Fulton Sheen and the Anti Christ

Standing on my head ^ | 11/23/2013 | Fr Dwight Longenecker

[markomalley]

This weekend is the Feast of Christ the King–reminding us that his kingdom is not of this world and therefore to be wary of any ideological system or world system or leader with plans to simply make this world a better place.

Last week the Holy Father warned against the “adolescent progressivism” that is only another guise of secular humanism. He  referenced Robert Hugh Benson’s novel Lord of the World in which the world has sunk into a secular, socialist dream, out of which arises a charming anti Christ, Julian Felsenburgh who promises the world to the worldlings. It’s an apt subject for the weekend when we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, for the anti Christ hates Christ the King and will set  himself up as “the People’s Prince”–a populist ruler who plans total domination. C.S.Lewis’ sci-fi horror story That Hideous Strength (Space Trilogy, Book 3) explores the same theme as a cadre of elite academics plan a brave new world.

Holy Deacon Ballard has sent me this excellent quotation from Fulton Sheen’s Communism and the Conscience of the West in which he discusses the Antichrist:

The Antichrist will not be so called; otherwise he would have no followers. He will not wear red tights, nor vomit sulphur, nor carry a trident nor wave an arrowed tail as Mephistopheles in Faust. This masquerade has helped the Devil convince men that he does not exist. When no man recognizes him, the more power he exercises.

We must always remember that Satan comes as an angel of light. What he presents is always eminently reasonable. He offers the seemingly sensible way, the soft way, the way of compromise and ease. If he showed himself as the monster he is all would run howling in terror. Instead he offers a way out when we are in a jam, an alternative when the way of Christ seems difficult.

Nowhere in Sacred Scripture do we find warrant for the popular myth of the Devil as a buffoon who is dressed like the first “red.” Rather is he described as an angel fallen from heaven, as “the Prince of this world,” whose business it is to tell us that there is no other world.

All the world’s systems combine to convince us of this fact. Materialism: there is no other world. This is it. Scientism only scientifically tested knowledge is valid. Historicism there is not over-arching providence. History is random. Evolutionism the natural world develops at random. There is no divine plan. Utilitarianism what works is all that matters. Efficiency and economy are our gods. Moral Relativism there is no great Law. Therefore you may do as you wish. In fact this is the motto of diabolism: “Do as you Will.”

His logic is simple: if there is no heaven there is no hell; if there is no hell, then there is no sin; if there is no sin, then there is no judge, and if there is no judgment then evil is good and good is evil. But above all these descriptions, Our Lord tells us that he will be so much like Himself that he would deceive even the elect–and certainly no devil ever seen in picture books could deceive even the elect.

Of course the elect will be deceived and follow the antichrist. They already do. To see what I mean continue reading Archbishop Sheen.

How will he come in this new age to win followers to his religion?The pre-Communist Russian belief is that he will come disguised as the Great Humanitarian; he will talk peace, prosperity and plenty not as means to lead us to God, but as ends in themselves.

Always beware the promise of a better world. There is always a price to pay for Utopia. Do not swallow the bait. Remember there is always free cheese in a mousetrap. Do not spend your time making this world a better place without first making sure you are going to the Best Place. The antichrist always offers us this world. He offered Christ himself all the kingdoms of this world. He does the same to us. He offers a wonderful world…one without God and his Son Christ the King.

this is the temptation to have a new religion without a Cross, a liturgy without a world to come, a religion to destroy a religion, or a politics which is a religion–one that renders unto Caesar even the things that are God’s.In the midst of all his seeming love for humanity and his glib talk of freedom and equality, he will have one great secret which he will tell to no one: he will not believe in God.

The antichrist will not believe in God, but he will be religious. Watch the political leaders give lip service to Christianity and the Church. During the election the politician will pray to get into office. After the election the people pray to get him out of office. The antichrist follows the Lord of this World and you can tell because all he cares about is this world.

Because his religion will be brotherhood of Man without the fatherhood of God, he will deceive even the elect. He will set up a counter church which will be the ape of the Church, because he, the Devil, is the ape of God. It will have all the notes and characteristics of the Church, but in reverse and emptied of its divine content. It will be a mystical body of the Antichrist that will in all externals resemble the mystical body of Christ. . . .

