Going Ape

By

Mike Kovach

14 August 1994

Opening

A lot of people today seem to be going ape these days, losing their identity to a point that I’m reminded of the zoo where animals are given everything they need, if they do and act exactly as they are told. People are doing this by surrendering their rights to the federal government, allowing this government to dictate what is moral and what is not. Telling parents how they should raise their children and even allowing the government to steal their choices of what to eat, what to drink, how to do things all in the name of whatever the government sees as a sell to the public.  Even State government is surrendering sovereignty to a central government that is contrary to our founding documents. State constitutions are being overridden and Federal courts are beginning to make law instead of interpreting law.

All of us can sense the fear that is gripping our nation while we walk the streets of our one-time friendly neighborhoods, watch the evening news, drive through our beautiful city streets, or even while talking with the local banker or fellow workers. Our nations’ newspapers and magazines reflect this growing despair and hints of a society in rapid decline from what it was just a decade ago.  This can be seen with the increase of lawlessness; public demands for more protection laws and a willingness of many to sit in idle frustration while the moral standard of a great country is reduced to a biblical Sodom and Gomorrah.

I watch our freedom slowly fade away while a modern style of government, a constitutional monarchy is ushered in where self-rule, self-determination, free will, freedom of religion, government of the people, for the people and by the people is quickly reduced to historical clichés or just explained away. 

Fear has griped many of our citizens forcing them to become accepting of anything our political and religious leaders say. Fear from losing a job or being labeled a radical by government or religious institutions has given privileges to power hungry parties and organizations that should only belong to the individual without government involvement.  Our nation has become what mental health workers call “dysfunctional, or co-dependent” where our citizenry has become so dependent of government for day-to-day life that they have become unable to think on their own or tackle projects that require them to make decisions. America has become the waste land for want-a-be despots and idea-logs with the people as dependent addicts on government, big business, and religious institutions.  All these reeks of a sellout at the expense of personal freedoms and moral dignity.  No matter where I look in our country, people are searching for hope, and a savior that will restore our government, its judicial systems, and religious foundations from their apparent apathy. 

Many have lost their ability to cope with the simplest matters of life, while others just ignore everything that is not pleasant or positive. The other day while listening to a radio talk show, I became appalled at how people permit others to give advice on how they should live, act, talk, walk, and think.

Even though the advice is from some of the nation’s leading mental health care professionals, I still cannot accept the idea that we have lost our most basic survival instincts, even with evidence to the contrary.  We have been worn down with:  politics, lies, theft, children killing each other, adults killing their young, wars upon wars, famine, disease, and so many problem labels that it has become impossible to tell if the people we meet are really themselves or if their suffering from post-traumatic stress, or if they have been made in the image and likeness of a TV personality or a professional adviser.

David Wilkerson

 “A younger radical is coming.  The radicals of the near future will be younger than those of today (1973), better educated, and totally alienated from father and mother.  We are about to reap a tragic harvest because of recent years of parental neglect, apathy, permissiveness, and over-protectiveness, and an astronomical divorce rate.  Many of these radicals will be pre-teens who will speak out in their own underground newspapers against the hypocrisy of parents.  The teen gangs of the future in our major cities will be younger, more vicious, and more down on parents.  These “baby gangs,” who have been raised on TV crime, TV dinners, and babysitters, will turn against their parents with a passion.  Many of these young children feel like total strangers to their fathers and mothers.  It will be easy for them to hate because they have known so little about real love.” (The Vision, p69)

What have we become!?  Have we come to the point where even the simplest task requires professional intervention?   Have we lost our ability to deal honorably with each other?  Have we become so cold and callous because of fear that we shrink at the sound of Washington’s saber rattling?  Can we still accomplish life’s basic tasks such as child rearing without the intervention of a health care professional?  Are we so fearful of government intervention by its Gestapo force the HRS, that we would rather surrender our freedom, civil rights, and self-respect, before disciplining our young or standing up to tyranny?

