Thinkaloud | philosophical parasites

… pray for those on the front line

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hose who want their own way, and who are determined to have it at all costs, are pushy and strident about their demands for equality, while at the same time making sure that those with whom they disagree are given none of the equality so academically espoused.

Some of the caring and compassionate services which grew out of Christian commitment and sacrificial labour have been taken over by determined people who are bent on foisting their ideas and their way of doing things on the group, of which they are usually a small, though vocal and media-conscious, minority. Ideology rules and the fierce battle of ideas is joined.

Weak-kneed, polite and unprepared Christians are no match for such determined people. The ordinary Christian who wants to do good and who through misplaced “Christian love” is sentimentally tolerant, is given no quarter by those who see any Christian as the enemy.

Of grave concern is the experience of a Christian who was fired from her position at a women’s centre because she refused to support the lesbian cause. She found that her “non-alignment with the pro-radical feminist perspective, and her assertion of Judeo-Christian ethics, invoked the displeasure of one of her co-workers.” When she was called on the carpet by those running the centre, she stated that she was hired to do a job in which these issues were supposed to have no significance, and that they had not been included in a grant proposal to the government. She refused to apologize for expressing concerns that government money which had been given to the centre had been used to promote a hidden cause.

When she would not support the radical aims of this group she was fired.

Those who use social need as a pretext for gaining government funding which will enable them to further their group’s aims — often in clear violation of the intent of government grants — are philosophical parasites. They will use Christian terminology but empty it of all meaning; they will twist phrases to suit their ends; they will denounce as discriminatory any who see through what they are doing, and they will continue with their aggressive program of control.

Christians must act in tough love. They should expose deception, while at the same time having warm, caring Christian love towards those who willingly, or unwillingly, are involved in such practices. No one is argued into the Kingdom of Christ, but often the door of an embittered life may be opened to Christ’s healing by the understanding, caring love of a Christian who, though sure of his/her position and determined that it should prevail, reveals the kindness and mercy of God through attitude and action.

However, Christians who are victims of the brutality perpetrated by the philosophical parasites need more than our prayers; they need Christian support. They are on the front line.

Writer: Lieut.-Colonel Maxwell Ryan is a former Editor in Chief in Canada and the UK. In retirement he is a part-time chaplain in a Salvation Army hospital in Winnipeg, Canada, a copy editor of theRubicon and the author of theRubicon series called Resurrected Writers.

2 Comments to Thinkaloud | philosophical parasites

1. Max

   A thoughfull true comment on society today.
   I ,as one who worked in Goverment for years prior to retirement have voiced those concerns on occasion about certain activities etc. of what appear to be helping groups. It did not hurt me on the job that I did because my Director happened to be one who felt similar but if I had been in one of the other Divisions in our Department it would have been a different story.

   We as Christians need not only to be aware but we need to voice these concerns where we see it happening.

   Thanks again Max
John Stephenson on February 3rd, 2008

2. John:
   Thanks for your comments, which have authenticity because of your own experience. I appreciate your thoughtful response to rubicon articles.
   Max
Maxwell Ryan on February 4th, 2008

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