You Weren’t Wrong & You’re Not Alone

 


You weren’t wrong, and you’re not alone. It’s important to keep that in mind because there’s going to be a test later. Make no mistake though, you are at war.

The first play in modern warfare is to disrupt communications, and this is what our spiritual enemies are doing today. They want us isolated from those who would encourage us, provide intel, and coordinate opposition. Once that’s accomplished, they will attempt to crush our spirits, which is much easier to do if we’re in isolation. In that dark place one may begin to doubt the cause, and perhaps entertain the idea that our allies have abandoned us. They haven’t, not all of them. But the enemy wants us to think they have, and even become bitter towards them.

“In nothing is the power of the dark lord more clearly shown than in the estrangement that divides all who still oppose him.”

JRR Tolkien The Fellowship of the Ring

It’s easy to get angry with those who wrote this off as merely a human event, where the stakes were only relevant in the abstract — no more than a winter storm, or a dip in the stock market. Some thought we would easily slip back into the comfortable routines of normal life or even the uncomfortable and annoying new routines. Perhaps now it’s becoming clear that this is not the case. The war is raging, we all have a part to play, and we can’t be bothered with pointing fingers at one another when the enemies loom larger and more menacing every day.

The enemy knows his time is short, and so he pushes those advantages all the harder. It’s just proper military tactics: When your opponents suffer a defeat, you press the attack, get them on the run and keep them running lest they have time to turn around, regather their composure, and fight back. And believe me, fighting back is what the enemy fears more than anything. That, and your willingness to fight together.

You weren’t wrong, and you’re not alone.

No matter how your enemies try to spin it, nothing can change the facts that you know in your heart. Close your eyes and listen to the Spirit of God. Go ahead, do it now.

“Lord, was I right to stand for the things you call good, and against those that you call evil?”

If you heard any answer other than a resounding, “YES!” tell that voice to depart from you, because God never changes. He’s not like feeble men who make temporary alliances for personal gain. He will never ally himself with unholy acts nor men who perpetrate them, and He warns us from doing likewise.

I know many of you feel like you’re alone, powerless, and maybe even a little bit afraid of what comes next. Will they really push this as far as they say they will, or is it all just political theater intended to push a human agenda? Will cooler heads prevail and the slow, rusty gears of government find that comfortable equilibrium, or will it really come down to forced vaccinations and seized assets? History is no comfort against the latter, as many a refugee will attest.

So where does that leave the children of God?

For one thing, stand up and speak to those who will listen. Speak those truths with conviction and never doubt that what He promised will come to pass, though voices mock you online, behemoth corporations persecute you, and your leaders let you down.

Another thing you can do is to remove yourself from those who won’t listen. Remember, you are at war and it won’t do you any good to absorb the insidious counsel of those who openly oppose what God has said is good, and worth fighting for. Whether that means disengaging from social media, letting a few friendships simmer on the back burner for a spell, or walking away from toxic relationships, is something each of us will need to examine in prayer in the days ahead.

Remember, I told you there was going to be a test. I don’t know if that test will come in seven days or seventy. I don’t have any special revelation and I wouldn’t suggest you bank on my opinions any more than your own, but I do know that the test is coming, and very soon people will be looking at you to make sense of it all.

Think now about what you will tell them. If you’re not sure yet, that’s fine. Think, pray, and if no clarity comes to you, then know that you can always call on your allies to help you sort it out. We don’t need to have all the answers, but we can figure out how He wants us to move forward, so long as we remember that we weren’t wrong, and we’re not alone.

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  1. Sisyphus Member
    Sisyphus
    @Sisyphus

    We are never alone.

    Thank you.

    • #1
  2. JamesSalerno Inactive
    JamesSalerno
    @JamesSalerno

    The good guys will win in the end.

    • #2
  3. Saint Augustine Member
    Saint Augustine
    @SaintAugustine

    JamesSalerno (View Comment):

    The good guys will win in the end.

