Radical Catholicism | Back to the Basics

Obey or Else

It should have been easy to accomplish the request from their father, “Boys clean up your room.” A simple demand by the head of the family; nothing very difficult to do. Yet the boys ignored their father’s simple command and continued to play their games. A second time the father ordered the boys to clean their room; yet they continued to proceed with their own interests. A third time they were sternly advised to do the task assigned to them. Yet they continued to play their video games, ignoring the warning inherent in their father’s demand. Their mother encouraged them to do “as they were told.” Again, they failed to response as demanded. Finally, their father angerly entered the room and striding to the video games, turned them off and grabbed both boys and demanded, “Clean up the room now! Additionally, I will keep all of your video game equipment for the foreseeable future”. The father made it clear to the boys they could not ignore their parents without some serious consequences. They could not cavalierly dismiss the requests and regulations of their parents; there are consequences for their disobedience.

The boys were dismayed at what they considered a severe punishment for a relatively minor infraction. Yet their younger sister understood the real issue. “Guys, the punishment is not solely for the failure clean your room, it was for your failure to obey Dad, despite numerous warnings. Your thoughtless disobedience was what really brought you the harsh punishment.”

Adult men and women frequently put aside the requests and demands of God, not expecting any repercussions. Mankind sins numerous times each day, remaining unconcerned about any negative response from God, inwardly saying that its sins do not really matter, while creating excuses for each sin. As witnessed with the boys and their father in the above story, man will eventually face the consequences of its sins, not just at the time of judgment, but also in this temporal life. While God is all forgiving, He is also just. Justice will indeed be meted out by God, in a manner and time which He determines.

No one knows with any certitude whether the current pandemic, which is catastrophically affecting mankind, has been allowed by God as a punishment for man’s sins – man’s rebellion against God. However, there are consequences for sins….and they cannot be avoided. By failing to obey God, man faces some very serious consequences. Are you ready for the them?

Obey and Honor God …..or suffer the consequences.

THE NEW GOD s

As they began to discuss their personal belief systems, John mentioned that he was a Christian, maintaining that he was certain of God’s existence. His friend Wilton emphatically retorted, “There is no such a being as God. I am convinced atheist.” John calmly replied,” You may not believe in a divine, supernatural being, but you certainly believe in any number of new gods,” Wilton questioned his friend, “Who are these new gods you say that I trust?” John answered by first indicating that there three primary new gods, with some lesser ones, which ancient peoples also worshiped. One or more of these gods might take precedence among individuals at any give time. Modern men have renamed and provided additional capabilities to these deities, while simultaneously claiming that there is no God.

In a fit of frustration, Wilton challenged John, “Tell me who are these gods who you incorrectly claim I accept and worship.”  John confidently replied, “The gods of today are the state/ government, science, and humanity. These gods seem to be able to manage all of mankind’s issues, providing economic, health and moral benefits.”

Before Wilton could retort, John continued to identify more clearly his description of the three gods. Firstly, modern man has developed a view of the State / government as an entity that can solve most, if not all, of society’s major concerns, from the distribution of wealth to health care. Government has become the caretaker for all, for everything. Government provides “free money’ during the times of health concerns or economic recession. It dictates health care regulations even when such regulations are overkill or even not necessary for portions or all the public. Yet this new god must be obeyed in all circumstances, regardless of one’s personal beliefs. Of course, all of us willingly accept the “free money,” whether we need it or not. Government is certainly one of the new gods. (Actually, the State / government is not a new god; it is an old god, redressed as a new benevolent one.)

The State / Government has an ally to which it is closely aligned. This ally is science or what may also be properly called political science, since it often is used to further political goals. As a new god, statements and actions which claim to rest on pure science are frequently not called to answer questions related to its claims. Real Science requires intense and thorough investigation of assertions made for any alleged scientific claim. In the 17^th century, the French scientist and philosopher Descartes noted that real science begins with doubting and proceeds to question and thoroughly investigate the claims of science. Carl Sagan, a noted 20^th century astronomer noted that science is a self – correcting process. It should be noted that all scientific claims made by politicians should be questioned, if not outright rejected. Modern man’s mantra, “Follow the science” often fails when the science is thoroughly questioned, but nonetheless will be enthusiastically embraced when it seems to support man’s ideology.

Humanity is the third of the new gods. It is assumed that the humanity god is all good, eager to contribute to the benefit of all individual humans. History has taught mankind otherwise. Just review the 20^th century with the humanity at work in the acts of Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and their many accomplices. Many humans are indeed committed to general goodness, but numerous others are not.

Why are these and other gods, such as freedom, worshiped, though having proven themselves to be very limited and often even evil in their applications?? These gods are accepted, while the real God is ignored or rejected. And Humanity is viewed as intelligent and wise.  How unintelligent and unwise humans can be!!