Christendom!!

https://pandrewsandlin.substack.com/p/from-post-christendom-to-christendom

Fundamental Laws of Politics

 Fundamental Laws of Politics

Below are gathered some useful “fundamental laws of politics”.

Adams’s Law: “A common mistake people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.”

Conquest’s Three Laws:

1. Everyone is conservative about what he knows best.
2. Any organization not explicitly and constitutionally right-wing will sooner or later become left-wing.
3. The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.

Goldstein’s Law: “Throughout recorded time, and probably since the end of the Neolithic Age, there have been three kinds of people in the world, the High, the Middle, and the Low. They have been subdivided in many ways, they have borne countless different names, and their relative numbers, as well as their attitude towards one another, have varied from age to age: but the essential structure of society has never altered.”

Hanlon’s Razor: Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by stupidity. [This is almost certainly a corruption of Robert A. Heinlein’s phrase: “You have attributed to villainy conditions which merely result from stupidity” (Logic of Empire, 1941). See also the link for similar aphorisms.]  See however Clark’s Law: “Sufficiently advanced incompetence is functionally indistinguishable from malice.”

Samuel Johnson’s Law: “[W]hen a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight, it concentrates his mind wonderfully.” NCT’s corollary: the best check on preening narcissistic moralizing is exposing a man to the consequences of his own prepositions when implemented.

Lincoln’s Law [apocryphal]: “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”

McArdle’s Law [unsourced]: “The party in power is insufferable. The party out of power is insane.”

Michels’ Law: All forms of organization, regardless of how democratic or autocratic they may be at the start, will eventually and inevitably develop into oligarchies.

Muggeridge’s Law: Satire can never compete with real life for its sheer absurdity.

Pournelle’s Iron Law: “[I]n any bureaucratic organization there will be two kinds of people: those who work to further the actual goals of the organization, and those who work for the organization itself. Examples in education would be teachers who work and sacrifice to teach children, vs. union representative[s] who work to protect any teacher, including the most incompetent. The Iron Law states that in all cases, the second type of person will always gain control of the organization, and will always write the rules under which the organization functions.”

Reagan’s Observation: “Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.” (Remarks at a business conference in Los Angeles, March 2, 1977)

Sowell’s Law: In human problems, there are no solutions, only trade-offs.

Sumner’s Law: The type and formula of most schemes of philanthropy or humanitarianism is this: A and B put their heads together to decide what C shall be made to do for D. The radical vice of all these schemes, from a sociological point of view, is that C is not allowed a voice in the matter, and his position, character, and interests, as well as the ultimate effects on society through C’s interests, are entirely overlooked. […A and B] ignore entirely the source from which they must draw all the energy which they employ in their remedies, and they ignore all the effects on other members of society than the ones they have in view. […T]he State cannot get a cent for any man without taking it from some other man, and this latter must be a man [C] who has produced and saved it. This latter is the Forgotten Man. [The title of Amity Shlaes’ book about the Great Depression and the New Deal pays homage to Sumner.]

Thatcher’s Law: The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people’s money.

Three Laws of Sociodynamics [an anonymous cynical physicist’s parody on the Three Laws of Thermodynamics]:

1. Law of conservation of misery
2. Every spontaneous bureaucratic process strives for the maximum degree of idiocy
3. The absolute moral nadir cannot be reached in a finite number of steps (i.e., no matter how low people have gotten, they can always get lower).

ADDENDUM:

Antonov’s Observation on Santayana’s Law: “There is a mistaken proverb which tells us that those who are ignorant of the past are condemned to repeat it. In fact, they’re lucky if they’re allowed to repeat it. More probably, they’re condemned to something even worse than the past. This is doubly true of those who believe that their ignorance somehow makes them morally superior to those who don’t share it.” (Spoken by the fictional admiral Ivan Antonov in David Weber and Steve White, “In death ground“.)

Heinlein’s Dichotomy: “Political tags — such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth — are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into
those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.” (From “The notebooks of Lazarus Long”.)

Niven’s Law: No cause is so noble that it won’t attract fuggheads. (From “Fallen Angels”)https://spinstrangenesscharm.wordpress.com/laws-of-politics/

Ascension Day!

(Psa 110)  Of David. A psalm. The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." {2} The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies. {3} Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth. {4} The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." {5} The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. {6} He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. {7} He will drink from a brook beside the way ; therefore he will lift up his head. (The most often quoted Old Testament verse in the New Testament)

(Luke 24:50-53)  When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. {51} While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. {52} Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. {53} And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

(Acts 1:9-11)  After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. {10} They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. {11} "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." --> (Acts 1:1-2)  In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach {2} until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

(Acts 2:32-36)  God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. {33} Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. {34} For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand {35} until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."' {36} "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." (Christ = King)

(Acts 5:30-31)  The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead--whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. {31} God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

(Eph 1:19-22)  and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, {20} which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, {21} far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. {22} And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,

(Eph 2:5-7)  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. {6} And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, {7} in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

(Eph 4:8-10)  This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." {9} (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions ? {10} He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

(Phil 2:8-11)  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! {9} Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, {10} that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, {11} and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(Col 3:1)  Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

(1 Pet 3:22)  who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

(Heb 1:3)  The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (4-5)  So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. {5} For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father " ? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"?