“The Ape of God” what a phrase! It reminds me of The Last Battle by C.S.Lewis in which an ape named Shift finds an old lion skin and persuades a stupid donkey named Puzzle to dress up as Aslan. The faithful Narnians are fooled by Shift and Puzzle because they had already given in and forgotten about Aslan. They had already compromised, so when the anti Aslan appeared they fell down before him.

American Christians need to wake up. Already most of us have adapted to the Spirit of the new age. Already we have compromised our standards and lowered our defenses. It has been a slow, gradual process, but why do we think that we might stand up to the antichrist when we have already swallowed his candy?

Christians–look at the world around you. How many church leaders do you know who already preach a gospel that is no more than watered down socialism? How many sweet talking, smiling preachers do you already know who parade their political activism while neglecting the reality of Christ’s true gospel? How many religious people do you know who already believe that it is all about the brotherhood of Man while neglecting the Fatherhood of God?

Already they have put before us “a new religion without a Cross, a liturgy without a world to come, a religion to destroy a religion, or a politics which is a religion–one that renders unto Caesar even the things that are God’s.”

Wake up, and don’t be deceived. Remember the only thing Satan knows how to do is to lie. He is the Father of Lies and the Father of Flies, and where the flies gather there is already a corpse.

Brantly Millegan writes here on the history of the Feast of Christ the King and how it was instituted by PopePius XI as a bulwark against Communism and secular atheism.

Book Recommend: If you are in the mood for some apocalyptical reading for Advent I recommend Paul Thigpen’s powerful book of prophetic poetry, The Burden: A warning of things to come

[visualops]

thank you

[Venturer]

Sounds like Obama to me. All he can do is lie.

[nonsporting]

Last week the Holy Father warned against...

Jesus said in Matthew 23:9 "And call no man your father upon the earth, for one is your Father which is in heaven.

That's what the Word of God says.

[Faith65]

bookmark

[mlizzy]

That’s for sure, but it seems too obvious.

[goodwithagun]

Man, they just don’t make ‘em like Sheen anymore.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Many dozens of times in the New Testament men upon this earth are rightly called "father," and there is no offense given to anyone in heaven or on earth.

This is what God's Word says:

---

Matthew 1:2
Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

---

Matthew 4:21
As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee,

---

Matthew 15:4
For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’

---

Mark 15:21
They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus.

---

Luke 1:67
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:

---

Luke 2:33
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.

---

Luke 8:51
When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother.

---

Luke 15:20
So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.

---

Acts 7:2
And Stephen replied: “Brothers and father, listen to me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,

---

Acts 7:4
Then he left the country of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. After his father died, God had him move from there to this country in which you are now living.

---

Acts 7:8
Then he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs

---

Acts 22:1
“Brothers and father, listen to the defense that I now make before you.”

---

Romans 4:16
For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us,as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”)—

---

1 Corinthians 4:15
Indeed, in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

---

Ephesians 6:4
And, father, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

---

Philemon 1:10
I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.

---

1 John 2:13
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.

---

The Church has always understood this to be proper.

You might want to re-think your own personal interpretation.

[metmom]

However, context is everything.

Jesus is addressing His believers and telling them not to address religious leaders by the title of *father*.

In no sense in that text or context is Christ saying anything about calling your own father * Father* or *Dad* or whatever.

It’s a misapplication of that verse to claim that it means children should not call their own fathers *Father*. Hyperbole is not the best thing to use for proper interpretation of Scripture.

And even should it be that Jesus meant that children should not call their dads *Father*, then the argument is, if Jesus forbids it, is it OK for Catholics to call their priests *Father* just because everyone else does it?

Is everyone else (allegedly) sinning justification for the Catholic church to disobey a command of Jesus?

If everyone else jumped over Niagara Falls, would you too?

[johngrace]

How do you explain ? 1 Corinthians 4:15 Indeed, in Christ Jesus I became your Father through the gospel.

Paul is calling himself Father. A spiritual Father.

[trebb]

I lived in Rochester when Sheen became the Bishop of Rochester. The Church needs more like him - focused on what is important and unwilling to let a disaffected society call any of the shots.

[Campion]

He does it again in Philemon, where he calls Onesimus his “son” whom he has “begotten” in his captivity. A man who begets children is properly called a “father”.

