament what’s broken in the world and in our lives — our joy can be steadfast. It isn’t a puddle that will dry up with the next trial. It’s rooted in the eternal hope of our God, in a future made sweeter by what we have endured.
Liberty McArtor, former staff writer for The Stream, is a freelance writer in the great state of Texas, where she lives north of Dallas with her husband and son. Follow Liberty on Twitter @LibertyMcArtor, or learn more about her at LibertyMcArtor.com.


thestream--2020-07-06--Military Photo of the Day: Strolling a Stratofortress

U.S. Air Force crew chiefs walk across a B-52H Stratofortress at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska on June 17 @ @ @ @ @ The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral @ @ @ @ @

U.S. Air Force crew chiefs walk across a B-52H Stratofortress at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska on June 17, 2020.
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