FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
MODERNISM
(Part 9)
KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS
August 16, 2021
Today’s readings:
Judges 2:11-19
Psalm 106:34-44
Matthew 19:16-22
The greatest threat in and to our Church today is modernism, which has already come into the sanctuary of God. We understand modernism to be the overturning of age-old teachings of the Church and infusing them with the culture of the age. The focus is on the “well-being” of man but at the expense of the righteousness of God.
The chosen people of God, the Israelites, were unfaithful to their covenant. “The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord” (Jgs 2:11a). What were these infidelities and their counterparts among Christians in today’s modernist culture?
- “They served the Baals, and abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors” (Jgs 2:11b-12a). Christians have embraced the culture of DEATH, totally overturning the culture of life instituted by God.
- “They followed other gods, the gods of the peoples around them” (Jgs 2:12c). Christians have embraced the gods of the world—materialism, consumerism, liberalism, secularism, humanism.
- “and bowed down to them” (Jgs 2:12d). The idol Pachamama was brought into the Vatican grounds and clerics bowed down to it.
- They “mingled with the nations and imitated their ways.” (Ps 106:35). Christians in Christian nations have embraced the zeitgeist and are no longer distinguishable from the secular humanist world around them.
- “They sacrificed to demons their own sons and daughters, shedding innocent blood” (Ps 106:37-38a). Abortion has taken the lives of millions of unborn children. In Christian nations, liberal Christians are the ones pushing abortion and Catholic politicians give all-out support.
- “They defiled themselves by their actions, became adulterers by their conduct.” (Ps 106:39). Sexual licentiousness, including marital infidelity, is rampant.
In the same way, Jesus himself taught that one gains eternal life by keeping the commandments. “If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Mt 19:17b). But today, many Christians are violating God’s commandments.
- “You shall not kill” (Mt 19:18b). Again, there is massive abortion, and a current strong move toward euthanasia.
- “You shall not commit adultery” (Mt 19:18c). Marital infidelity is rampant.
- “You shall not steal” (Mt 19:18d). There are many Christian thieves and plunders in governments.
- “You shall not bear false witness” (Mt 19:18e). Many lies are told by Christians, including Catholic politicians, mainstream media, social media, factcheckers, even clerics.
- “Honor your father and your mother” (Mt 19:19a). Many families have broken up and disintegrated. There is disrespect by the young of their elders. Liberal teachers and schools, including Catholic ones, are telling children how to keep from or even deceive their parents about their taking contraceptives, being taught about LGBT, or even being referred to abortion providers.
Now the commandments of God are not just the Ten Commandments. There are others. We sin if we violate the commandments of God, by doing what is wrong and by not doing what we are supposed to do. What are some sins of omission, aggravated by modernism?
- Jesus commanded his disciples to preach the gospel, but many Christians do not do so, many not even knowing of this Great Commission, as they are not instructed by the pastors of the Church. The focus is not on evangelization but on social justice issues.
- Jesus told his followers to make disciples of all nations, but in the Church we are being told not to proselytize, that is, to make converts. We are just to be nice, get along with people and do good to others.
- Jesus, at the very start of his public ministry, proclaimed the gospel and told people to repent, But today many in the Church look to political correctness, to just accept and embrace sinners but without confronting them with their sin.
Now the consequences of turning away from God are disastrous. For Israel, God “delivered them into the power of plunderers who despoiled them.” (Jgs 2:14). God “handed them over to the nations, and their adversaries ruled over them.” (Ps 106:41). Eventually they lost it all and were driven from the land God gave them.
Christians today have abandoned the ways of God and taken on the ways of the modern world. What Christians ought to do is to reject modernist ways, keep God’s commandments, and even go beyond and “wish to be perfect” (Mt 19:21a). This is what it means when Jesus says, “Then come, follow me.” (Mt 19:21c).