    Unfortunately, I’m not sure I know any of them.

    • #3
  4. D.A. Venters Inactive
    D.A. Venters
    @DAVenters

    Vince Guerra:

    No matter how your enemies try to spin it, nothing can change the facts that you know in your heart. Close your eyes and listen to the Spirit of God. Go ahead, do it now.

    “Lord, was I right to stand for the things you call good, and against those that you call evil?”

    If you heard any answer other than a resounding, “YES!” tell that voice to depart from you, because God never changes. He’s not like feeble men who make temporary alliances for personal gain. He will never ally himself with unholy acts nor men who perpetrate them, and He warns us from doing likewise.

    But what if I hear this?:

               “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.  He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?  Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?  Do not even pagans do that?  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:43-48

    Should I tell that voice to depart?

    There is no pending civil war.  No one is out to get you.  This rhetoric only serves to deepen the tribalism that is currently plaguing us as a nation, and it turns people against their friends and neighbors and family members.  Stay engaged with people who disagree with you and find common ground and be tolerant of differing opinions.  Turn the other cheek.  Do unto others, etc…

     

    • #4
  5. Chris Oler Coolidge
    Chris Oler
    @ChrisO

    D.A. Venters (View Comment):
    This rhetoric only serves to deepen the tribalism that is currently plaguing us as a nation, and it turns people against their friends and neighbors and family members. Stay engaged with people who disagree with you and find common ground and be tolerant of differing opinions. Turn the other cheek. Do unto others, etc…

    This is about self-doubt, and being right with yourself, not having one over on anyone else.

    If that is the first thing you see, consider your own thoughts.

    • #5
  6. DonG (2+2=5. Say it!) Coolidge
    DonG (2+2=5. Say it!)
    @DonG

    D.A. Venters (View Comment):
    There is no pending civil war. No one is out to get you. This rhetoric only serves to deepen the tribalism that is currently plaguing us as a nation, and it turns people against their friends and neighbors and family members. Stay engaged with people who disagree with you and find common ground and be tolerant of differing opinions. Turn the other cheek.

    We should assume that bad actors are trying to divide the people for power and profit.  Don’t let them.  Offer up the other cheek.  When someone harms you, when you stand up to evil, accept the harm and continue to stand up. 

    • #6
  7. D.A. Venters Inactive
    D.A. Venters
    @DAVenters

    Chris Oler

    D.A. Venters (View Comment):
    This rhetoric only serves to deepen the tribalism that is currently plaguing us as a nation, and it turns people against their friends and neighbors and family members. Stay engaged with people who disagree with you and find common ground and be tolerant of differing opinions. Turn the other cheek. Do unto others, etc…

    This is about self-doubt, and being right with yourself, not having one over on anyone else.

    If that is the first thing you see, consider your own thoughts.

    It wasn’t the first thing I saw, but there seemed to be a subtext, which I thought was fairly clear.  But maybe not. 

    I promise to consider my own thoughts either way.

    • #7
  8. Chris Oler Coolidge
    Chris Oler
    @ChrisO

    D.A. Venters (View Comment):
    I promise to consider my own thoughts either way.

    Likewise. ;-)

    • #8
  9. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    Spiritual enemies, I made that distinction at least twice. Our enemy is not Democrsts, NTers, trolls on Facebook, or any other earthly being. We pray for them, as you say, but we must be cognizant that there are purely evil motivations behind the things they are doing, and many of them don’t even understand how the enemy is using them. I believe Biden is one.

    As for eliminating those relationships, sometimes it’s necessary but not always. I’ve had to break contact with my sister because of her rhetoric, but though my Dad and I disagree on all things political we can still hang all day and watch Football.

    Surely you agree we are in a spiritual battle? Right now it’s raging.

    • #9
  10. Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… Inactive
    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai…
    @Gaius

    Vince Guerra: You weren’t wrong, and you’re not alone. It’s important to keep that in mind because there’s going to be a test later. Make no mistake though, you are at war.

