The death of a Civilization
Posted On Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at at 7:48 PM by Pastor Mike“We are a nation of laws, and not men.” If not for these laws, these self-imposed restraints if you will, we are no different then any other beast on the face of this earth. In all actuality, we would probably become the most dangerous creature. At best, the most ferocious lion would only kill what it could eat and rape within its own pride. Man is far more maniacal; for more beastly. We’ve proved this time and time again. Civilization is only made possible because we have the ability to control, for the most part, our natural desires. Individuals that cannot self regulate are rightfully controlled by the society through a variety of different methods (e.g., shame, ostracism, the penal system, execution, ect.).
What happens when man, collectively, sets aside these restraints? Civilization crumbles.
Our current economic system is falling apart right now because our ability to self regulate was turned off and our natural desire to consume more then we could afford reigned across the land. Society didn’t smack the individual’s hand or reel in disgust when its members began to bathe itself in an unaffordable conspicuous consumption. Greed, a natural desire to some, controlled many—and now the whole damn system is falling down. Here’s the big joke: how are we trying to fix the problems? By borrowing! Borrowing from our kids and our grandkids. I’ve always been taken back when I hear of parents putting the power or the phone in their kids name because of their spending mistakes. They are willing to ruin their kids credit because they cant self regulate…and now we’re all doing it. May our kids forgive us when they are picking out our nursing homes.
Marriage is being thrown under the bus. “Redefine marriage!” they scream. Why? For generations it set the foundation for society. It creates the members for the society. If marriage can mean anything, then it means nothing. Those that should get married are abandoning it in droves. Why destroy it? In unison they appeal, “Because of our natural desires! Let the children copulate. It’s only natural. Let the women intermarry. They desire it. Let the six cohabitate. They are, after all, a victim of their own cravings.” Society no longer has shame to direct the masses. Society will lose the family.
Society will eventually lose society if they continue to buy this idea that they are nothing more then an animal with uncontrollable desires. Civilization will eventually crumble when we give in to these desires. We’ve built a civilization with the understanding that some natural desires are destructive and should be controlled. Now we’re tearing it down because we’ve bought the lie that these desires were meant to be free. When we are free to act on our own desires, no one will truly be free.
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$800 Billion / 300 Million = $2,666.67 per capita on average
Paying that much off should not take very long since it is actually divided among a tax bracket system that is properly weighted proportional to income as opposed to giving tax cuts to the rich AKA taxing the poor. Furthermore, I believe that this spending will ultimately pay off in ecconomic terms unlike the war in Iraq.
You are very pessimistic because you are a Christian. I don't see any Christians who have anything good to say about the world we live in, which I attribute to their bizzare beliefs about human nature. The Humanitarian in me, however, exalts the virtues of the Human Intellect to solve our problems in human society though. We are the most intelligent beings that we have proof that exists, there is no proof that a god exists and even less proof that the hypothetical god is just as per the pessimism inherent in their "Death of Civilization" approach to reality.
We live in good times, a time in America when everybody has a computer in their home, a vehicle, etc. This is the American Dream, albeit that dream needs not be local, it can someday be the Worldwide Ecconomic Dream. I, ultimately, see no good in the preaching of doom and gloom. That is why people have gotten away from the depravity of the Dark Ages, a time when Religions ruled the world instead of Science.
Sweet comment.
First, civilization, used in this piece, refers to the rules/laws of man that have been set up to restrain us. Truly, these are rules are evaporating. 2nd, this is a message on being salt of the earth. I believe Christians are salt to a decaying society. Our job is to preserve the land. This comes in addition to our call to be peace makers. The peace maker side is very optimistic.
Finally, it’s not 800 billion. It’s 800 billion this time. Remember all the other failed bailouts? And what about the ones to come? The auto industry is back again…and this time, with an announcement that they have to cut 60K jobs here and 50K jobs there.
By the way, the reason we have all this great stuff that you listed is part of the problem. It’s not owned; it’s owed.
And its not 2,700 per individual for this portion of the bailout. Not everyone is going to be able to pay back there portion owed. The poor? The poverty? The growing welfare state? Again, this goes back to one of my minor premises. We are already over extended in our credit. It’s bad business to keep lending.
Best way out of this is to not bail anyone out and let them fail. That’s how we do it in a capitalist society. Trust one who lost a business, it sucks, but you will recovery…and be better for it. The Church will be here to help people get through this. They will be stronger.
Greeting's Pastor Mike! I found out about your site through a comment you left on the Infidel753 site concerning Burris.Interesting piece you wrote here...I dont get to talk to christian's about what they see and feel much...I never been a christian...but know of many who are...we just dont talk much religion is all.
I think you see a pretty clear picture of the condition of the people's actually.I agree about the economical crisis...and have blogged plenty about it. What we are seeing is "extreme greed". I think greed to a certain extent is natural...and in a strange sense...motivational to a degree as far as obtaining what one wishes to have in life.But what we are seeing here is the worst of the worst as far as greed...and everyone is having to pay for the action's of the few.Even though I am not left nor right...for about 30 year's I voted mostly republican,just recently because of the let down by Bush..I voted for Obama. I just seen him as someone that is somewhat out of the mainstream of Wasington...and someone who might take a lil action as far as getting these folk's on the Hill to get the lead out of their asses.Our government is full of incompetent,lazy slacker's who are over paid and do nothing but sit on their asses and whine.We need to change...and not just in Washington..we also need to clean up this cesspool of so called elite of Wall St. who in my opinion are nothing more then a bunch of hustler's...and now basically welfare recipient's. What really nauseates me...is how much the republican party has changed...and supporting this type of riff-raff...and then the last administration selling us out to a bunch of commi's!(chinese)Bush disappoint's me not only because I voted for him...but because I am a Texan as well and he sold out America!