(Heb 1:13)  To which of the angels did God ever say, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"?

(Heb 2:8-9)  and put everything under his feet." In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. {9} But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

(Heb 8:1)  The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

(Heb 9:24)  For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.

(Heb 10:12-13)  But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. {13} Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool,

(Rev 1:5)  and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,

(Mat 28:18)  Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

(Psa 2)  Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? {2} The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. {3} "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." {4} The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. {5} Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, {6} "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill." {7} I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son ; today I have become your Father.* {8} Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. {9} You will rule them with an iron scepter ; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." {10} Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. {11} Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. {12} Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14). (The Ascension, NOT the 2^nd coming)

(Acts 3:21)  He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.

(1 Cor 15:25-26)  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. {26} The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

(Rev 1:5)  and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,

God has two ways of destroying His enemies. One might be considered the old school method—with the fire coming down out of the sky. This is the method that leaves a smoking crater. But the other is a far more glorious method, and that is His method of destroying enemies by turning them into friends. That is a far more wonderful destruction indeed, and it is the kind of destruction that all effective evangelism yearns for. Evangelism by such destruction is not recruiting; it is conquest. In order to accomplish the former sort of right-handed power, all God had to do was exercise His Almighty power. But to accomplish the latter, His Son had to die. –Doug Wilson

Ascension Day deals with authority. KINGSHIP! That Day was His Coronation. He took the Throne and reigns now.

Christ “has gone into Heaven and is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him” (1 Peter 3:22) 

(Isa 9:7)  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Not the efforts of man without God)

There is not one square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign, does not cry out, ‘Mine!’ -- Abraham Kuyper

King-High Priest-Intercessor\Advocate –The Incarnation continues, a Man, THE MAN, sits on the throne of the universe

The Ascension proclaims the Kingship of Jesus in all areas of life. Jesus has all authority. Jesus is King! Jesus is Lord!

The Hypocrisy of the Fundamentalist Twitter Cult --by Keith Mathison

While talking to my son about the state of the current culture, he said something that I found interesting. He said that the thing with the Twitter generation is that it has a desperate need to feel like it always has the moral high ground. I think this explains some of what we witness when the Twitter mob gets riled up about something. It looks exactly like what you might expect to see in some fundamentalist cult --- self-righteous, holier-than-thou posing, collective public shunning of those who violate the rules of the cult, and most importantly, complete hypocrisy.

One of the religious dogmas of the Twitter cult is that there is no such thing as absolute truth. There is only "your truth" and "my truth." This applies especially to ethics. Ethical relativism is one of the non-negotiable axioms of the Twittereligion. What members of the Twitter cult seem incapable of grasping is that if ethical relativism is true, if there is only "your truth" and "my truth," a moral high ground does not and cannot exist. If you affirm ethical relativism (my truth/your truth) and you claim the moral high ground on any issue, you are a hypocrite, and hypocrites cannot claim any moral high ground - real or imaginary.

It may be the case that a large number of those who are members of the Twitter cult and who participate in the never-ending Twitter mobs are unaware of the self-contradictory and hypocritical nature of their Twittereligion. That might be explained by something else my son observed in an earlier conversation on the same subject. He said that the most vocal members of the Twitter mob appear to be composed primarily of pre-teens and teenagers. If this is the case, we're not only dealing with a religious cult, we're dealing with the children of the corn. Also if this is the case, an entire generation of adults is letting online teenage temper tantrums dictate what they say and do.

The world has always believed lies and called good "evil" and evil "good" and they continue to do today. The docetic world of social media has made it even easier for people to do this because now we can get an immediate "like" from others all over the world who share the same ethically depraved views. When enough of them assure you that your evil views are actually good, it can reinforce you in those views.

The Twitter cult needs to understand that there is no such thing as "my truth" and "your truth." There is such a thing as my opinion and your opinion, but opinion is not equal to truth. Truth is what it is regardless of your feelings or opinions. You can rant all you want online, but no matter how much you rage you cannot cancel God. You cannot cancel truth. You also cannot cancel the fact that before you know it, you are going to stand before God and be judged according to an absolute standard of truth. At that point, you are going to find out that what you deceived yourself into believing was the moral high ground was actually a pit. You will have no online anonymity to hide behind. You will have no mob to help you. You will stand alone before a holy God as your judge, and you will be judged according to the objective standard of His law - not "your truth."

There is hope, however. There is good news. "It is the promise of the gospel that whoever believes in Christ crucified shall not perish but have eternal life." Repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved (Acts 16:31).

Jesus Christ is risen! Jesus Christ is Lord!