“For my part, I will start by repudiating all of these tired old forms of “post-liberalism.” Because it will not end any differently than it did the last time.”
Substack Article
One of the “tired old forms of ‘post-liberalism’ that Mattson is rejecting is Nationalism. Indeed, the whole article is given over to why Nationalism is evil and how it alone is the reason for two world wars in the 20th century. Of course, in order to conclude that one has to ignore the Internationalism that was seeking to conquer the world in the 20th century. One has to ignore as well that a particular and unique kind of Nationalism arose in the 20th century precisely as a defensive mechanism against the Internationalism being floated by the Bolsheviks. Perhaps Mattson is right that Nationalism has killed its millions but he fails to remember that Internationalism killed its scores of millions. Mattson further fails to remember that all because a wicked Nationalism existed in the 20th century that doesn’t mean that a Biblical Nationalism can’t exist or that those who are now advocating for Nationalism in the Church community are not all members of the Franco, Mussolini, or Hitler fan club. In short Mattson’s “lessons from history” and from Bertrand Russel (of all people) are hardly balanced or well informed.
Mattson sems also to forget in his article that in Genesis 11 the agenda wasn’t Nationalism but it was International Empire and that God’s solution to Babel was on one hand to scatter the effort at Nimrod-ian Internationalism while at the same time to raise up a confederation of Tribes, through the lineage of one man (Abraham) to be a Nation that would be a light to the Gentiles. Mattson likewise seems to forget that Jesus himself sanctions nations — and by extension nationalism — when, in giving the Great Commission, He commands His Lieutenants to “Disciple the Nations.” Mattson again forgets that in the book of Revelation we find it is the Nations in their identity as Nations that are found entering into the new Jerusalem. One can easily imagine Brian saying, as he scans the Nations coming in to the New Jerusalem, “is that wicked or what?”
Just exactly what is it about Liberalism that Mattson is holding on to that a theonomic Christian Nationalist order wouldn’t provide? Does he prefer the vision of the Great Reset as embraced by Klaus Schwab, Pope Francis, Yuval Noah Harari, and the Davos crowd? Does he eschew the Christian vision of Victor Orban’s Hungary because it smacks of wicked Nationalism to him? Or, as I suspect, is Mattson, like so many other of our Churchmen cognoscenti, holding on to Tolkien’s vison of Saruman? — “We’ll be a kinder and gentler Christian version of Sauron.” “Give us that Christian Orc-ian social order.”
“We may be living in a time that has never seen a bigger push towards one World Internationalism and these clowns wearing their Ph.D. degrees like extra large clown shoes are out there hanging on the cord of the clown tocsin shouting; BEWARE NATIONALISM.”
– This hits the nail on the head. The ignorance and lack of general knowledge among modern Christians is something, I find very puzzling. Concern for the truth is surely foundational for Christianity? If this were not so, I would not and could not be a Christian. But so many modern churches seem to have exchanged “faith seeking understanding” for “complacency seeking conformity”. CS Lewis once advised that for every modern book one reads, one should read two or three from previous eras as well – to break out of one’s parochial and blinkered straitjacket – to gain a clearer understanding of reality. Unfortunately in our technological age, very little serious reading is done by the majority at all. And incredibly this is even the case among Christians – so they remain in their neo-liberal straitjackets and are easily manipulated by the enemy.
Thank you for your writings, Pastor Mcatee. They are much appreciated.
“Dumbest smart people ” is an apt phrase. I often try to point out the distinction during my ranting that the idiots causing a problem are usually a lot smarter than me.
It’s a good phrase because it gives a believer an opportunity to examine their ideas, whereas something more polite won’t accomplish that.
Brothers know the difference between smarts and wisdom, but feel better if their smarts are acknowledged, even if they chafe at not being considered wise too.
However, come up with an example of a Christian leader says he got something wrong and names it. That’s for the rest of us sheep to do (too bad for them in truth).