I just came upon an article in the Washington Times that’s alarming, but not unexpected. Titled Via porn, gore and ultra-violence, extremist groups are sinking hooks online into the very young, the headline pretty much says it all. The question is, why is this happening?
More and more of what I think we’re seeing can be directly attributed to the unmooring of our worldview from that of Christianity. We’ve spent years now hearing of how “religion” has been the bad guy and how “Christians” have ruined society, but it’s becoming clearer over the past decade or so that the alternative is worse. Of course, those who have claimed the name of Christ have done some terrible things in the past, but I think most of us have caught on to recognizing those actions for what they were. Some still cling to their racism and misogyny, but a large number of those who call themselves “Christian” actually kind of get it, even if they’re still imperfect.
But as G. K. Chesterton put it so well, “When men choose not to believe in God, they do not thereafter believe in nothing, they then become capable of believing in anything.” It’s who we are. We’re made to worship something, and when we’re set adrift in the world without the God of Love (made manifest through Jesus Christ), we turn elsewhere. And the world is happy to oblige.
I would think this is obvious. And I believe that others who cannot see the direction in which humanity is going — this direction where we turn to and thrive in violence and hatred — are still willfully looking for anything other than to admit that Jesus has been the way all along. They would rather sacrifice not only themselves but their children on the altar of self. And the children of others too. Anything to avoid the truth that we are at heart selfish at our best, and purely wicked at our worst.
And so, so many of us wander blindly parroting the mantra that “it’ll get better.” It won’t. “Better” here on this pitiful rock is nonexistent in comparison to what God has to offer in heaven. If only we were not so content with nothing.
