Counter-Kingdom Ism’s

[MaxPC]

I quite like this list of modern day idolatries. One thing I would add is the relentless adulation and promotion of political party agendas and talking points. The trusting of political party agendas implies a weak trust in God; which is something that all Christians struggle with in these politicised days. The Non-Resistant approach of trusting God instead of political parties and talking points is in my experience, what the Bible teaches.

Counter-Kingdom Ism’s

We do not like it when the gospel of the Kingdom makes us confront our tendencies toward, consumerism, materialism, hedonism, elitism, cronyism, racism, sexism, and nationalism. We pick scriptural interpretations and theologies that let us avoid (confronting) them.

Only a Spirit-inspired shakeup can get us out of these Kingdom-killing ways. Only a protracted time of soul searching can bring us to true liberty as citizens of the Kingdom of God. Striving for some kind of revival that does not include dealing with these “ism’s” is a hollow and futile effort. A great emotional stir will not fix it; making religious noise won’t cure it. Spending time with our King will enable us to see what we need to deal with; being open to the Spirit’s deeper work in our life will rescue us from these.

Search me, O God, and know my heart today.

Try me, O Savior; know my thoughts, I pray.

See if there be some wicked way in me;

Cleanse me from ev’ry sin, and set me free. -J. Edwin Orr

H. Lamar Smith
Christ Our Holy Way

[Falco Underhill]

The modernist image of God (based as it is on liberal/masonic, Hegelian/Marxist principles) is a false image. No modifications to these systems change their essential nature as false images.

I think what we're witnessing today is the error of the tribe of Dan. (Judges 17-18)

An Israelite named Micah carves an "image" to keep with some priestly paraphernalia. He then hires a Levite priest for his house thinking God will bless his efforts. Then an unruly mob of Danites convinces the Levite to serve them instead of the man Micah. They steal Micah's concubine, priest and carved image to lead an entire tribe and clan rather than a single household, and the Levite readily agrees. (See the semblance of this to globalist ideologies?)

Then they lay waste to a "secure and unsuspecting" city in order to occupy it for themselves. It's hard not to notice the similarities to what's going on today, especially in the Church.

Notice the tribe of Dan is not named among the tribes of Israel in the book of Revelation. Some early Church Fathers thought the A/C would come from the Tribe of Dan but Im starting to wonder if it only points to the actions of the Anti-Church. These are just my speculations, of course.

[Falco Underhill]

P.S. I like the phrase "Counter–Kingdom" as that could be a useful term of analysis. Mind if I borrow it?

[MaxPC]

The modernist image of God (based as it is on liberal/masonic, Hegelian/Marxist principles) is a false image. No modifications to these systems change their essential nature as false images.

I think what we're witnessing today is the error of the tribe of Dan. (Judges 17-18)

An Israelite named Micah carves an "image" to keep with some priestly paraphernalia. He then hires a Levite priest for his house thinking God will bless his efforts. Then an unruly mob of Danites convinces the Levite to serve them instead of the man Micah. They steal Micah's concubine, priest and carved image to lead an entire tribe and clan rather than a single household, and the Levite readily agrees. (See the semblance of this to globalist ideologies?)

Then they lay waste to a "secure and unsuspecting" city in order to occupy it for themselves. It's hard not to notice the similarities to what's going on today, especially in the Church.

Notice the tribe of Dan is not named among the tribes of Israel in the book of Revelation. Some early Church Fathers thought the A/C would come from the Tribe of Dan but Im starting to wonder if it only points to the actions of the Anti-Church. These are just my speculations, of course.

I agree.

P.S. I like the phrase "Counter–Kingdom" as that could be a useful term of analysis. Mind if I borrow it?

Actually "Counter Kingdom" was coined by H. Lamar Smith who writes these reflections. I've also heard the equally apt term "Anti-Kingdom".

[Falco Underhill]

"Anti-Church" was used by both Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and now by Abp. Vigano. Yes, I suppose they could be used interchangeably.

[MaxPC]

"Anti-Church" was used by both Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and now by Abp. Vigano. Yes, I suppose they could be used interchangeably.

Indeed. Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop Vigano both were/are on a mission to root out corruption in the ranks. Both are aging. Both are still working on the mission. That mission is one that is needed in every decade of every age, in all denominations. We cannot and should not become complacent.

[PetrChelcicky]

My pet problem are people who define themselves as the Party of God which even involuntarily leads them to characterize their opponents as the Party of the Devil.
So, those ideas about a Counter-Kingdom and an Anti-Church rub me the wrong way. (If this is about a "fake kingdom" or a "mock church", I am with you.)
I think that all -isms, even those I like to argue against, there is a certain amount of real people's real needs and legitimate wishes covered in all of them. So all -ism should have their own space until the people have found something of which they feel that it covers their needs and wishes even better.

[MaxPC]

I think that all -isms, even those I like to argue against, there is a certain amount of real people's real needs and legitimate wishes covered in all of them. So all -ism should have their own space until the people have found something of which they feel that it covers their needs and wishes even better.

I have always found it interesting in how one's past experiences influence vocabulary, perceptions of conceptual vocabulary and even that of newly coined terms.

Petr, what if those "-isms" promote unBiblical and sinful needs and wishes? How do you feel a Christian should address that carnality?

[Falco Underhill]

Here's an excerpt from Communism and the Conscience of the West, by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, published in 1948

“The third temptation in which Satan asked Christ to adore him and all the kingdoms of the world would be His, will become the temptation to have a new religion without a Cross, a liturgy without a world to come, a religion to destroy a religion, or a politics which is a religion — one that renders unto Caesar even the things that are God’s. . . . Because his religion will be brotherhood without the fatherhood of God, he will deceive even the elect. He will set up a counterchurch which will be the ape of the Church, because he, the Devil, is the ape of God. It will have all the notes and characteristics of the Church, but in reverse and emptied of its divine content. It will be a mystical body of the Antichrist that will in all externals resemble the Mystical Body of Christ.”

It's also interesting he used the word counterchurch way back then, too.

[MaxPC]

Here's an excerpt from Communism and the Conscience of the West, by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, published in 1948

“The third temptation in which Satan asked Christ to adore him and all the kingdoms of the world would be His, will become the temptation to have a new religion without a Cross, a liturgy without a world to come, a religion to destroy a religion, or a politics which is a religion — one that renders unto Caesar even the things that are God’s. . . . Because his religion will be brotherhood without the fatherhood of God, he will deceive even the elect. He will set up a counterchurch which will be the ape of the Church, because he, the Devil, is the ape of God. It will have all the notes and characteristics of the Church, but in reverse and emptied of its divine content. It will be a mystical body of the Antichrist that will in all externals resemble the Mystical Body of Christ.”

It's also interesting he used the word counterchurch way back then, too.

If experience has taught me anything, it is that the Bible is right; there is indeed nothing new under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:9
What has been is what will be,
and what has been done is what will be done,
and there is nothing new under the sun.