FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
(Part 94)
MODERNISM
March 7, 2021
Today’s readings:
Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm 19:8-11
1 Corinthians 1:22-25
John 2:13-25
The great threat to Judeo-Christian truth and culture today, even within our Church, is Modernism. It is desecrating the Temple of God in favor of the temple of man. It is looking to the well-being of man but neglecting the righteousness of God.
This was the case of the cleansing of the temple. It can be said that the animal sellers and the moneychangers were doing a good service in support of worship at the temple. Animals had to be sacrificed and it was more convenient for pilgrims to buy them at the site. Pilgrims had all kinds of foreign currency and it was necessary to change their money to the acceptable currency.
But this good was negated by the marketplace atmosphere that prevailed. So Jesus was filled with indignation, as he drove them away, saying, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” (Jn 2:16).
In today’s culture, the sacred continues to be replaced by the mundane. The city of God is being replaced with the city of man. Just look at what has been done by so-called Christians to the Ten Commandments.
“You shall not have other gods beside me.” (Ex 20:3). Today many worship the gods of money, sex and power. We are not to bow down before idols and serve them, but many Christians today live their lives according to the dictates of secular culture. They look to acceptance by man rather than acceptance by God.
“You shall not invoke the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.” (Ex 20:7a). Today God’s name is defamed and mocked. People swear on the Bible but tell all sorts of lies. But in a diabolical twist, God’s name is now not being invoked at all, as in the US Congress where the phrase “so help me God” has been deliberately removed from oaths of witnesses.
“Remember the Sabbath day—keep it holy.” (Ex 20:8). Today most Catholics no longer go to Mass. Many do not go regularly each and every Sunday. And many of those who still go do not exhibit the reverence due to a Eucharistic celebration.
“Honor your father and your mother.” (Ex 20:12a). Many Western kids lack respect for their parents. Many disdain the traditional instruction by parents on the faith. Many do not help care for them in their old age.
“You shall not kill.” (Ex 20:13). There are a lot a murders and homicides in Christian nations. There is extra-judicial killing. There is euthanasia. And the most egregious of all, there is the murder of the unborn child in the womb. Many Catholics accept abortion, and rabid pro-aborts even have the gall to claim they are devout and receive Holy Communion.
“You shall not commit adultery.” (Ex 20:14). There are many extramarital sexual dalliances. There are those Catholics who have divorced and remarried. There are many who are into pornography, or just exposed to the sexually explicit films of today, and as Jesus has said, to look at a woman with lust is to already commit adultery in his heart.1
“You shall not steal.” (Ex 20:15). Thefts by Christians occur all the time—of goods of others, of the good name of others via slander and calumny, of people’s rights via cancel culture.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Ex 20:16). This happens all the time, with fake news media, with liberal political narratives, with liberals calling pro-lifers haters, bigots and homophobes.
“You shall not covet …. anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Ex 20:17). This is violated all the time, with Christians being envious of others, with regards to possessions, societal status, influence, leadership.
Modernism looks to the wisdom of man as against the wisdom of God. As such, man looks to himself and his own achievements for freedom, satisfaction and well-being. But authentic Christians “proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Cor 1:23). Many Christians do not look to a suffering servant and would look to removing all suffering from their lives. They do not see the salvific value of suffering. And they cannot grasp the wisdom of God, which is totally different and even contrary to the wisdom of man.
What do modernists see as the foolishness of God?
- That God would create only two sexes, male and female. Does God not know that there are very many different genders?
- That sacramental marriage is for life. Does God not know that that is impossible, that one cannot reasonably commit to a lifelong union no matter what future circumstances might arise?
- That abortion is gravely wrong. Does God not know that a woman has rights over her own body?
- That marriage is only for a heterosexual couple. Does God not know that two gay people have the same rights, since they love each other?
- That man cannot become woman and vice versa. Does God not know that one decides what his or her sex is, irrespective of biological reality?
God gave us perfect guidance and direction for our lives, when He gave us His commandments. “The law of the Lord is perfect” (Ps 19:8a).
- We can base our lives on His laws, and not have to be deceived by our own human wisdom. “The decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.” (Ps 19:8b).
- The laws of God are clear, if only we would open our eyes to see. “The command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye.” (Ps 19:9b).
- The laws of God are right and just and true. “The statutes of the Lord are true, all of them just” (Ps 19:10b). This is so contrary to the wisdom and manufactured laws of man that justify what is wrong, are unjust and deprive others of what is their due, and are based on lies, deception and falsehoods.
People today are very much into materialism, looking to possess more goods and what they believe will make them happy. But the wisdom of God and the guidance of His laws are “more desirable than gold, than a hoard of purest gold.” (Ps 19:11a). They are of much greater value. Man today looks at God’s commandments as foolishness, but “the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom” (1 Cor 1:25a).
And today in our Church, there is acceptance of the sinner and seemingly also of the sin.2 Sinners are just accepted, welcomed, accompanied and embraced but without talking of their sin. So what happens? They remain in their sin. Eventually they suffer the loss of their souls. What is more merciful, what is more in line with the wisdom of God (which many in the Church will consider foolish and unacceptable), is if grievous sin is confronted,3 and if the sinner persists, that he should be expelled from our midst.4
- The rabid pro-abortion government official should not only be denied Holy Communion, but if unrepentant should be excommunicated.
- The bishop who condones and even supports liberal causes to the detriment of the righteousness of God are to be called out, and if they do not change, are to be shunned.
- The actively homosexual parish priest should be stripped of his parish.
- The actively homosexual seminarian should be booted out of the seminary.
- The actively homosexual parish worker or Catholic school faculty member should be removed from his/her position.
Jesus displayed great zeal in cleansing the temple. “His disciples recalled the words of scripture, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’” (Jn 2:17). As disciples of Jesus, do we have the same zeal? Unfortunately, many Christians today, including clerics and prelates, do not. Jesus knows this so well. “But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.” (Jn 2:24-25).
Too bad many Church leaders today do not see the reality of fallen human nature. They continue to try to please man, in effect catering to their base inner natures. They try to look to the well-being of man but end up moving them farther away from God. The wisdom of man errs in many ways, and only “the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.” (Ps 19:9a). Man needs to be in awe of God. The wisdom of the world will pass away, but God’s wisdom stands forever. “The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.” (Ps 19:10a).
Man is not god, though he at times thinks he is, or he aspires to be. This is what modernism is about. Those Christians who carry Jesus’ name but persist in sin or support of sin are taking his name in vain. Beware. “For the Lord will not leave unpunished anyone who invokes his name in vain.” (Ex 20:7b). Thus for all Christians, “to those who are called, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor 1:24).
1See Matthew 5:28
2 This is political correctness
3 In a loving way of course
4 “Purge the evil person from your midst.” (1 Cor 5:13b). The ultimate intent is the person’s salvation, as he comes to realize the gravity of his offense and repents
5 There are those bishops who are very strongly engaged in issues such as immigration and climate change, but who do not speak out strongly against abortion, or who might put such social justice issues and abortion on the same level
