Another Item in support of Larison’s Point

It is not patriotism to ignore the fact that we now live in a culture where a central tenet of “Western values” is the notion that fertility is an affliction and children are a curse. A civilization like ours, which has embraced such a suicidal and evil ideas not only is doomed to die but, if Scripture is any measure of things, deserves death richly.

That’s not to say, “I hope our civilization dies”. It is to point out, once again, that Jesus knowswhat he is doing when he makes his first public proclamation to be not “We’re Number One!” or “Israelite values make us the greatest nation in the World!” but “Repent! For the Kingdom of heaven is near!”

We have *great* hope–in Jesus Christ alone. Apart from him, however, we have (memorize these words carefully) No. Hope. At. All.

None.

Abandon him and our civilization will become a byword and a curse among the nations. The greatest prophet who ever spoke said, as his deepest act of patriotic love for his country, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'” (Matthew 23:37-39)

If the Jews, who did not know who he was, reaped such a catastrophe for ignoring him, does a once-Christian civilization think it can spurn the covenant with impunity? A lot less boasting about our awesomeness and a lot more penance is what we need. God has brought the Assyrian against us before and he can do it again.