Shade Tree Wisdom – the Internet10/5/07

“It just sort of got out of hand”, and “I had no idea it would go that far”.

Those are some of the lines in a report of the anonymity of the internet where many vicious blogs are anonymous. The article in Forbes reports that many such blogs are mean, degrading, and cruel. Instead of being self-policing, the system has become an instrument for unlimited meanness and cruelty. Authorities admit that when it is anonymous, one removes the need to think and reason, because accountability brings civility.

And the world does not seem to be able to understand that such a thing would happen . This invention, the Internet, which could be such a blessing, and serves for much good, can also become an instrument for great evil.

It does really bring out the truth of what the Bible so clearly teaches. “LIGHT has come into the world, and men have preferred darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” John 3,19. It turns our attention to what St. Paul was greatly concerned about. In his letter to the Ephesians he tells them that now they are God’s children. “Children of light’, he said. Now they are Christian, “do not live any longer as the gentiles live, for they live blindfolded in a world of illusion, and are cut off from the life with God through ignorance and insensitiveness.” Eph. 4,17.18.

And that’s hard. Psalm 129 speaks of life under God. “Persecuted from my earliest youth. . . but not destroyed.” The MSG says, “They kicked me around since early youth . . . but they could never keep me down”. Psalm 129, l.2.

We live in the same sort of climate. A climate where Satan is loose, always “seeking whom he may destroy”. And our weapon still is that we “Resist him steadfast in the faith’.” Knowing that the same kind of thing is happening to your fellow Christians throughout the world.” 1 Peter 5,9. For the battle we fight has been won.” Take heart, I have overcome the world” John 16,33.
“Take they our life, goods, fame, child, and wife,
Let all these be gone,
They yet of nothing won.
He’s judged, the deed is done,
The Kingdom ours remaineth.”

So we live in hope, because His promises, rich and firm, and ever true.

GPD 10/5/07