This blog by James Emery White was originally published in 2010. It is one of my favorite articles and I pray you will be blessed by it as I was:

Most people have seen one or more versions of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Hands down, it is among my favorite Christmas tales: the story of Ebenezer Scrooge having his conscience reawakened through the apparition of his former partner, Jacob Marley, and the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future.

I like the characters.

I like the Victorian-era Christmas charm, complete with frosted windows, mistletoe and plum pudding.

I love the streets of Old London.

But when I first read the novel itself, after viewing various editions of the movie, I was shocked. Scrooge was not the buffoonish, almost cartoon-like character some of the movies made him out to be.

He was genuinely evil. Cruel. Malicious. He was a dark and sinister man. The story actually reads more like a Stephen King novel.

When you study the era itself that Dickens wrote about – and he published A Christmas Carol in 1843 as a social statement against harsh child labor practices – you realize that it was dark and evil as well.

Historian Lisa Toland once wrote a fascinating essay on the reality behind the story.

Almost 75 percent of London’s population was considered working class, many of them children laboring in the factories. In fact, every member of a family had to work in order to survive. Dickens himself worked as a young boy to support his family while his parents were in debtor’s prison.

The time was known as the Hungry Forties, because there was a depression along with a time of poor harvests. The London skyline was little more than smokestacks putting out clouds of sooty grit that covered rooftops and the cheeks of the young chimney sweeps.

It was the coal-dependent nature of these factories that created the famed London Fog. It wasn’t fog at all, but a combination of smoke and soot and grit. The streets were covered in rainwater, the contents of chamber pots, and animal waste. Rats were abundant.

Small, often emaciated children sold flowers and matches while the wealthy class’s horse-drawn carriages swept past. London’s poor were forced into shrinking housing districts. Multiple families lived in single rooms in rundown buildings.

That was Dickens’ London.

And people had turned a blind eye, because supposedly there were “services.” When the two men ask Scrooge for money, and he says, “Are there no prisons? And the Union workhouses? Are they still open? … The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigor, then?” There is much there that we fail to understand.

What makes Scrooge’s comments so biting is that the Poor Law, with its accompanying workhouses, were despised by the poor. The driving principle was to make the conditions in those places worse than how they would have lived and worked had they had a job. And in trying to determine who did deserve to go there, the group that fell through the cracks was children. The father or mother would be sent to the workhouse, leaving the children alone to beg in the streets.

Or worse.

If you died while laboring in a workhouse, your body was automatically turned over for dissection. You wouldn’t even receive a burial. The conditions were so bad, and people there were treated so poorly, that many of London’s poor chose to beg on the streets or enter into prostitution in order to avoid them.

From that darkness, Dickens gives us a tale of redemption.

The story of someone being saved.

There is another story we tend to romanticize.

We’ve all seen the Christmas cards that go out; pictures of Mary in flowing robes, gentle animals gazing lovingly down on the baby, who is always blue-eyed, blonde-haired, and while supposedly newborn, has the look and weight of a six-month-old.

That’s not the way it was.

They were desperate to find a place for her to give birth, and couldn’t find one. They ended up in an outdoor livestock area. Unclean, unkept, unwelcome. Tradition, dating back to Justin Martyr in the second century, says it was probably some kind of cave. Smelly, damp, cold.

They had to use a feeding trough as a bassinette. The word “manger” is very warm and fuzzy, but don’t romanticize it — a manger was a feeding trough for the animals.

This was a desperately stark and sad scene.

And lonely.

The Bible tells us that Mary wrapped the baby in cloths. That was common for the day. Long strips of cloth that were used to wrap the baby tight and keep their legs and arms straight and secure. The process was called swaddling.

It tells us something of the lonely nature of Mary’s motherhood that Luke records that she was the one who wrapped Jesus up after His birth — there was no midwife or relative helping, which would have been the norm.

And she was young. Very young.

Engagement usually took place immediately after entering puberty, so Mary may have just entered her teens — 13, 14 or, at the most, 15.

