FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
MODERNISM
(Part 41)
TRUST IN GOD NOT MAN
February 13, 2022
Today’s readings:
Jeremiah 17:5-8
Psalm 1:1-6
1 Corinthians 15:12,16-20
Luke 6:17,20-26
“Thus says the Lord: cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.” (Jer 17:5). This is a good description of a liberal and modernist. He is one who looks to man (himself and others) for guidance, direction and strength, and in the process turns away from God. The focus is on the well-being of man, but at the expense of the righteousness of God.
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked” (Ps 1:1a). Those who walk in the counsel of the wicked are those who listen to and believe in modernist teachers. These teachers are deemed wicked because they teach what is contrary to Christ’s teachings and the age-old teachings of the Church. As such, they lead Catholics astray, and “the way of the wicked leads to ruin.” (Ps 1:6b).
“How can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead?” (1 Cor 15:12b). But this is precisely what some modernist hierarchs preach. A top hierarch has said that when a sinful man dies, he just goes “poof.” He just disappears into nothingness. There is no afterlife. There are those modernists who question the existence of hell, or if there is a hell, that there is no one there. They say that a loving God will not allow anyone to suffer eternally in the fires of hell.
Then Paul says further, “If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all.” (1 Cor 15:19). Well, if there is no afterlife, or no eternal judgment at the end of time, then Christians just look to the present moment. This is pitiable. If we are not able to look to eternity, then this world is all there is. Then, as modernists would aver, we look only to doing good or being right with others (which by itself is good), but this leads to acceptance and embrace of sinners without speaking of their sin, because it is offensive. We are just to make people feel good by being nice to them, but not look to the situation of their souls, as there is nothing beyond this life.
But Jesus says, “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.” (Lk 6:22). Try telling grave sinners (such as pro-aborts and active LGBTs) today that they are in sin. They will hate you (and consider you a hater), they will exclude you (cancel you), they will insult you (call you a bigot), and they will denounce your name as evil. Modernists avoid this by just trying to be nice without calling out grievous sin. They want to just be accepted and loved, but “woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.” (Lk 6:26). Modernists are false prophets, but they are well loved by sinners.
Rather, we are to be prophetic. We call out sin. Out of authentic love for others, we call out grave sinners. We take the risk of being oppressed. But we know that we obey God and not just kowtow to the zeitgeist. We are willing to suffer the consequences. At the same time, if indeed we are persecuted, we “rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven (yes, modernists, there is an afterlife and a heaven). For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.” (Lk 6:23). You will be in good company, and your eternal reward is assured.
“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord; the Lord will be their trust.” (Jer 17:7).