Voltaire

Everywhere I turn there is someone telling me what I should eat, how I should dress, how I should speak, what church to attend, what TV show to watch, how to raise a child, what’s good, what’s bad or even what books I should read.  It reminds me of Votaries play Candide, how he was brought up in a beautiful country house, and how he was driven away.  The most significant part from that play was his education under Pengloss who taught metaphysico-theologo-cosmolo-nigology.  “He proved incontestably that there is no effect without a cause and that in this best of all possible worlds one must be content and accept his lot. It is proved; he said that things cannot be other than they are, for since everything was made for a purpose, it follows that everything is made for the best purpose.”

Oh Really! Is this the attitude of today?  Is our country revisiting the past?  What are we witnessing here?  Could it be Matthew 24: 6-7; “And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see to that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.  For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earth quakes”, or  Colossians 2:21, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!”; perhaps Galatians 1:6-7, “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ.”?

Pure Religion

Have we lost our ability to minister to the needs of the people?  Have we lost our concept of the pure religion referenced in James 1:27? “This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself un-stained by the world”.  I’m not saying that our systems of help are not worthwhile; they are, as well as the professional men and women who dedicate their time and effort to helping others who have lost their control and given in to lawlessness.  These professionals provide the service spoken of in the Epistle of James, while we provide them with James 2:1.  “My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism”, As if we help a special place with the Lord! Have we become so high-minded that this verse is now our standard of acceptance?

Self-help Frenzy

However, the self-help frenzy has done its part in assisting with the deterioration of our country.  By feeding off the sickness and misfortune of many who have lost their way, some authors have contributed to their bank account by promoting “maintenance therapy”.  Most will argue that they are providing a needed service, and that they don’t take advantage of their client’s misfortunes.  That is true for some, but my experience, even though limited, leads me to conclude otherwise.  Many of these kind-hearted professionals lack the Spirit of the risen Lord and the council of the Holy Spirit.  So, what else can be expected?  We have lost our basic instinct to survive and cope with everyday pressures.  We have become reactionaries in our dealings with others!  We are now content to hand over our lives to complete strangers just to find peace which most churches have failed to offer. In most cases society has lost faith in the established church and is unknowingly practicing pure religion without it.

Secular World

The secular would is not the only area of life that is living in fear, and often hate.  Even within the ranks of some our religious institutions one must be careful not to be so carefree with talk of liberty outside the church, freewill beyond its many doctrines, wisdom not taught by men, spiritual knowledge not learned through higher education, bible study without the presence of an elder or priest, or question the pastors or priests claim to being God’s sole apostolic representative on earth.  Can this be proven in the light of scripture?  Speaking your mind on church responsibility, the wrongful use of freewill offerings that seem used more for building elaborate churches, fancy trappings, or to provide the leaders with big homes and fancy autos, will not win you any friends.  Don’t even attempt to bring up issues that might make an organization look less than noble or question the need to water down the truth of Scripture or the necessity to explain passages that fit their agenda.  God forbid if a believer discovers that he or she has not been told the whole truth concerning scripture, Christian living, church discipline, or the destination of our given funds. But it’s OK to kill in others in the name of God, to become self-appointed moral policemen, and point out their sins when we still have sin within us.  How quickly the mind forgets the seven woes spoken by Christ in Matthew 23 concerning this issue.  Have we so quickly forgotten Stephen’s defense in Acts 7:48-51, “However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands; as the prophet says: Heaven is My Throne, and Earth is the footstool of My feet; what kind of house will you build for Me? says the Lord; or what place is there for My repose?  Was it not My hand which made all these things?  You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did” Even the strongest believers in a congregation know not to question the leadership concerning these obvious improprieties.  And if you happen to be a gifted writer standby; if you don’t use politically correct speech, the proper religious jargon, or maintain a loyalty to an organization you may never again be able to write in this FREE country.