And from that darkness, we also are given a picture of redemption.

Another story about being saved.

Another story that can be romanticized, but was very, very real.

Real in a way that drives us further on our knees to marvel at God come to earth to save… us.

Think about it!

When the tragic event in Newtown, Ct was announced I was brokenhearted, angry, and a lot of other things I can’t put into words. How do you respond to something too awful to describe? Although I haven’t always been the best role model, I learned a long time ago that there is a time to speak and a time to shut-up, and most people don’t know when to do the right one. It’s usually not good to say anything when emotions are running high– we tend to make things worse. However, now that a little time has passed and the dead are being buried I feel more at liberty to address some things related to that subject.

As you know, just about everyone is now talking about “gun-control”– no surprise there. The problem is that we’re not actually addressing the problem. We ought to be talking about “people-control”, not “gun-control”. When a person is out-of-control and determined to harm others he will find a way to do  it. So, regardless of how many laws we make there will always be out-of-control people doing horrible things. That is the cold hard facts–history proves it is so.

As much as most folks don’t want to hear it and refuse to believe it, the reason our nation is in its present condition is because we have left our spiritual mooring–we have turned our back on God. We trample underfoot God’s Word and then wonder why we are where we are. We have sown the wind and we’re reaping the whirlwind and then complain because we lack peace. Were we not warned? Why didn’t we listen? Why are we blaming guns and punishing law-abiding gun owners?

Everyone in their right mind longs for a life of peace and prosperity. Those in my age group remember what it was like when you never had to lock your doors or worry about your kids playing outside. We wish it was the same today–but it’s not. These are difficult and dangerous days and preparation is key to safety. However, there is a limit as to how much we can do to shelter ourselves from harm. If we over-react we end up imprisoning ourselves and depriving ourselves of the pleasures of life. If you stop eating because it’s possible to choke to death on your food you end up doing the very thing you’re trying to protect yourself from– you will die!. Take away the right to keep and bear arms and you put yourself in harms way–endangered by every nut case who wants to take advantage of your weakness.

The only way to have a better nation is to have better people, and that can only happen one person at a time. The solution to our problem is not being controlled by others, nor even controlling ourselves, it is being under God’s control. Any person not under God’s control is out of control. They might not kill someone, but they will manifest rebellion against God in some form. So, since we know that most people care nothing about God tragic things will keep happening. The choice of weapons might change, but whether by bombs, bullets, blades, or blows, people will keep killing people. They have no respect for human life. Do you wonder why?

We took God and the Bible out of the schools, taught our children that they are the product of evolution, slaughtered millions of innocent unborn children and then seem shocked when they don’t value life. What did you expect? Thinking themselves to be mere creatures of chance, descendents of monkeys, rather than God’s creation they have no respect for life. In their mind it is “the law of the jungle”. That’s what we are dealing with.

As horrible as it is you cannot entirely stop these crimes. And—there is a limit as to what we can do and still remain a free society. To shackle good men with unfair and unreasonable laws, stripping them of their rights and means of protection puts a win in the victory column for the perpetrator of the crime. He wins and everyone else loses. By disarming good men we only arm those who are evil. Take away a man’s ability to protect himself and you aid those who would  harm him, and that is exactly what some law-makers would do if they have their way. Their attack on the problem ends up becoming an attack on innocent people. That makes no sense!

We can hack away at the nocuous growth all we want, but until we cut out the root it’s just a matter of time until before it reappears again–and again! That’s life in a fallen world. Sinful people do sinful and stupid things–it’s in their nature. You can make laws against what they do and punish those who break them, but you can’t make them holy. Unless there is a great turning to God in our nation things will not get better–they will only grow worse. Until the day when Christ Himself shall reign upon the earth we will be subjected to the awful scourge of sin. It might be an assault, abortion, or an assassination, but it will keep happening without submission to the values set forth in God’s Word. It is foolish to expect anything else. When we try to solve problems without the Bible we end up running from one problem straight into another problem. It’s easy to get carried away by our emotions and make an unwise choice. We are all brokenhearted over the tragic and senseless slaughter of innocent children and would like to prevent it from ever happening again, but we need to be careful lest we do the wrong thing. We have no right to trample on the rights of others because someone else did something wrong.

