Whether it’s Joe Stack and his online suicide note, or John Bedell and his suicidal attack on the Pentagon, the situation in America is obviously getting out of control. Before anyone starts crying that I’m being an alarmist, I’m pointing out these men merely as outward symptoms of the true disease – the growth of extremism.
The other day, a friend on Twitter posted a couple seemingly unrelated links in one message. She was of the opinion that there was some common ground between them, and I agree. The first was an article on The New Apostolic Reformation (or The Family). If this is the first time that you’re seeing those names, it’s highly unlikely that it will be the last. When Muslims bring up the concept of Holy War, people immediately think of the word “jihad”. When Christians do, more likely than not, one thinks of the Crusades. That might be about to change to “The Family.”
While Stack and Bedell are symptoms of the general unrest in this country right now, The Family is part of the disease that is moving extremist actions like theirs from the fringe to the mainstream. That is not to say that either man was ever associated with The Family, but that future Stacks and Bedells may very well be. So the coming attractions in the realm of extremist behavior will probably involve an organization that is proselytizing that they have found a cure for AIDS (sorry, but absolutely not true), and are already behind the anti-homosexual legislation in California and Uganda (yes, they’re already a world-wide organization.)
While the press runs about chasing tea parties, this group has been building connections in all sectors of society. Of course the GOP has been associated with them already, notably Jim DeMint, Michele Bachmann, Sam Brownback, and Sarah Palin. Their goals are simple enough – take over, community by community.
The other story that piqued that Twitter friend’s interest was on upcoming Supreme Court hearings on gun control laws. Of course the NRA is coming out on the side of not limiting the rights of citizens to bear arms. The piece explores how the high court may end up interpreting the Second Amendment. I’ve never been a huge fan of gun control, and one of the only issues where I’ve really parted ways with the NRA is on assault weapons. Sorry, but I don’t buy that there’s a “legitimate” reason for civilians to have weapons that are made specifically for the purpose of killing people. No, they aren’t by any stretch of the imagination hunting weapons, and unlike handguns, aren’t very practical for personal protection. Throw in the possibility of folks from The Family getting their hands on them, and I’m definitely not sold. The concept of that organization ending up with armed militias is terrifying – honestly, Al Qaeda looks like a quilting bee in comparison, if for no other reason, The Family has a much larger pool to recruit from. There are plenty of Christians out there.
Throw in Bossier Parrish’s new militia and its Operation Exodus, and the U.S. is really starting to look like one of those countries we tend to make war in because religious leaders start crying jihad. Sadly, the Bossier Parrish story is probably going to be overlooked as just wingnuttery hitting law enforcement in the backwoods. I’d love to know if anyone involved in organizing that militia is an “Apostle.”
But we have nothing to worry about. It’s just a lot of unconnected nonsense, that will settle down on its own….
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