This sort of article is interesting to me because it shows
the surface-layer overlap on the parts of the Far Right and Far Left. Both are
concerned with the growing power of the federal government, but both have
entirely different interpretations of why it's happening, where it's going and
who's behind it all.
While I don't believe in being alarmist, Jade Helm along with
a growing corpus of circumstantial evidence suggests the government is
concerned about internal unrest. Obama broke faith with the Left and has
continued virtually all of the Bush policies and in many cases expanded them.
The move toward an authoritarian/police state has not been abated.
The so-called reforms are a sleight-of-hand, a smoke screen.
Just as the Patriot Act was written before 9/11, the subsequent cyber version
and expansion of the Patriot Act awaits the proper moment.
Unrest is coming and there will be numerous forces at work
contributing to its rise and seeking to foment it. Survivalist militias, the
working class and other groups will certainly rise up and there will be
conflicts. But in the midst of the crackdown government provocateurs will work
to subvert these movements and do all they can to turn them against one
another. It won't be hard to do.
As Christians we need to keep our heads clear, our hearts
right and step back. This is not to say that we are to keep silent. We need to
understand the issues and tell the truth even if it means standing against and
offending all parties involved. The hardest front will be within the Church.
The confusion will be compounded by the fact that
money-minded pastors will seek to avoid controversy. They will be denounced as
being weak and unwilling, and this will place other congregants in awkward situations.
The pastor is wrong to be silent, but wise to not get
involved. And yet his motives for doing so are probably more political... in
terms of keeping and maintaining control of the congregation. We may find
situations that call for standing against the radical factions and to some
degree 'not' standing with the pastor at the same time.
Wisdom and nuance are required... attributes and abilities
almost non-existent in our culture.
Confusion will reign. I continue to hope and pray that those
who are beginning to understand these issues will 'come out' and find other
remnant communities and congregations. I find that very few people at this
point even understand what 'church' is, what we're doing on Sunday morning and
how to work through the Scriptures on these matters. It's as if the Word of God
has already been taken away.
Yet, I know there are many who are disturbed and concerned.
They might listen...but how to reach them?
