Judah’s Journal is part of my website, Judah’s Site, which is hosted by Visiblesoul.org.

As a phoenix from out of the ashes, it did originally have another name and was hosted a little further afield. Then in September 2005 it was moved to become a part of my newly created website and re-skinned to match.

But what is the point of all this? Why have a website, and why publish a journal?

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But if that drop was not in the ocean, I think the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. I do not agree with the big way of doing things.”
~ Mother Teresa, 1910-1997

We are what we eat and drink, and we are influenced by what we read. A tiny drop from this small part of the cyber-ocean may not slake a thirst, but it will point to a fountain that can.

There are two main threats that I see currently working together to undermine our western civilization. Quite probably there are more than just two when all things are considered, but in the realm of ideas and understanding of reality, two in particular stand out vividly to me. These are the things of which I want to increase general knowledge and understanding, and in spreading “the message” about them, hopefully add in some measure to halting their onslaught.

Firstly, we are contending with a philosophical system that is derailing our western culture by toppling it off its Judeo-Christian foundations and offering naturalism (the belief that natural causes alone are sufficient to explain existence) with all its attendant difficulties as a substitute. This includes moral relativism, multiculturalism and the tyranny of political correctness, pragmatism, utopianism, and a perspective that is limited to only this earthly world. Our culture is awash with Hegelian philosophy. Christianity is attacked from within as well as without, the liberal content-free revisionist theology that relates more closely to naturalism than to conservative orthodoxy is now secularizing the mainstream churches and offering very little of any spiritual sustenance. New Agism is the replacement where any religion is sought, a syncretism of Eastern and Western thought tending towards pantheism and worship of Self as one’s god. In a society historically based on Christian principles, Biblical literacy (even among regular church goers!) is woefully poor. We are abandoning our cultural heritage, giving it up for lost, dated and dead.

The problem when people don’t believe in God is not that they believe nothing, it is that they believe anything.
~ GK Chesterton

Secondly, with the persistent stripping away of our foundation beliefs and the substitution instead with naturalism, we are left with a vacuum inviting any predatory foreign ideology willing to flow into it. This is already happening with Islam, flowing very willingly in the exercise of its Qur’anic agenda, that of achieving world-wide domination. It is steadily invading the western world where it has already become the fastest growing religion and given rise to cultural conflicts that promise to increase in number and extent. With our foundation weakened, we have little to resist this encroaching Islamicization. As numbers increase of those serving Islam, our democratic system of government is the perfect tool for introduction of greater leniency towards their cultural demands. Naturalism will continue to accommodate it, whereas Christianity provides a serious bulwark against this process.

Judah’s Journal is a place where I can voice these concerns, provide valid information and point to authoritative comment about all these processes.
Since I am also a Christian, this Journal is a place where I can make mention of Christian concerns and provide comment on issues that serve both Christianity and resistance to the manner by which it is being undermined by this “postmodern” and “post-Christian” era.

But this Journal is not all serious stuff about just these topics. I also have many other interests as well - quilting, needlecrafts, computer graphics, classical music and our NZ Symphony Orchestra, poetry, gardening, travel and much more besides. Mind you, I can get pretty passionate about many of those things too.

I have often asked myself why publish a Journal, and if it is not really all rather big-headed and dreadfully self-centred. Who really wants to read what I have to write? But I am a writer regardless - I think with my keyboard - and many have enjoyed my jottings and frequently prod me to publish. This is my compromise.

I would encourage anyone who feels like making a comment to sign up and do so. It would be good to hear from you too.

DISCLAIMER:

In all Judah’s Journal articles the attempt is made to portray objective truth accurately and without intended insult or harm to others.
In some instances the objective truth may not be attractive. It may even be offensive to some people. The intention is not to cause offense, but if the truth is candy-coated then it may no longer be the truth.

A world view is a set of presuppositions and beliefs that someone uses to interpret and form opinions about his humanity, purpose in life, duties in the world, responsibilities to family, interpretation of truth, social issues, etc. A Christian should view all these things, and more, guided by the light that is shed upon them by the Bible.

The Bible has much to say about the nature of man, the world, purpose, truth, morality, etc., and so does the world. More often than not, the secular world view is in conflict with the biblical one. For example: Where the world asserts that man evolved, the Bible says he was created and ultimately responsible to God. Where the world says that morals are relative, the Bible says they are absolute. Where the world says that there is no need of salvation and redemption, the Bible clearly states that all people are in need of deliverance from their sin. The contrast is obvious and profound. Both cannot be true.

The secular world exalts man to the apex of evolutionary development, the sovereign over all he dominates, though only another animal. God is relegated to the belief systems of the uneducated and superstitious. Such opposing views will clash.

The Condition of Society

The fruit of the secular world view can be seen in around us. As we observe society, it is evident that not all is well. Television has degenerated into a bordello of violence, soft-pornography, anti-family sit-coms, commercials that appeal to immediate gratification, and senseless children’s cartoons that are full of violence, occultism, and disobedience to parents. It often portrays pastors as psychotics, priests as pedophiles, and religious people as insecure, ignorant, and bigoted.

The News is extremely biased and when speaking in areas where religious and secular morals collide, it uniformly presents information with loaded words. Instead of “pro-life” we hear “anti-abortion rights.” Instead of “conservative” it is “right wing fundamentalist.” Other words are used such as “Bible thumpers,” “censorship,” “intolerance,” “bigoted,” etc.

“According to the Center for Media and Public Affairs, the average TV watcher sees 14,000 references to sex and the average child “watches 8,000 murders and 100,000 acts of violence by the end of elementary school.”

Illegitimacy is on the rise. In 1970 babies born out of wedlock were 10% of all births. In 1991, it was 30%. Rape is increasing as is violent crime, venereal disease, drug usage, and prison populations.

In many American schools the “Impressions” series is promoting the New Age and the occult. Some programs have students being taught that they alone are the ones who should decide if drug use is good or bad. Many school textbooks teach anti-family values, promote homosexuality, teach moral relativism, encourage sexual conduct, and, of course, instill evolution as a fact. In addition, they condemn the notion of a Christian God even being mentioned. Consider the following:
~ “When 10-year old Raymond Raines bowed his head and silently said grace over lunch in a St. Louis public school cafeteria, he was placed in detention for a week and told that he must eat in a room by himself if he continued to pray.
~ “When 30 Texas high school students gathered to pray at the flagpole before school one morning, the principal politely told them not only to leave, but to pray out of sight.
~ “In Illinois, a high school principal sent police to break up a similar prayer group. Two students were arrested.”
Obviously, America (and the world) is in desperate need of the life changing gospel of Jesus.

The Progress of the Gospel

But lest you get discouraged, the gospel is progressing. There are more Christians in the world now than ever before. In the 1700’s less than 20% of the American population went to church where now it is above 50%. More people have heard the gospel than ever before, and Bibles are produced en masse and being sent to nations all over the world with unprecedented reception. The Gospel is preached on Television and Radio. Millions are coming to Christ in third world countries and a new Christian awakening is working its way through Russia and Africa with China becoming the new Christian frontier.

Nevertheless, the Christian community has a great deal of work left to accomplish. To fully carry out the mandate of winning the world for Christ, Christians must adopt a biblical world view in all aspects of life and present to the world, biblical perspectives on every niche of our existence. This includes everything: education, medicine, the arts, politics, science, contemporary issues, ethics, and more.