    I’d be interested to hear from someone in the know how exactly this meets Ricochet’s standards? 

    I’m not “demanding an answer.” I get people are spread thin. I’m just curious.

    I won’t even say what I think is obvious about this kind of language, so as not to poison any answer I might receive.

    • #10
  11. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… (View Comment):

    Vince Guerra: You weren’t wrong, and you’re not alone. It’s important to keep that in mind because there’s going to be a test later. Make no mistake though, you are at war.

    I’d be interested to hear from someone in the know how exactly this meets Ricochet’s standards?

    I’m not “demanding an answer.” I get people are spread thin. I’m just curious.

    I won’t even say what I think is obvious about this kind of language, so as not to poison any answer I might receive.

    I’m interested to hear what you think about both. Spiritual warfare is a pretty common theme and not all that controversial within religious discussions.  

    • #11
  12. Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… Inactive
    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai…
    @Gaius

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… (View Comment):

    Vince Guerra: You weren’t wrong, and you’re not alone. It’s important to keep that in mind because there’s going to be a test later. Make no mistake though, you are at war.

    I’d be interested to hear from someone in the know how exactly this meets Ricochet’s standards?

    I’m not “demanding an answer.” I get people are spread thin. I’m just curious.

    I won’t even say what I think is obvious about this kind of language, so as not to poison any answer I might receive.

    I’m interested to hear what you think about both. Spiritual warfare is a pretty common theme and not all that controversial within religious discussions.

    The only equivalent concept I can think of in Catholicism is “warfare” between angels and demons, in which we humans are more like the territory than the combatants. So maybe this is just a sectarian misunderstanding. But I don’t think so.

    Perhaps I should have highlighted a different section of your post. You use the term “modern warfare” in the next paragraph. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for that to inform how I, or an average reasonable person would read what you’ve written. I don’t claim to know your intent, and it’s clear that you’re placing an emphasis on the spiritual element of the conflict you describe but it doesn’t *sound* like you’re describing a purely spiritual war. It’s sounds like you’re using the rhetoric of war (including war-war) to describe domestic politics. There are logical consequences that follow from that whether you intend them or not.

    I know plenty of Muslims have a concept of “Jihad” as internal moral struggle that’s entirely benign. But the term has significant enough baggage that it’s not unfair to expect that they be very clear when using the term in that sense, given that not all of their coreligionists will apply that same benign interpretation.

    • #12
  13. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… (View Comment):

     

    The only equivalent concept I can think of in Catholicism is “warfare” between angels and demons, in which we humans are more like the territory than the combatants. So maybe this is just a sectarian misunderstanding. But I don’t think so.

    Perhaps I should have highlighted a different section of your post. You use the term “modern warfare” in the next paragraph. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for that to inform how I, or an average reasonable person would read what you’ve written. I don’t claim to know your intent, and it’s clear that you’re placing an emphasis on the spiritual element of the conflict you describe but it doesn’t *sound* like you’re describing a purely spiritual war. It’s sounds like you’re using the rhetoric of war (including war-war) to describe domestic politics. There are logical consequences that follow from that whether you intend them or not.

    I know plenty of Muslims have a concept of “Jihad” as internal moral struggle that’s entirely benign. But the term has significant enough baggage that it’s not unfair to expect that they be very clear when using the term in that sense, given that not all of their coreligionists will apply that same benign interpretation.

    The spiritual battle is what I’m mainly concerned with but it manifests itself in the natural world, and the consequences we see from succumbing to the evil nature of man (violence/adultry/ostracizing your neighbors), or in doing things contrary to scripture (closing churches/social distancing), or ignoring or even of calling good what God calls evil (child sexuality/injustice) are left for us to deal with. Satan has always tried to silence God’s people and His word, via feeding His disciples to lions, imprisoning pastors, or de-platforming vocal opposition. 

