In this piece we will complete exploring chapter three of David Kupelian’s book, How Evil Works. Please find a link below where you can purchase the book from Amazon. Here are some of the highlights found within the latter part of this chapter.
Throughout this last portion of chapter three the author reflects upon how the “Greatest Generation” might response to the evil we face today, based upon how they responded to the evil of their day. The author does likewise with how President Ronald Reagan might respond. Both of these journeys into refection are meant to help us understand how we might better respond to the threats of evil that surround us.
During World War II, during the horrific and monstrous movements that took place guided by the hands of evil men, America was a country with “tremendous national unity and a strong sense of identity” as the author points out. Judeo-Christian values were still dominant in people’s life. The culture was a culture of values and principles. The author goes on to note that this was not a time like today, where we, our country, is crippled by national guilt, self-doubt, and self-hatred.
The author goes on to make the point that during that time in history, the World War II era, the people would have never been deceived into thinking same-sex marriage is normal, or that abortion is moral and constitutional, or that posting the Ten Commandments on federal or city property, like a courthouse wall, violated the First Amendment.
The Church and American have lost their unity and loyalty both to one another as a people and to the One and Only True God who blessed them. In the words of the author we allowed ourselves as a collective group to become ‘corrupted with the anti-biblical philosophies and utterly confused to the point of suffocating our modern era and robbing it of genuine moral strength.’ Great strength comes through righteous living, also known as biblically based morality. Moral weakness, which appeasement often is, always encourages violence both on a national level and a personal level.
When writing about Ronald Reagan the author makes the point that though revered for his leadership now, Ronald Reagan was reviled in his day, just as Winston Churchill was. Most non-appeasing leaders are reviled initially or during their reign. It is only later people see the positive, productive, godly results of their moral and wise leadership. Unlike Reagan who had a mission to stand up for moral clarity – displayed as he faced the communist takeover of Hollywood when he was an actor, through his years as California’s governor, and later as President of the United States – we do not see that type of moral character in our leaders today. Steadfastness for Truth is not as prevalent as it once was.
Do you care what people say about you? Do you care about getting credit for your accomplishments? How much do you care? If you could have a choice between getting three things done and getting credit for none of them or getting two things done and getting credit for both, which would you choose? Be honest with yourself. If you care what people think, and you need the credit given to you by man for your accomplishments, this will affect your ability to stand up for Truth. Ronald Reagan did not care what people said about him, in that is found a secret strength and power. When he was president he kept a plaque on the desk in the oval office that read, “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.”
Are you able to stand alone when it comes to morality, Truth, or godly biblical principles? Strength and courage are a must if you are going to. If you want to be a consequential person, if you want to make a difference in life, you must be able to stand alone. Just like Reagan, a person who makes a difference has to not only endure their critics they must endure their friends, family, and advisers as well. When advised incorrectly take a play from Reagan’s playbook, he gracefully overruled them and forged ahead with what he knew to be morally right and a sound plan of action. A person must be willing to do as God directs them, with or without any support whatsoever.
Worldwide totalitarian movements – the terrible “isms” the author calls them, communism, fascism, Nazism, and Islamism are about seducing millions of people into enslaved nations, subject to utterly ruthless leadership. They are on par with the “ites” of the Bible. As a people, as a person, we must stand strong. “The denial and deference we display toward forces intent on destroying us is actually great weakness – evidence of our loss of courage and moral clarity – disguised as virtue.”, Kupelian states, and I completely agree.
We must face evil with great courage and moral clarity displaying a calm, fearless determination to do what is right, to stand up for Truth, no matter what – grace under pressure. We must withstand cruelty and craziness without becoming emotionally twisted up inside. Strength and patience emanates from true faith. Hate the sin, but not the sinner. Learning to do that will shield you from both Stockholm syndrome and many other evils in this world.
In the next posting we will begin to explore chapter four of David Kupelian’s book, How Evil Works.
How Evil Works
Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms our country entirely. Evil can be understood and overcome before it transforms someone you know or even you. Knowledge is power and without it we will perish. We need to be extremely knowledgeable when it comes to evil.
Hosea 4:6 (NKJV)
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.
The Marketing of Evil
Evil is sold in our society just as anything else might be sold, through marketing. Satan has marketed his product through those willing and those ignorant to his schemes. Through his craftiness he has turned the minds of even Believers to think that tolerance of his evil is some form of love. In so doing he has transformed to a large degree the once Devout Church and transformed our society to an enormous degree. He has not accomplished this without his workers however, the willing, the sold out for their own gain, and the ignorant masses following blindly behind the majority.
Spiritual/Political Disclaimer:
This blog will not be for the faint of heart or the easily offended. It will not be in any way politically correct. It will make every effort to share the truth in love, [Ephesians 4:11-16], to a decaying and dying society and church. I share what I share not to hurt, harm, or offend any person[s] or group; I do it because Christ’s Standard and Truth is not being represented by enough of His Followers, and I do it out of love. I love enough to tell His Truth.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
God's Truth in Love 