This line, so well-articulated by the actor Jack Nicholson in the 1992 film, 'A Few Good Men', has become rather a catchphrase! In both today's political & theological landscapes, this phrase rings as true as it did in the context of the movie from which it's so often quoted! In both areas, which are not as far separated as one might think, the problem is that most 'can't handle the truth'!
Many Christians, when faced with the notion of a Fulfilled Eschatology, either discard it outright as a damnable heresy, or, after looking into it, and even going 'gung-ho' for awhile, later discard it as well for what they perceive as the same reason; it's damnable heresy! The Implications of a Totally Fulfilled Eschatology are usually too much for the average Christian to bear!
On the other hand, when it comes to politics, most Americans are so deeply immersed in the slavish culture that we've been brought up in for decades, even centuries, that even the mention of true freedom is almost immediately 'poo-pooed'! Like with theology & the principles of preterism, sometimes we find that when people are faced with the facts, they embrace them at first, but when they find out where true freedom leads, they seem to shout, 'PUT THE PRISON BARS BACK!'
Those who are firmly convinced of either or both ( they often go together ), are sometimes discouraged when those who seemed so 'on fire' at first, eventually have a change of heart, often turning on the very theology or political stance that they once tried to bolster! Though this is not at all common, neither should we be surprised when it happens! Often, when people find something new, it captures their imagination, and they become almost enamored by it, but, when they realize the creature comforts they might have to give up because of it, they turn away from it: SOME TURN ON IT!
Why does this happen, you might well wonder, and how do we change it? Well, for the most part, WE CAN'T CHANGE IT! People are so used to existing in this slavish & servile system that when something that even looks like true freedom comes along, the 'knee-jerk' reaction is to turn away from it, because they're Blinded by the Light! The notion that we are already free of The Chains of Slavery quite simply SCARES THE HELL out of most people!
To be fair, there is a growing number of people in both arenas that are actually sticking with it! These are so totally convinced of the Truth of these Principles, that they will fight to uphold them, if only in their own field of influence & responsibility! Even though most ( even their own brethren ) have rejected outright or abandoned these Principles, they will cling vociferously to these principles, if need be, 'TILL DEATH DO US PART'! To these People, we must grant many 'kudos', because, as many of us can attest to, 'IT AIN'T EASY'!
On the other hand, those who are so strongly convinced of this Truth must realize & acknowledge that many of these individuals, those who can't seem to 'stick with it', are often ( usually ) 'pulled' by other concerns, including anything from ostracization by certain family members & desertion by old friends to loss of income & position! These are very real concerns, and if we in turn, make little of them, we run the risk of losing friends ourselves, and even suffering setbacks to the Cause of Liberty!
In order for people to latch onto these Principles, they have to want it! If they make a conscious decision and commit themselves to possible hardship for the betterment of, if not their own, at least their progeny's position in life, then I believe we will see that these are the ones who will 'stick with it! However, if they are not totally convinced in their own minds of this Truth, then it will undoubtedly be as in the case that we read about in Matthew 13, and 'The Parable of the Sower'; 'when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away'; THEY ARE BLINDED BY THE LIGHT!
The only way that some of these people will be convinced of this Truth is by Divine Intervention, by the Holy Spirit of God! Others may be convinced through love; by lovingly & gently revealing this Truth to them, and taking into consideration any concerns they might have, we may eventually & effectively be able to win them over, really, to convince them to accept This Glorious Truth and to better their own lives!
As we strive, in our own conviction, to convince others of This Glorious Truth, let us keep in mind that 'most of these people are not ready to be unplugged'! Not everyone is ready to have their blinders removed; not everyone is at the same point in their life where they are so fed up with the 'status quo' that they are ready for that Change! Most people, in this day & age, 'CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH'!
For the time being, we must accept this Truth & implement it in our own lives, and realize that, along the way, many of those who are in prison are going to see our Glorious Freedom, and say, 'I WANT WHAT HE ( or she ) HAS!
May it be,
Charles Haddon Shank
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