What Scripture and Jesus called “the world,” our generation calls “the culture.” Both refer to the society’s values, customs, and social behavior that end up often being corrupt, constituting a coordinated rebellion against God.
Christ encouraged us to not let the world manipulate us to turn away from Him. Our Lord made the following statement about experiencing animosity from worldly society:
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19).
The world tells us that our opinions must conform to the secular values of the age. Those who rebel against modern culture’s wayward principles are labeled as judgmental, close-minded extremists. The world disparages, shuns, or cancels authentic Catholics because we are counter-cultural.
Society over the past half-century or so was formed and is constantly being re-fashioned by sexual degenerates, immoral politicians, godless celebrities, propagandist media, and Marxist educational institutions. These powerful groups all hate us.
Evidence of Hatred
This hatred toward us and toward God is on full display via the alphabet-soup movement which at last count had 10 labels to describe themselves – LGBTQIA2S+. This hedonistic movement loathes anyone who refuses to bow to their idols and false gods of same-sex lust, hedonism, and infatuation with unnatural ways for people to engage in sex.
This hatred toward us and toward God is also evident when politicians push laws supporting euthanasia, some so-called ministers praise abortions, and celebrities publicly celebrate their abortions.
This hatred extends to children as well. We see public school teachers concealing information from parents about the wellbeing of their own kids. Many librarians attempt to indoctrinate kids by pushing sexually explicit and immoral books on them. Sexual degenerates play out their vile fetishes by acting as leashed animals in front of children and parading nude in front of youngsters.
Lukewarm Catholics Need to ‘Man Up’
The spirit of the age wants Christians to succumb to their depraved values and propaganda. Unfortunately, there are plenty of inauthentic, ignorant, or weak Catholics who willingly submit to the culture’s pressure. The inauthentic ones will fly the hijacked rainbow flag while repeating the false mantra, “Love is love.” The ignorant and weak Catholics believe the Christian thing to do is to not judge or hurt anyone’s feelings by stating their sexual actions are immoral.
All of these types of lukewarm Christians are separating themselves from God. He expects us to act as authentic Catholics who refuse to participate in the world’s corruption. We must steadfastly and unashamedly resist evil, and that includes not committing the sin of omission. Refusing to stand firm for the truth and burying our heads in the sand instead of speaking up are sins.
Our Lord does not want us to remain quiet out of fear of the world calling us a “hater,” “bigoted,” “homophobic,” or “transphobic.” The culture’s sexual degenerates, immoral politicians, godless celebrities, propagandist media, and Marxist educational institutions will all scream these invented labels at true Christians.
Sadly, a next-door neighbor, a fellow school parent, and a few of our relatives might also disgustingly scream these at us. In these instances, we must develop thick skin and a stronger faith in Jesus’s truths. We must peacefully yet assertively tell the opposition that we will never accept their lies and never stop telling the truths that we know are correct. We know these truths are the right ones not only because Scripture tells us so but because society also agreed for thousands of years up until just the most current century. These truths include:
- There are no such things as “gay marriage” or “transgenderism”;
- Abortion is the murder of an innocent life;
- There are only two sexes and sex/gender is not “assigned at birth”;
- Human sexuality is a beautiful gift from God that He planned to be used solely by a man and woman married to each other and open to reproduction.
Don’t Capitulate or Misplace Compassion
Compassion does not mean capitulating to a person’s delusional thoughts like they can change their gender. To be compassionate does not mean to ignore a fictional perversion like abortion is reproductive healthcare. Capitulating or ignoring is actually misplaced-compassion, not true compassion.
True compassion toward those engaging in sexually disordered acts or endorsing immorality involves taking three actions:
- Informing the person of the truth about their sinful lifestyle;
- Encouraging the person to step off the wide path that leads to darkness and instead follow the narrow path which leads to the light of Christ;
- Praying for the person’s conversion.
Faithful Catholics are those who speak the truth with clarity and charity. They do so knowing they will receive a barrage of vileness from the culture. It would be a lot easier and less stressful to go with the philosophy of “live and let live.” But tolerance is not a virtue. Authentic Christians will choose to not cave to worldly temptations and to resist the pressure to go along with the popular culture’s corruption. By doing so, they will be protecting their souls. Life is short and this world is passing away. We must keep our minds on valuing the things of Heaven more than the things of this world.
What About the Kids?
Taking a counter-cultural stand is challenging enough for adults but is extremely challenging for children. They are easily susceptible to peer pressure and a desire to fit in. Social media and celebrity influencers constantly are propagandizing.
The cultural indoctrination directs people of all ages toward the wide, easier path that seems enticing with its immediate gratification and pleasure. But enlightened and faithful people know that path ultimately leads to destruction. These enlightened moms and dads must look out for their uneducated and inexperienced children.
The culture’s corrupt values and norms can take over kids’ minds. Youngsters can be easily persuaded to believe they will be stressed less and accepted more if they simply go along to get along with the world.
Catholic parents must prepare their sons and daughters to recognize and face the secular culture that will dishonestly tempt them and wish to do them harm if they don’t capitulate. Parents should explain to their children that they will indeed be persecuted when they live counter-culturally as their faith expects and not as the world wants. But have no fear, as the presence of Our Lord will bring them encouragement and comfort.
Mom and dad might want to say something like the following to their kids, wording it in age-appropriate vocabulary:
“What the world offers is empty and hollow. You will not find fulfillment in following the spirit of the age. But you will find fulfillment in following the teachings of Jesus Christ. If you really want to be happy – not just in the coming years but in the after-life – you need to submit yourself to the Lord’s Truths, which are everlasting and good. Do not submit to the pagan-like culture’s lies, which are fleeting and depraved.”
The Church calls authentic Catholics to preach the truths of the Faith firmly and without apology. Those with children are additionally called to help their offspring show fortitude when popular society and many of their peers will label them hateful and intolerant.
Families will want to discuss the dangers of being drawn into the world and the error of believing that happiness is found in actions that our Almighty Father disapproves. It might even be smart to role-play how to respond and what to say when a friend, classmate, or perhaps a teacher pushes the notion of celebrating so-called pride-month, advocates for a woman’s so-called right to choose, or demands that everyone use the so-called preferred pronouns of a delusional person.
Being Divisive Is Not a Sin
Jesus informed His disciples that there will be division in the world:
“Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law” (Luke 12:51-53).
Division and divisiveness is not the goal, merely the reality. Jesus’s indication that He is bringing division is the result of the natural tension between the values of God’s kingdom and those of a sinful society. If we choose Christ’s truths, we must realize the world will push back, causing division.
Causing division is not necessarily a sin. When one preaches biblical truths with the goal of transforming sinners’ hearts, he is attempting to accomplish Christ’s assignment.
Rejoice and Be Glad
We should actually be concerned if we do not experience any form of adversity or animosity from society because that means we are not living counter-culturally. If and when we do experience hatred by the world, we can find solace in realizing this makes us more like Christ Himself. He prepared us for this and offers us His strength to courageously endure it with joy:
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10-12).
In the end, all that matters is what our Lord thinks – and not what the culture thinks.
A PRINCIPAL'S PRINCIPLES FOR PARENTING 
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