2-15-21<\/p>\n
Of the many things that change before our eyes these days \u2013 or while our eyes are turned away \u2013words are being picked from our pockets the fastest. Words and phrases of our language are not being eliminated as much as re-defined.<\/p>\n
I risk whiplash, trying to be careful about new meanings, or giving offense when none was meant. Political correctness, mostly. \u201cGay,\u201d of course, is one kidnapped word. A hundred years ago \u201cholocaust\u201d was not branded by a single event. \u201cOriental,\u201d \u201cblack\u201d and it antecedents, \u201cblind,\u201d \u201ccrippled,\u201d \u201clady,\u201d and \u201cfat\u201d can invite rebukes from half the he, she, and its on the landscape.<\/p>\n
Aside from mirroring the culture of self-righteousness and without delving into the branch of linguistics called semantics, we see what\u2019s happening. The hijacking of meanings and the psychological superiority sought by using exclusive, \u201capproved\u201d definitions are the new Rules for Radicals.<\/p>\n
For instance, triangulated within mantras, goals, and ironclad standards is the word \u201cUnity.\u201d We hear it these days almost as much as \u201cwelcoming,\u201d \u201cinclusive,\u201d and \u201caccepting\u201d (for another discussion \u2013 or \u201cconversation,\u201d grrr). Such new meanings demand fealty, at the cost of ostracism from the society of \u201ccaring\u201d \u201cfolks.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUnity\u201d is a typical member of the Newspeak dictionary that sounds warm and fuzzy, but is either imprecise or harmful in its effects. Why? How?<\/p>\n
You will hear it in the news, or mumbled by a masked politician, which would be several times an hour. In practice it means \u201cyou must agree with me.\u201d Delivered thus, it does not mean \u201cunderstanding\u201d; it means more than \u201cagreeing\u201d; it translates to \u201cjoining,\u201d but not voluntarily. The PC Police virtually will judge you, and drag you to the approved belief-system court.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnity,\u201d the mantra of the current crop of politicians, really mean \u201cuniformity.\u201d
\n\u201cUnity\u201d suggests, but does not mean, compromise. Today\u2019s politicians employ coercion, shame, and intimidation to populate their tribe, to make sure people march to their drums and drumbeats. In\u2026 unity.<\/p>\n
\u201cUniformity\u201d suggests, and DOES mean, subscribing to prescribed beliefs and attitudes. It means sharing the prejudices of the Group. \u201cPrejudice\u201d? Yes, today\u2019s cultural elites are as prejudiced as any dominant class in our history.<\/p>\n
A growing number of Christians and conservatives, and others, can attest to the fact that \u2013 like walls closing in \u2013 we are being discriminated against\u2026 censored\u2026 marginalized\u2026 ridiculed\u2026 ostracized\u2026 \u201cun-friended\u201d\u2026 \u201cjailed\u201d\u2026 fired\u2026 made unwelcome\u2026 losing jobs\u2026 dropped from applicants\u2019 pools and promotion lists\u2026 \u201cCanceled\u201d\u2026 in the name of being \u201cwoke,\u201d at the altar of \u201cUnity.\u201d<\/p>\n
We are in danger as a culture, and as independent people within our spiritual and philosophical heritage, to suffer yet worse at the hands of the new totalitarians. It has happened before, uncountable times in world history, and multiple times, in the West, in the last century. This is all a taste of the Tribulation.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnity\u201d is a false god. You can comb the Bible and find many pleas for unity \u2013 but never the type of unity that means uniformity, as I have noted. Christians can be together, even closely knit, without having to be the same.<\/p>\n
We all have spiritual gifts, but the Bible actually makes a long list of our many, many differences.<\/p>\n
God wants us to be \u201cimitators of Christ,\u201d not clones of each other\u2026 or some secular leader.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Church\u2019s one foundation is Jesus Christ the Lord,\u201d but martyrs allowed different peoples to find the one Savior in ways that blessed them according to their needs.<\/p>\n
In the same way Thomas Jefferson remarked that the Tree of Liberty was best watered by the blood of patriots every generation. That necessity would be obviated if uniform views (masquerading as \u201cUnity\u201d) were imposed on every generation.<\/p>\n
Do you agree with me about the subtle difference between unity and uniformity\u2026 and how dangerous it is to be seduced by the \u201cnew\u201d meaning of Unity? You must agree<\/em>!!! Um\u2026 no. Even in true unity, we should have differences among ourselves, arriving by different paths.<\/p>\n St Paul wrote to the young church at Philippi that he prayed they would be \u201cone in spirit, and of one mind\u201d\u2026 having the same love. But he urged them to be \u201clike-minded\u201d \u2013 NOT same-minded.<\/p>\n Such distinctions are why we must be wary of prattling about \u201cUnity.\u201d<\/p>\n Further, calls to \u201ccompromise\u201d \u2013 in the name of Unity, of course \u2013 inherently can be just as poisonous. In today\u2019s world, in a diverse society, in an ideologically \u201cblended\u201d culture, in (sadly) a secular environment\u2026 It is difficult to avoid compromise.<\/p>\n But we must do what we can, where we are, with what we have. Reason enough to stay in prayer, to read Scripture, to seek guidance \u2013 to avoid compromise. Compromising with evil is\u2026 allying oneself with evil. Compromising with error\u2026 hastens disaster. Compromising with enemies of our faith and our nation\u2026 is surrender, even bit by bit by bit. God forbid!<\/p>\n Seek true<\/em> Unity, not as the world packages it.<\/p>\n Seek God\u2019s checklist, not the world\u2019s. \u201cDid you feed Me? Did you clothe Me? Did you visit Me in prison?\u201d Uniformity is letting the government do these things\u2026 or obeying the government\u2019s Compassion Commands.<\/p>\n But joining others where you are, how you can, with what you have\u2026 for the same goals, is true unity.<\/p>\n + + +<\/p>\n