    The war is fought in the heavenly realms by angelic beings to be sure, but God set the terms that (for some reason) our prayers, declarations, and worship play a part in how that battle plays out. On Jan 6th hundreds of thousands of Christians were in DC praying and worshiping. It mattered. It matters still. 

    • #13
  14. Saint Augustine Member
    Saint Augustine
    @SaintAugustine

    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… (View Comment):

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… (View Comment):

    Vince Guerra: You weren’t wrong, and you’re not alone. It’s important to keep that in mind because there’s going to be a test later. Make no mistake though, you are at war.

    I’d be interested to hear from someone in the know how exactly this meets Ricochet’s standards?

    I’m not “demanding an answer.” I get people are spread thin. I’m just curious.

    I won’t even say what I think is obvious about this kind of language, so as not to poison any answer I might receive.

    I’m interested to hear what you think about both. Spiritual warfare is a pretty common theme and not all that controversial within religious discussions.

    The only equivalent concept I can think of in Catholicism is “warfare” between angels and demons, in which we humans are more like the territory than the combatants. So maybe this is just a sectarian misunderstanding. But I don’t think so.

    It looks to me like VG is just building on that passage in Ephesians.

    • #14
  15. Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… Inactive
    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai…
    @Gaius

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… (View Comment):

     

    The only equivalent concept I can think of in Catholicism is “warfare” between angels and demons, in which we humans are more like the territory than the combatants. So maybe this is just a sectarian misunderstanding. But I don’t think so.

    Perhaps I should have highlighted a different section of your post. You use the term “modern warfare” in the next paragraph. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for that to inform how I, or an average reasonable person would read what you’ve written. I don’t claim to know your intent, and it’s clear that you’re placing an emphasis on the spiritual element of the conflict you describe but it doesn’t *sound* like you’re describing a purely spiritual war. It’s sounds like you’re using the rhetoric of war (including war-war) to describe domestic politics. There are logical consequences that follow from that whether you intend them or not.

    I know plenty of Muslims have a concept of “Jihad” as internal moral struggle that’s entirely benign. But the term has significant enough baggage that it’s not unfair to expect that they be very clear when using the term in that sense, given that not all of their coreligionists will apply that same benign interpretation.

    The spiritual battle is what I’m mainly concerned with but it manifests itself in the natural world, and the consequences we see from succumbing to the evil nature of man (violence/adultry/ostracizing your neighbors), or in doing things contrary to scripture (closing churches/social distancing), or ignoring or even of calling good what God calls evil (child sexuality/injustice) are left for us to deal with. Satan has always tried to silence God’s people and His word, via feeding His disciples to lions, imprisoning pastors, or de-platforming vocal opposition.

    The war is fought in the heavenly realms by angelic beings to be sure, but God set the terms that (for some reason) our prayers, declarations, and worship play a part in how that battle plays out. On Jan 6th hundreds of thousands of Christians were in DC praying and worshiping. It mattered. It matters still.

    Could you explain exactly what you mean by this?

    • #15
  16. DrewInEastHillQuarantineZone Member
    DrewInEastHillQuarantineZone
    @DrewInWisconsin

    JamesSalerno (View Comment):

    The good guys will win in the end.

    In the very, very end. But before that?

    • #16
  17. Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… Inactive
    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai…
    @Gaius

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):
    The war is fought in the heavenly realms by angelic beings to be sure, but God set the terms that (for some reason) our prayers, declarations, and worship play a part in how that battle plays out. On Jan 6th hundreds of thousands of Christians were in DC praying and worshiping. It mattered. It matters still. 

    Prayers declaration and worship are good means. What other means do you endorse?

    • #17
  18. Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… Inactive
    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai…
    @Gaius

    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… (View Comment):

    . On Jan 6th hundreds of thousands of Christians were in DC praying and worshiping. It mattered. It matters still.

    Could you explain exactly what you mean by this?

