"Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done." Romans 1:28
This essay pulls back on the grotesque to draw a simple, yet powerful conclusion: "To keep from losing our souls, we need to begin from the premise that we have them." Only God can save us.
“To keep from losing our souls, we need to begin from the premise that we have them.” —Spencer
And therein seems to be a—or the—dividing line. We are being governed and lorded over by the faithless and the false: those who profess there is no god, and those who pretend to a faith, but violate its very tenets.
Only atheists would mutilate a body and claim he had created something other than a monster. And whether it’s shame or to garner votes, the pretenders are in league with the faithless. They take tax dollars to fund the satanic, while haughtily displaying palm ashes once a year, as if on their foreheads it would ever be something other than the mark of Cain.
The polarization in America has become a rift, drawing ever farther apart. And I don’t trust a democrat out of my sight. If we don’t retake Congress and the White House, then I don’t see how we peaceably get back to the America we once knew. With everything against the democrats, and with their vise grip on media and academia, they are still trailing. There is no way, as of today, that we can lose in a free and fair election. But, I suppose, that will be the question.
I think it was an episode of your father's show where I first learned of the connection between the transgender movement and transhumanism, and wealthy Silicon Valley tech tycoons are funding the former in an effort to achieve the latter.
Your essay touches on the grotesque nature of all this, and notes that there is a huge difference between biotech efforts to heal those who have suffered traumatic injuries or deformities, compared to attempts to change the very nature of what we are as humans.
I truly feel that the transgender, and transhumanism, movements are an affront to God. It's the same as saying to Him, 'we can remake ourselves in any image we want; we can improve what God made and build it better'. It's hubris, and is setting us on a dark path that I don't think ends anywhere good.
And that's not even mentioning the fact it's monstrous to do this to young children who don't realize the full consequences! They are being butchered, and the results are tragic.
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." ~Genesis 2:7
From dirt to the Imago Dei. To return to dirt again...
Thank you Spencer, I would give this ten thumbs up if I weren't weeping over it.
Babel/Babylon is apt: We rebel against all limits. We worship our autonomy. To our own destruction.
The story runs from Genesis to Revelation, a tale of two cities, the war between Babel/Babylon and Salem/Jeru-Salem. I gave a talk recently on one aspect of it, "The Meaning of the Number 6."
"I understand the impulse to decline the invitation altogether, to tear the levees down..." Abraham and Moses were both presented with this temptation, and both asked God to spare the people. Jesus asked for them to be forgiven (for they know not what they do). I love the phrase "discernment - often tender," but honestly it is a challenge to pick out the most edifying point in this essay. It is next level and this comment section is an education for me.
I wanted to respond to a key element in your essay, if I might:
"In fact what Chu’s essay underscores is that America is in the grips of a philosophical, even a religious crisis."
On February 8, 2023, a religious revival took place at the chapel of Asbury University. For at least two weeks, this revival saw upwards to 15,000 people arriving in droves to the campus to experience the seemingly black swan event. Then, due to either a lack of support (or a lack of vision), on February 24th, the university announced the revival's move off-campus, to a different site. News of the revival dried up, and almost overnight the moment vanished.
America today stands ready for revival, but lacks the leadership, drive, and ecumenism necessary for such an endeavor. The massive ministries of George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards fostered the First Great Awakening, the ecumenical vision of the Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians carried the Second Great Awakening, and the incredible investment into Dwight Moody's building of massive churches to house thousands allowed the Third Great Awakening to take place. Then, the potency of Billy Graham's ministries, starting with Youth for Christ and transforming into his Crusades, ushered in the Fourth Great Awakening. Our churches today lack that drive and vision, even though people in this country, without a doubt, would respect heart and soul another Awakening, if only the church dragged itself out of this politically correct quagmire and pushed for a transformation among the American public.
In history, the greatest Awakenings always rise out of the greatest Crises.
April 3rd, just getting to know New Jerusalem, I am so impressed. This is a remarkable essay on dehumanization, and its plain statement in New York magazine, if not also the city.
Reminds me of the great statement by George Orwell: There are some things so crazy only an intellectual would believe them.
"Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done." Romans 1:28
This essay pulls back on the grotesque to draw a simple, yet powerful conclusion: "To keep from losing our souls, we need to begin from the premise that we have them." Only God can save us.
“Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” With an eye on the children.
“To keep from losing our souls, we need to begin from the premise that we have them.” —Spencer
And therein seems to be a—or the—dividing line. We are being governed and lorded over by the faithless and the false: those who profess there is no god, and those who pretend to a faith, but violate its very tenets.
Only atheists would mutilate a body and claim he had created something other than a monster. And whether it’s shame or to garner votes, the pretenders are in league with the faithless. They take tax dollars to fund the satanic, while haughtily displaying palm ashes once a year, as if on their foreheads it would ever be something other than the mark of Cain.
The polarization in America has become a rift, drawing ever farther apart. And I don’t trust a democrat out of my sight. If we don’t retake Congress and the White House, then I don’t see how we peaceably get back to the America we once knew. With everything against the democrats, and with their vise grip on media and academia, they are still trailing. There is no way, as of today, that we can lose in a free and fair election. But, I suppose, that will be the question.
I think it was an episode of your father's show where I first learned of the connection between the transgender movement and transhumanism, and wealthy Silicon Valley tech tycoons are funding the former in an effort to achieve the latter.
Your essay touches on the grotesque nature of all this, and notes that there is a huge difference between biotech efforts to heal those who have suffered traumatic injuries or deformities, compared to attempts to change the very nature of what we are as humans.
I truly feel that the transgender, and transhumanism, movements are an affront to God. It's the same as saying to Him, 'we can remake ourselves in any image we want; we can improve what God made and build it better'. It's hubris, and is setting us on a dark path that I don't think ends anywhere good.
And that's not even mentioning the fact it's monstrous to do this to young children who don't realize the full consequences! They are being butchered, and the results are tragic.
"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." ~Genesis 2:7
From dirt to the Imago Dei. To return to dirt again...
Thank you Spencer, I would give this ten thumbs up if I weren't weeping over it.
Well said. It recalls Thomas Sowell’s “locus of discernment” in his “A Conflict of Visions”. WHO, in fact, is making the moral choice.
Babel/Babylon is apt: We rebel against all limits. We worship our autonomy. To our own destruction.
The story runs from Genesis to Revelation, a tale of two cities, the war between Babel/Babylon and Salem/Jeru-Salem. I gave a talk recently on one aspect of it, "The Meaning of the Number 6."
Speaking notes: https://open.substack.com/pub/km678/p/the-meaning-of-the-number-6
"I understand the impulse to decline the invitation altogether, to tear the levees down..." Abraham and Moses were both presented with this temptation, and both asked God to spare the people. Jesus asked for them to be forgiven (for they know not what they do). I love the phrase "discernment - often tender," but honestly it is a challenge to pick out the most edifying point in this essay. It is next level and this comment section is an education for me.
I wanted to respond to a key element in your essay, if I might:
"In fact what Chu’s essay underscores is that America is in the grips of a philosophical, even a religious crisis."
On February 8, 2023, a religious revival took place at the chapel of Asbury University. For at least two weeks, this revival saw upwards to 15,000 people arriving in droves to the campus to experience the seemingly black swan event. Then, due to either a lack of support (or a lack of vision), on February 24th, the university announced the revival's move off-campus, to a different site. News of the revival dried up, and almost overnight the moment vanished.
America today stands ready for revival, but lacks the leadership, drive, and ecumenism necessary for such an endeavor. The massive ministries of George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards fostered the First Great Awakening, the ecumenical vision of the Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians carried the Second Great Awakening, and the incredible investment into Dwight Moody's building of massive churches to house thousands allowed the Third Great Awakening to take place. Then, the potency of Billy Graham's ministries, starting with Youth for Christ and transforming into his Crusades, ushered in the Fourth Great Awakening. Our churches today lack that drive and vision, even though people in this country, without a doubt, would respect heart and soul another Awakening, if only the church dragged itself out of this politically correct quagmire and pushed for a transformation among the American public.
In history, the greatest Awakenings always rise out of the greatest Crises.
Oh, my goodness. This is so beautifully written it made me weep. Thank you.
April 3rd, just getting to know New Jerusalem, I am so impressed. This is a remarkable essay on dehumanization, and its plain statement in New York magazine, if not also the city.
Reminds me of the great statement by George Orwell: There are some things so crazy only an intellectual would believe them.