[metmom]

Jesus is addressing calling religious/spiritual leaders by the title of *Father*.

That’s all.

Matter of fact, reading that passage indicates that He discouraged the use of ANY titles for religious leaders.

So while Paul may have become Timothy’s spiritual father by leading him to Christ, Timothy should not call him by the title of *father* as part of his name, as in *Father Paul*.

I just don’t see that concept as being that hard. Don’t elevate people or become a respecter of persons.

Plain and simple, Jesus said not co call any man in a position of a religious leader on earth *Father*. Now we can either obey that, or find any and all excuses for not obeying it, and the *everyone else is doing it* excuse is the lamest of them all. I didn’t accept it from my kids either.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"If everyone else jumped over Niagara Falls, would you too?"

"Mom-m-m-m-m-m-!"

:o) Ahem. "Context". Right you are.

Look metmom, we're not talking about nutty people going over the Falls in a barrel. We're talking about New Testament Apostles and Martyrs---- in the following quotes, Stephen, Paul and John --- addressing religious leaders as "father," and referring to themselves as "fathers" of their converts:

---

Acts 22:1
“Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense that I now make before you.”

---

Romans 4:16
For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”)—

---

1 Corinthians 4:15
Indeed, in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

---

Philemon 1:10
I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.

---

1 John 2:13
I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning.

---

In none of the above cases is "father" used to mean, literally, begetter or sire. It is used to mean "father in the faith," "spiritual father," --- the same way Christians have, for millennia, called their spiritual leaders "father."

Context!

[Mrs. Don-o]

Jesus said to call NO man "father," AND to call NO man "teacher," "master," or "instructor".

(He didn't say ".... unless he's actually your father or teacher.")

So that makes His original statement a great deal more strict, more exceptionless than you're implying.

But then--- and here's what I'd call a "clarifying paradox" --- you go through the whole rest of the New Testament and you see Apostles repeatedly calling themselves, and being called, both "father" and "teacher."

You can conclude one of two things: either that

• the Apostles and Martyrs decided to casually blow off what Jesus clearly taught (though they were willing to live and toil and be tortured and die for Him!), OR,

• they correctly recognized Jesus' words as an example of Semitic hyperbole: the well-understood (to them) Middle Eastern cultural trait of creating emphasis by asserting an absolute for rhetorical effect.

I say it's clearly the latter.

This "Semitic hyperbole" thing is for real. My husband and I used to attend a church that had Arab Christian members. Our Syrian friend Sami used to say extravagant things like "That guy's so rich he could buy California and give you back Frisco for small change." Or "Welcome to my house. My wife and I, we give it to you, it's yours. No, really, take anything you like. Stack up the dishes, roll up the carpets and take them. Our home is yours!"

It's dramatic exaggeration, like when Paul says. "Cretans are always liars, vicious brutes, lazy, and gluttons."

Or when Jesus says,that unless you "hate" everyone in your family for the sake of the Gospel, you are not worthy to be a disciple. Anti-religious polemicist want to read this as literal hate; we reply by identifying such sayings as containing a rhetorical emphasis, not referring to literal, mandatory, universal family-hate.

Emphasis. Semitic hyperbole.

[johngrace]

I love his book “ The Life Of Christ.”

[johngrace]

Great discussion on these verses of our term Father. I personally found out through prayer and reading scripture many answers that I seeked over the years. I had profound experiences. I believe this is much ado about nothing on this term. The Lord talk a down to earth style at times. Thanks for discourse. Peace in Christ.

[johngrace]

Great wisdom when I read you. Thanks. Hugs in Christ!

[metmom]

You heard the Niagara Falls one, too, eh? Living in the vicinity growing up, it was pretty common.

Anyway,

Jesus said to call no religious leaders by the title of “Father”. He also added rabbi or instructor.

Now, I find this interesting that when we’re discussing John 6 and the eucharist, there is the adamant demand that the words of Jesus be taken literally.

But here? Now they’re not? Even when they are as plain and clear as could be? And everyone is trying to weasel out of it, justifying why it shouldn’t be taken literally, even to the point of using the *Everyone else is doing it* argument.

Sorry. Not buying today.

[Salvation]

There is a lot more to this. What about all the references to “Father” Abraham.

You are mistaken in your YOPIOS analysis.