The World's Ruined: How thick the fog?

Sunday, June 3, 2007

How thick the fog?

Andrew C. McCarthy posts an article today on NRO that is must reading, entitled "Killing America... Twice."

My thoughts: Too many in the democracies of the west are in a fog and do not or will not recognize that we have a determined enemy who is animated by a radical and ruthless ideology tied to Islam. And that enemy isn't going away on its own. The recent JFK bombing plot involving a Muslim U.S. citizen is a stark reminder of this and should be a reality slap in the face. Yet the thick gray mist lingers. My question is what will it take for us to emerge from this fog? I don't think the answer is necessarily another horrific bombing in this country. That may (and probably will) happen. This fog is classic self-denial of reality. It's much less threatening to imagine that this whole thing is overblown and mostly about an agenda born of corrupt politics. Or, that if only the "legitimate grievances" of jihadists were properly addressed all would be well. "Something is going on here and you don't know what it is," to again quote Dylan. The biggest threat is remaining in the fog and not recognizing what really is going on.

This is Andrew C. McCarthy's bio from Foundation for Defense of Democracies. He "is a former federal prosecutor and a Contributor at National Review Online. From 1993 through 1996, while an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, he led the prosecution against the jihad organization of Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, in which a dozen Islamic militants were convicted of conducting a war of urban terrorism against the United States that included the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and a plot to bomb New York City landmarks. Mr. McCarthy also made major contributions to the prosecutions of the bombers of the United States embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, and the Millennium plot attack Los Angeles International Airport.

Following the September 11 attacks, Mr. McCarthy supervised the U.S. Attorney's Anti-Terrorism Command Post in New York City, coordinating investigative and preventive efforts with numerous federal and state law enforcement and intelligence agencies. From 1999 through 2003, he was the Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District's satellite office, responsible for federal law enforcement in six counties north of New York City."
His article can be found HERE.

1 comment:

Fastest SquirrelJune 4, 2007 at 10:50 AM
Don't worry, man. The "fog" is limited primarily to the wafting clouds of bong some at the DNC. There are plenty of us who see it clearly, as do you. Cheers! Good blog, BTW.
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The Mere Mercy of God

This calling of Abram is a signal instance of the gratuitous mercy of God. Had Abram been beforehand with God by any merit of works? Had Abram come to him, or conciliated his favour? Nay, we must ever recall to mind that he was plunged in the filth of idolatry; and God freely stretches forth his hand to bring back the wanderer. He deigns to open his sacred mouth, that he may show to one, deceived by Satan's wiles, the way of salvation.

But this is done designedly, in order that the manifestation of the grace of God might become the more conspicuous in his person. For he is an example of the vocation of us all; for in him we perceive, that, by the mere mercy of God, those things that are not are raised from nothing, in order that they may begin to be something.

-John Calvin, Genesis, (Banner of Truth), p. 343

"Nor the faith also does not shut out the justice of our good works, necessarily to be done afterwards of duty towards GOD (for we are most bounden to serve GOD, in doing good deeds, commanded by him in his holy Scripture, all the days of our life): But it excludes them, so that we may not do them to this intent, to be made good by doing of them. For all the good works that we can do, be imperfect, and therefore not able to deserve our justification: but our justification doth come freely by the mere mercy of God..." (Thomas Cranmer - Homily of Justification)

Justification-Sanctification/Law-Gospel

In short, I affirm, that not by our own merit but by faith alone, are both our persons and works justified; and that the justification of works depends on the justification of the person, as the effect on the cause. (John Calvin, Acts of the Council of Trent with the Antidote)

The law guides, directs, commands, all things that are against the interest and rule of sin. It judgeth and condemneth both the things that promote it and the persons that do them; it frightens and terrifies the consciences of those who are under its dominion. But if you shall say unto it, “What then shall we do? this tyrant, this enemy, is too hard for us. What aid and assistance against it will you afford unto us? what power will you communicate unto its destruction?” Here the law is utterly silent, or says that nothing of this nature is committed unto it of God: nay, the strength it hath it gives unto sin for the condemnation of the sinner: “The strength of sin is the law.” But the gospel, or the grace of it, is the means and instrument of God for the communication of internal spiritual strength unto believers. By it do they receive supplies of the Spirit or aids of grace for the subduing of sin and the destruction of its dominion… (John Owen, A Treatise of the Dominion of Sin and Grace)