    To clarify, I don’t need you to explain the efficacy of prayer. What I’m curious about is what Christians in DC exactly you’re referring to and to what cause you believe their prayers contributed.

    • #18
  19. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… (View Comment):

    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… (View Comment):

    . On Jan 6th hundreds of thousands of Christians were in DC praying and worshiping. It mattered. It matters still.

    Could you explain exactly what you mean by this?

    To clarify, I don’t need you to explain the efficacy of prayer. What I’m curious about is what Christians in DC exactly you’re referring to and to what cause you believe their prayers contributed.

    I’m one of many who believe that very soon God may display His power in our nation in a supernatural way to bring about the justice man has failed to deliver on. Many prayer services at the Capital were praying in unity toward this end. Michelle Bachmann and others among them.

    Absent a miracle in the next few days, Christain persecution in America is about to go full-Nero. I’m one of those who is still praying expectantly for that miracle. 

    • #19
  20. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… (View Comment):

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):
    The war is fought in the heavenly realms by angelic beings to be sure, but God set the terms that (for some reason) our prayers, declarations, and worship play a part in how that battle plays out. On Jan 6th hundreds of thousands of Christians were in DC praying and worshiping. It mattered. It matters still.

    Prayers declaration and worship are good means. What other means do you endorse?

    That’ll do for now. If they try to come and take my kids to re-education camps that may change, but we’ll deal with that if the time comes. 

    • #20
  21. Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… Inactive
    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai…
    @Gaius

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… (View Comment):

    Dennis A. Garcia (formerly Gai… (View Comment):

    . On Jan 6th hundreds of thousands of Christians were in DC praying and worshiping. It mattered. It matters still.

    Could you explain exactly what you mean by this?

    To clarify, I don’t need you to explain the efficacy of prayer. What I’m curious about is what Christians in DC exactly you’re referring to and to what cause you believe their prayers contributed.

    I’m one of many who believe that very soon God may display His power in our nation in a supernatural way to bring about the justice man has failed to deliver on. Many prayer services at the Capital were praying in unity toward this end. Michelle Bachmann and others among them.

    Absent a miracle in the next few days, Christain persecution in America is about to go full-Nero. I’m one of those who is still praying expectantly for that miracle.

    Ok, so I don’t share your fears. The worst I think we can anticipate is 3/4 Obama (who, I should be clear would look like a paragon of religious liberality as well as personal modesty and groundedness compared to Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus) rather than full Nero. I imagine we disagree about other factual claims as well.

    But if we can agree to pray about it and let God sort out who’s right while obeying the law and not interfering with the normal working of the republic, I would be very happy with that.

    • #21
  22. Repdad Inactive
    Repdad
    @Repmodad

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):
    Absent a miracle in the next few days, Christain persecution in America is about to go full-Nero.

    From Wikipedia:

    Non-Christian historian Tacitus describes Nero extensively torturing and executing Christians after the fire of 64.[8] Suetonius also mentions Nero punishing Christians, though he does so because they are “given to a new and mischievous superstition” and does not connect it with the fire.[130]

     

    • #22
  23. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    Repdad (View Comment):

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):
    Absent a miracle in the next few days, Christain persecution in America is about to go full-Nero.

    From Wikipedia:

    Non-Christian historian Tacitus describes Nero extensively torturing and executing Christians after the fire of 64.[8] Suetonius also mentions Nero punishing Christians, though he does so because they are “given to a new and mischievous superstition” and does not connect it with the fire.[130]

     

    Admittedly it’s hard to fathom it could ever happen here, but these things happen incrementally. We never would have ever imagined a lowly mayor could unilaterally mandate that all churches close their doors or face government seizure, or that pastors face jail if they continue to meet, but we saw that this year. Now, churches face getting their live streams de-platformed if they give the wrong message. Who’s to say it can’t happen here, because the Democrats began the full-court press on liberty last March and haven’t let up yet. https://world.wng.org/2017/02/china_s_tortured_christians_tell_their_stories

    • #23
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