FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
MODERNISM
(Part 10)
DEPRIVED OF THE TRUTH
September 17, 2021
Today’s reading:
1 Timothy 6:2-12
What is a modernist? It is “whoever teaches something different and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching” (v.3). It is one who overturns the teachings of Jesus and the age-old teachings of the Church in order to give new meaning which conforms to the culture of the age. It is one who is “deprived of the truth” (v.5b).
For example:
- One who is gay is born that way.
- There are not just two sexes but a multitude of genders.
- Same-sex unions are accepted and approved.
- Public, persistent and unrepented grievous sin such as abortion or being rabidly pro-abortion is not to be called out, is not cause not to be given Holy Communion, and much less would such a one be excommunicated.
- All religions are valid ways to the divine.
- One must not be rigid (read: traditional) in faith and values.
- Christians should just be nice to everyone and certainly not seek to convert people to the faith.
Modernists in the Church are those who have been corrupted by the spirit of the age, which, because it is so much of the world, oftentimes reek of money, sex and power.
Money. “For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith” (v.10a).
- US bishops do not speak out against the fake Catholic President Biden and the other well-placed Catholic officials who are doing all they can to keep and even to further abortion. Why? Because they receive millions of dollars from the government to fund their programs?
- The Vatican does not speak out against the atrocities of the Chinese Communist Party and its persecution of the Church in China. Why? According to Chinese dissident Guo Wengei, the Chinese Communist Party allocates US$2 billion every year to pay off the Vatican for its silence.
Sex
- Homosexual deviancy and predation is today a way of life with many clerics, especially in the Western churches.
- Very many lay Catholics who succumb to modernist teaching are into sexual licentiousness, living in, adultery, pornography.
Power
- The Pope has shut down traditional religious orders, including those which had been thriving with vocations.
- The Pope has suppressed the Tridentine Mass, which is the Mass of All Ages and which has been attracting many Catholics, especially among the young.
- The Pope has unilaterally changed the age-old teaching in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, such as the one on death penalty.
“But you, man of God, avoid all this.” (v.11a). Sin, especially grievous sin, is to be avoided. Sin is not to be part of the life of a man of God. “Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.” (v.11b). Notice that the very first virtue is righteousness. This is the righteousness of God. This is now being sacrificed by modernists in the Church for the sake of political correctness. Today modernists just tell us to be nice to one another, to be accepting, accommodating, welcoming, embracing. But without speaking to the person of his sin, because it is offensive.
Today modernists speak of the Church as a field hospital, where those ill or injured are to be accepted. True. But are they to be accepted into the hospital just to be made comfortable, just to be shown kindness and compassion, but not to have their illness or wounds treated? That would be ridiculous. But that is what modernists do.
Modernists threaten the authentic faith. It is a focus on the city of man rather than the city of God. It looks to the well-being of man but at the sacrifice of the righteousness of God. We must be aware. We must resist false teachings. We must stand up for the authentic faith. “Compete well for the faith.” (v.12a).
Modernists make unknowing Catholics feel good, but threaten their eternal well-being. Again, we must resist, if we are to “lay hold of eternal life” (v.12b).