Re-Post: Nearing Midnight for April 24th (Part 1)

A Growing Pile of Dead Canaries

Last year, I produced the article entitled The Bird Cage, which addresses the spirit of apathy that is sweeping over the world. I listed several examples to illustrate how society has become totally indifferent to all manner of ungodly behavior.

Since writing the article, the state of apathy has only gotten worse. The coal mine canaries seem to have died vain. In recent days, I've noticed levels of depravity that go beyond the nine toxins cited in The Bird Cage. Here are two more signs of the time that I'll probably need to add to the roster just to keep it relevant.

Comedy Central's South Park cartoon program has a habit of airing some of the most disgusting things the human mind is capable of conceiving. I remember one show made the news by simply seeing how many time it could mention the s-word in a single episode.

During Easter week, South Park went after one its favorite targets. It featured an image of Jesus Christ defecating on President George W. Bush and the American flag. The show had an extra twist of offense when it was revealed that the network refused to allow the South Park's creators to also present an image of Muhammad, as a reference to the recent controversy caused by two Danish newspapers.

The airing of Jesus in such an offensive manner generated very little reaction from Christian groups. The media reports I read indicated that reporters had to hunt Christian leaders down to get their reaction. One has to wonder what level of blasphemy it would take to spark outrage among believers.

Another indication of the deepening state of apathy is how the public reacts to the demonstration put on by Pastor Fred Phelps and his small band of followers. Phelps initially became famous for picketing the funerals of people who died from AIDS. As mourners walked into the church, his group would wave signs that told them their loved one was burning in hell.

Starting about a year ago, Phelps began targeting the funerals of soldiers killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, waving signs saying, "Thank God for Dead Soldiers," "Thank God for IEDs [improvised explosive devices - roadside bombs]," and "God Hates Cripple Soldiers." One possible reason for his protests against fallen soldiers is his belief that the military is filled with "fags and dykes."

A very reliable way to determine state of moral standards is to use the past as a reference point. There would be a very different reaction if the South Park episode had aired in 1975, and if Mr. Phelps had protested at the funerals of soldiers from the Korean War.

I'm sure The FCC would have pulled the broadcast license of Comedy Central. The angry mob that stormed the New York headquarters would ensure that the network was physically unable to continue with its daily operations.

As far as Phelps' fate goes, I seriously doubt his first funeral picket would have a chance to lead to a second one. Even if he wasn't found hanging from a tree somewhere, public hostility would make it impossible for him to continue his pickets. No hotel would rent his group a room, restaurants would turn him away, and local law enforcement would probably lock him up for his own protection.

This weekend I was watching a program on the History Channel about a 1937 gas explosion at a New London, Texas School. At that time, natural gas was odorless and colorless. During the school day of March 18, no one know that the building was filling up with gas until a spark in the wood shop triggered a huge blast. As a direct result of this devastating catastrophe, the United States government passed a law that the chemical "Mercaptan" be put into natural gas to give it an identifying smell.

The profound state of indifference and moral numbness is the perfect setup to the tribulation hour. Without biblical discernment we have no canary or odorous chemical to warn us of impending doom. It's not until the shocking event of the rapture that people will realize their error.
--- Todd