So there it is– the answer. But will this change anything? Absolutely not! You cannot reason with sinful people. They are blind. I’m not saying that all non-Christians lack intelligence or are unconcerned. I’m simply saying that because they refuse to accept the Bible as the absolute truth they are left without any sure standard of right and wrong–one idea is as valid as another. Without the Bible as our guide and the Holy Spirit as our teacher we are left with every man doing what is right in his own eyes. You can see where that gets us. Think about it. If we aren’t going to use the Bible as our rule of conduct, what shall we use? In a democracy we can vote on an issue and let the majority decide, but surely you can see the problem with that. Just because popular opinion prevails that doesn’t mean we got it right. There was a time when the majority thought blacks should be slaves and that women shouldn’t vote, but they were wrong.And it is wrong to punish law-a-bidding citizens in an effort to stop others from misusing their freedom.

Until a person understands something about their sinful nature and their accountability to God they will never turn to God. And until they turn to God they will continue abusing others. Until man loves God he will never love his fellow man–not even his mother. The best thing, the only thing we can do that will make a big difference is to bring others to a saving knowledge of Christ. It is only when a person receives Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and become a new person, receiving a new nature, that he will love God and his neighbor. I understand that the world in general doesn’t see any connection between crime and Christianity, and that they resent talk such as this, but that doesn’t change the facts. Liberals offer their crazy ideas as solutions to the problem and they are plastered all over the headlines. I don’t expect what I write in this regards to go any further than my mailing list, even though it gets to the root of the problem. It’s easy to see why Washington can’t fix our problems–they don’t even understand the problem. They certainly are not willing to admit that Christ is the answer. As an American this is so frustrating that it makes you want to pull your hair out. As Christians we need to understand that this is just the way it is and that the best thing we can do to change our nation is to lead souls to Christ. Under His control everything is better. Think about it!

The Bill of Rights, came into effect as Constitutional Amendments on December 15, 1791. You should read them you might not get to enjoy them for long.

First Amendment – Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause; freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; right to petition

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Second Amendment – Militia (United States), Sovereign state, Right to keep and bear arms.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.[60]

Third Amendment – Protection from quartering of troops.

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Fifth Amendment – due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, eminent domain.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Sixth Amendment – Trial by jury and rights of the accused; Confrontation Clause, speedy trial, public trial, right to counsel

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

Seventh Amendment – Civil trial by jury.

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

Eighth Amendment – Prohibition of excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Ninth Amendment – Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Tenth Amendment – Powers of States and people.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

I just happened to over hear the news while working at the computer. The reporter said something about a “big deal” involving Beyonce signing a 50 million dollar contract with Pepsi. Then at the end of the report he said,”Is there anything she can’t do?”. My first thought was, “Yeah, there’s plenty things!”. How about kicking in a door going after a terrorist who wants to kill you? How about spending your life as a school teacher, giving the kids an education and example? How about being a nurse ministering to the elderly in a nursing home? How about being a foster parent giving scores of children a home? How about being a firefighter risking your life to save others? How about being a cop, patrolling the streets arresting drug dealers, pimps, etc.? There are 1001 things people can do that’s far more important than what Beyonce does! It is a shame that so many young girls idolize her and other entertainers. Why should you admire people who are proud, selfish, spoiled, and immoral? We live in a fallen and foolish world. These entertainers might make millions but they are total failures when it comes to real life. Being rich and famous doesn’t make you a success. So, such “Big deals” are not a big deal at all. Think about it!

We haven’t gone over the cliff yet (or have we?), nor have we hit bottom—but it’s coming! Reports are coming from all directions warning us of impending disaster (go to http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/lock-your-doors-and-prepare-to-defend-your-family)