Do you get the feeling that we’re living in exceptionally strange days or do you think things are just as they’ve always been?
There is an extremely dark, pernicious cultural undercurrent seeping throughout every crevice of our nation. We used to consider ourselves a beacon of virtue, liberty and freedom to the rest of the world. But now, “America the Beautiful” has high rates of drug and alcohol abuse, violence, divorce, murder, incarceration, gambling, pornography, crime, abortion, obesity, mass shootings, depression and anxiety.
We’re ruled by an oligarchy masquerading as a democracy. Our media is an agenda-driven oligopoly attempting to control public opinion and dictate the narrative. Neither can be trusted.
We are the world’s largest marketer of arms and initiate more wars and military interventions than anyone. We have festering issues with racism, sexism and poverty centuries after declarations of equality and justice for all. And we’re turning into a surveillance state that would amaze even George Orwell.
Our obsessive consumerism has made both private and public debt almost unsustainable. We’ve normalized our dysfunctions and destigmatized our aberrations. Self-control and restraint are now anathema.
Contrary to the decree by secular materialists, the real war is not against terrorism or other nation-states, “for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).
Soon, escapism through our insatiable appetite for bread and circuses will not work. Another touchdown or goal, another double-bacon cheeseburger, another prescription drug, another inane sitcom or social media post will no longer distract us from the reality of our crumbling empire.
“For there is nothing hidden that will not be made manifest” (Luke 8:17).
STEVEN CRICHLEY
South Side Slopes
First Published: June 6, 2018, 4:00 a.m.
