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Because Western culture is dominated by Leftist elites in media, education, entertainment, politics, and the major denominations, many Christians and other conservatives resist and resent all forms of elitism. But elitism of some sort isn’t merely desirable; it’s unavoidable. No society can either emerge or survive apart from elites.
The United States, for example, was founded by elites. Nearly every founding father was an elite: intellectual, academic, religious, economic, or military, and often more than one of these.
The same is true in the Bible. The great leader of the OT church (Moses) and the NT church (Paul) were both elites. Christendom was unthinkable without elites: Athanasius, Origen, Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, Edwards, Kuyper— and thousands of others.
God often accomplishes his purposes without elites, but he chooses to use them all the time. He grants them evident gifts, and he employs those gifts for his salutary purposes.
Today‘s leftist elites are what Thomas Sowell calls “the anointed.” They are the self-appointed social engineers, they alone the wise, the virtuous, the intelligent, and, above all, the humble.
Ungodly elites are never properly countered by rabble-rousing populists, but by godly, or at least faithful, elites. The siren song of populism that we need to return society to “the people” is actually just another recipe for tyranny. For populists never seem to realize that “the people” are no more collectively virtuous than elites are as individuals. Unbridled populism leads to tyranny just as swiftly as unbridled elitism does.
Elitism is inescapable, so one objective of Christians and other conservatives should be to replace the present “anointed” elite with a faithful, self-sacrificial elite.
Just as in secular history, the victor in religious doctrine is written by the winner in theologic wars, er debates. Look at how Christianity is controlled by the "just believe and invite Jesus into your heart" religious cherrypickers. They spout Rom 10:9 as they leap right over Rom 6:3-4. Years ago William Randolph Hearst told his legions of "reporters" to "puff" Billy Graham and we have been stuck with his brand of "dry-cleaning" the sheeple ever since. A whole doctrine of "inviting Jesus into your heart" which is nowhere to be found in plain text in the Word and too many other Scriptures taken totally out of context and thereby perverting the Word. Sadly it is not the total fault of the ravening wolves that appear as wolfy-sheep. It is the fault of those too lazy to read, dwell and rejoice in His Word. IMHO, the calls from the Father are either dwindling or no longer of interest to those who would rather worship We the People than the Son.
True, there is always a talented group that lead culture and politics but an evil group have hijacked America and are burning it down. Trump has politically harnessed the people to resist this cabal and leaders are now arising from the people answering the call. We need to expand on this from the political and broaden it into the cultural if we have hope for victory, but by the power and grace of God all is possible! But where are the spiritual leaders to lead this battle? Sadly few exist with any real wisdom or sense of their call.
Elitism Is Inescapable
Sowell's "The Vision of the Anointed" is enlightening. It has sadly aged like a fine wine in its applicability.
Excellent! Aaron Renn has also discussed this inevitable reality in some of his work.
Just as in secular history, the victor in religious doctrine is written by the winner in theologic wars, er debates. Look at how Christianity is controlled by the "just believe and invite Jesus into your heart" religious cherrypickers. They spout Rom 10:9 as they leap right over Rom 6:3-4. Years ago William Randolph Hearst told his legions of "reporters" to "puff" Billy Graham and we have been stuck with his brand of "dry-cleaning" the sheeple ever since. A whole doctrine of "inviting Jesus into your heart" which is nowhere to be found in plain text in the Word and too many other Scriptures taken totally out of context and thereby perverting the Word. Sadly it is not the total fault of the ravening wolves that appear as wolfy-sheep. It is the fault of those too lazy to read, dwell and rejoice in His Word. IMHO, the calls from the Father are either dwindling or no longer of interest to those who would rather worship We the People than the Son.
The apparent rejection of elites by populism is just a rhetorical fig leaf to give cover to their anointing of their own elites.
In Trump's favor, he had the habit of firing his elites every five minutes, as he, himself, was the only permissible elite.
True, there is always a talented group that lead culture and politics but an evil group have hijacked America and are burning it down. Trump has politically harnessed the people to resist this cabal and leaders are now arising from the people answering the call. We need to expand on this from the political and broaden it into the cultural if we have hope for victory, but by the power and grace of God all is possible! But where are the spiritual leaders to lead this battle? Sadly few exist with any real wisdom or sense of their call.