Bad is the new Good
I saw that phrase in an email newsletter today. It was about how poor quality “YouTube”-type videos are all the rage, throwing out all the old formulas for TV and video advertising. But it is a good way to describe what’s happening in the arena of morality and society, and even in the churches.
Everything is being turned upside down. The “old” virtures are now the vices and, uh, vice versa.
It used to be that self-centeredness, all kinds of perversions, profanity, etc. were bad and humility, justice, freedom of conscience, and honesty were good. Now it’s all backwards. Holding to convictions is considered intolerant; speaking out against evil is called hate speech; it’s okay to trash Christianity publicly but not homosexuality; you can read The Exorcist but not the Bible; the children of crack addicts are made to stay with their “parents” but homeschooled kids are considered “abused”; etc. etc.
People whine about others being “insensitive” to them, but don’t hesitate to dish it out in revenge. They want you to accommodate their every whim, but God forbid that they should be asked to do the same for you. It’s narcissism/hedonism, and it’s the new “good”. (I like the Fox Online terms “oblivions” and “obliviots”.)
Even among churchians, tolerance is the new intolerance. They’ll let any heresy in the door, but scream if you try to quote the Bible. They sing about peace but quickly whip out the guns if you try to tell them something is wrong with their beliefs. They embrace false teachings such as the old Hindu practices like yoga, emptying the mind, chanting, etc., but reject repentance, sound doctrine, and purity. Anyone who raises a warning is called a “heresy hunter” or worse, and preachers only speak of the pleasant and flattering, not about sin or judgment.
To the churchians God says:
“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.” (Isaiah 5:20)And to the world, God says:“You say, ’I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” (Revelation 3:17)
“For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17)