As far as marriage is concerned, I wrote a post about marriage as well.Marriage is changing...and has alway's changed throughout the various civilisation's/era's. What is different now...is being confronted with the gay's wanting to marry. I support gay marriage...no I am not queer,I been married to the same woman for almost 30 year's have kid's and grandkid's.But...I dont think it degrades marriage any more than heterosexual's have degraded it. Straight people have torn it to shred's...the divorce rate is incredible...taking vow's have became a joke...because apparently not many are living up to their vow's.Children these day's are used as a damn commodity,we have kid's calling folk's mom and dad...who dont even really know who is their mom and dad.Parent's that say "Hi" to the kid's,throw them a few buck's...and hand them over to daycare or for someone else to raise them...and half these adult scumbag's use the kid's only as bargaining chip's in court custody and support battles. It's pathetic!With a government who every damn time they want to milk the masses for another buck...use "kid's" in someway to tell us..."were doing it for the kid's" If all these high and mighty folk's were so interested in the kid's...especially the worthless bunch that we overpay to represent us...they wouldnt create this damn mess they did for kid's to inherit. I'll shut up now..thank you Sir.
By the way...in Texas marriage is a billion dollar industry..and booming...my daughter is a global marketing coordinator...with an ambition to start a personal business venture catering to marriage's..the money spent in this town on marriage(Dallas) is enormous...I reckon if gay's were to get married or even civil union's...it would be a money maker as well.
Welcome Ranch Chimp.
On this site, we deal with a sea of issues and not just religion…so feel free to contribute. Of course, my perspective comes from a Christian worldview.
Nice site you have by the way. With your permission, I’d like to link to it to make it easier to access.
Thank You Pastor Mike for your word's about my site.Yes...by all mean's...please do. I dont really know many folk's at all on this internet...most of those who visit my site are just folk's that I personally know around town and family I assume.I am NOT against anyone who is believer's with faith in Jesus at all. I am outspoken against what mega organized religious institution's have become...and the weird part is having read the bible myself, I do not see any comparrison to many of these institution's and their so called alignment with the teaching's I read in the 4 gospel's. I almost feel if the Christ figure of the New Testament Jesus were in our society today, he would be persecuted by the churches and frowned upon and called a phoney,and that he would probably not support half of them! Not to mention...pull out a whip and start cracking it at all these corporate investment church institution's.Thank You...and have a good one!
Mike: On this site, we deal with a sea of issues and not just religion…so feel free to contribute. Of course, my perspective comes from a Christian worldview.
You'd be a rich pastor if you started doing secular sermons (perhaps every other week?) where you talk about secular topics and not even mention the imaginary man in the sky, plus you'd draw in more atheists who would be more interested in what you have to say. Look, anybody can just talk about their personal beliefs about the existance of a creator (actually, that does nothing for most people besides gives them false hope), but how does that get the message out that the lives of people obey the laws of causality?
For instance, when you say "God will reward for doing....", which is actually one step below karma on the causality scale. What you really should be teaching is how peoples actions affect other people and how other people thereby reciprocate that good will. How about doing a causal sermon on what a good work ethic is(no gods required here), on how people react to other people, or how people need to take responsibility for their own actions because what they do will directly influence how other people percieve them (no god required for that).
There is a reason why the majority of the commandments (especially the manmade laws that keep this country safe) have nothing to do with the existance of a god. Perhaps you don't know the effects of say, looking at pornography, or even that millions of people do that very thing every night and don't have negative psychological consequences because they do it responsibly. Perhaps you don't realize that substance is is not necessarily the same thing as substance abuse, whereas a psychologist trained in that is a better judge of these things.
Ultimately, what taints people's behaviors comes from within, and that is as much biological as it is uneducational. I think that if people can live a happy and successful life, and still engage in their natural tendencies, then that is just fine. If, however, people's tendencies are becoming a hinderance to their wellbeing or that of the people around them(reflected as a probabilistic or statistical thing so it doesn't apply to all people), then that is an issue that needs to be dealt with (obviously people can't pray the alcoholism or exhibitionism or bad work ethic away, it is something that requires active behavioral changes that can lead to positive improvement).
As an atheist, I believe there are many problems in society that are misdiagnosed as a lack of belief or love in a god, and still many more normal behavioral activities that are misdiagnosed as problems because of dogma.
Pastor,
I just came across your blog.
I feel like I have no one else to turn to right now for advice.
I know some mothers may go through this all the time.
Well, my daughter who is 21, moved out when she was 18. for the past 3 years she has been making up all kinds of untrue things about me, spreading them around town & all over the internet. She has brainwashed a few people making them believe the untrue things about me. She was always a good kid. Well, she became involved in this one group & that's when she started to change. My other kids know the things my daughter is saying is not true + my daughter's former friends know it, too.
I had to leave the church I was attended because of all of this.
Now she is married & had a baby a month ago. I never even saw my grandchild in person.
My daughter doesn't seem to want to make peace & I heard she has been diagnosed with bi polar.
She just won't stop all of this.
I have to post this anonymous for privacy reasons.
Has anything happened like this in your church or do you know anyone in my situation?
Pamela
My desire to help, sorry Mike for being out of line here:
Do your other kids, or one of her friends that you are close to, have a good relationship with her and could mediate between you and her in order to let her know you still love her?
Quantum,
I understand...good advice.
Anonymous,
To stay anonymous, create a fake (and safe) e-mail address from a site like yahoo and e-mail me at fcbcpastor@yahoo.com. Upon receiving your e-mail, I will minister where I can.
God bless you,
Pastor mike