David Wilkerson stated:

“There will be an increase of false doctrines.  Men will prefer false doctrines and innovative ideas rather than the truth of God’s Holy Word.  They will crowd around teachers who will love “new thoughts and revelations.”  Men and women will turn to the prophecies and teachings of men rather than giving heed to the doctrines of truth.  They will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.  We face an hour of gospel extremes, wherein seeking men who have itching ears will follow ministers who appear to “know the truth and seem like angels of light,” but who are preaching and teaching heresy.  The new doctrines will use the name of Jesus freely and will be ornamented with trappings of asceticism, self-denial, and willpower.  A fear of demon possession will grip many sincere Christians.  They will turn to teachers who speak more often of the power of Satan than they do of the power of God” (The Vision, p61).

Militant

It has become obvious that many of us have lost our faith in God by fostering militant attitudes with warlike notions and actions, slogans, or song.  Many well-meaning preachers have begun using intimidation methods with their flocks to obtain attitudes of nationalism, pride, organizational faithfulness, and an allegiance which is not toward Christ. I have seen many warm-hearted believers become flag waving, hate abiding, bitter ridden followers prepared to kill in the name of Christ just because they don’t like what they see or how other people chose to live. Sometimes, while focusing on problems that we see as contrary to God’s will we lose our love for God. Christian as well as non-Christian need to have faith in our judicial system and the men and women who God has placed in positions of leadership: If we continue to wage war on the innocent, what is the difference between this sort of action and an Islamic Jihad?  Have we and our leaders forgotten the Sermon on the Mount, or the command Christ gave to us at the last supper, “This I command you, that you love one another just as I have loved you.”  I sure don’t hear a battle cry in those words!

As with anything that goes wrong in this country, we have an endless desire to fix it.  We just simply fix things because we won’t admit that it might be beyond our capabilities or out of our control.  For a lot of us it has become difficult to understand that we are not mistakes we just make mistakes.  After all God does not make junk, does He?  Failure is another area that most have trouble with. Many people’s thoughts are backwards regarding failure; we all have failing events in our life; they do not make us failures.  People need to understand that we have been restored by the grace of Christ and there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ. Some have Scripture backwards as well.

As a result of this apathy and backward thinking, many organizations; cults and other diverse groups have formulated claims of having answers to complex issues in modern life. It is fitting to listen to II Timothy 3: 1-5, as he warns of challenging times to come:  “But realize this, that in the last days challenging times will come.  For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these.” Yes, we have lost our sense of community, friendship, and family, even the reality of Christ.

It’s has now become extremely important that we understand what it means to be a Christian.  Our only proof that Christ is alive is our walk. We cannot just say we know Him we have to show we know Him by walking the talk. As recorded in 1 John 3:18-19, “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but by deed and truth.  We shall know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before Him”

Historian Christopher Hollis wrote:

“The Christian should render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s because such worldly-possessions as the shekel of the tribute were not important, nor was it important who claimed political dominion over Him.  Such matters were not worth squabbling about. Let us pay our dues for the sake of peace.  This attitude of detachment was inherited by the first disciples. They were not concerned either with their own rights or with how the world was ordered. They were concerned only with spreading the Gospel of Christ.”(The Jesuits, a history, 1, 1968).” 

God still has many servants that are willing to help and practice the true religion of scripture; they are all around us, in our churches, schools and jobs.  All you must do is recognize who they are.  I know may Pastors, Priests, Bishops, and Elders that are willing to live the Christian life as Christ taught the Apostles.  You will find these people in jail, under attack by other clergy and believers, on the streets helping the homeless, in soup kitchens, hospitals, retirement homes and many like places.  They are believers with an attitude of love and not sacrifice, who are willing to let the light of Christ shine forth. It has become time for all of us to reflect on our faith and ask the most significant questions concerning our walk.  Serious times are ahead of us and indeed are among us.  We should not allow our minds to become filled with bitterness or malice but see that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek that which is good for one another and for all men. (1 Thessalonians: 5:14).

Closing

Yes, today we are ready to give up our rights and dignity for wrong motives.  We are beginning to accept cult like beliefs and practices without question, and many of us have become cold hearted zealots rather than love filled believers. We need to stand firm for the gospel we have received and occupying until He comes.

 

Copyright ©August 1994 Michael A. Kovach All Rights Reserved 

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