This post originally appeared at https://www.vcy.org/from-the-executive-director/2024/02/05/from-the-director-8/
“Bread and Circuses”
By Jim Schneider, Executive Director
VCY America
A Roman poet by the name of Decimus Junius Juvenalis, known to most as just “Juvenal,” lived from around 55AD to 127AD. In one of his composed writings, he penned under the guise of “political satire,” “Give them bread and circuses and they will never revolt.” The word “circuses” in its Latin meaning includes that of “games or sports.” Many individuals rose to political power by keeping individuals occupied with inexpensive food and entertainment. The populace would be so consumed with gorging themselves with the dainties provided and an overwhelming amount of their time on sports and entertainment that they did not recognize that they were surrendering their freedom.
This mob, oblivious to their own defeat, followed Fortuna, known as “the goddess of fortune and the personification of luck.” This false goddess was believed to bring not only increase, but also prosperity. So the hordes would follow this pied piper to their own peril.
This “political satire” has become a reality. Tragically numerous Americans are being swayed by “bread and circuses.” Many in our nation are oblivious to the fact that we have become totally preoccupied with “bread and circuses” and as a result, our country is quickly falling apart at the seams. The attacks and subsequent loss of liberty are happening on many fronts. Consider this brief overview:
Recently the World Economic Forum met in Davos, Switzerland. It was a “Who’s Who” of those directly attacking national sovereignty to succumb to the promise of “salvation” from world players who expect nothing less than the surrender of national sovereign to give way to the globalist elitists. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for “global governance” in a “a new multipolar global order.” Additionally, the World Health Organization is calling for elitist powers in preparation for “Disease X” (to be named at some future time) hence the necessity of a world-wide pandemic treaty with the WHO calling the shots. Are we alert? No, we are distracted by the “bread and circuses.”
Due to a disregard of enforcing existing law, the floodgates are wide open for those entering our country illegally. Recently, a coalition of ten former officials from the FBI gave warning in a letter sent to congressional leaders. In this warning they wrote to “express our concern about a current, specific threat that may be one of the most pernicious ever to menace the United States.” The letter went on to warn stating, “the United States is facing a new and imminent danger.” They were referencing our southern border which saw a record 2.4 million illegal migrant encounters in the most current completed fiscal year. They referred to it as an “invasion” stating, “In its modern history, the U.S. has never suffered an invasion of the homeland and, yet, one is unfolding now.” They indicated, “Military aged men from across the globe, many from countries or regions not friendly to the United States, are landing in waves on our soil by the thousands.” They indicate this invasion is occurring “by foot across a border that has been accurately advertised around the world as largely unprotected with ready access granted.” They also issued a warning, “We would be remiss not to call out this potentially grave threat in the most direct terms. The warning lights are blinking.”
But the citizens of America cannot be bothered with this at this time because we have our “bread and circuses.” Perhaps another day!
Economically we are headed quickly toward the brink of financial collapse. With over $34 Trillion in debt, every man, woman and child in the U.S. would have to pay approximately $265,000 each to wipe out this liability. Additional trillions are owed for intra-governmental debt. On top of this, American household debt has been setting record highs. But we’ll keep spending because we have to get our fix of the “bread and circuses” available to us.
Our nation is tightening its own noose with the extremist energy policies underway cutting off our plentiful supplies of natural gas and oil while penalizing those who want to advance their use. This as electric vehicles pile up in graveyards at charging stations in the cold of winter. While we are consumed by our “bread and circuses,” gas appliances are at risk, gasoline vehicles are under attack, and our infrastructure continues to crumble as we grow our dependence on other nations.
Morally our nation is in a free fall. Over 65 million babies in our country have been murdered by abortion and this is tragically increasing by the day. Politicians, if elected to office, are stumbling over themselves to promote the killing of the pre-born. But please don’t bother me, I’m still making my way through the tantalizing “bread and circuses” being dangled before my eyes.
Recent published polls by the Public Religion Research Institute indicate that nearly 30% of Gen Z adults in the United States now identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or queer. The indoctrination occurring through our educational system, the entertainment scene, politicians and social media is reaping great dividends. A mockery has been made of marriage and increasingly women’s sports are being decimated by men who are gender confused.
Religiously, many churches are awash with the “bread and circuses” mentality. Doctrinal truth is sacrificed for entertainment and keeping everyone busy with activities is at the forefront of the agenda. Afterall, numbers are more important, aren’t they? What ever happened to being “salt and light?” Sadly, the Great Commission has become the Great “Omission” as the fields are ready to harvest but the laborers are few. A critical juncture lies before every individual, family, church and to our society as a whole. Will we awake out of our slumber to the great spiritual needs of our time? Or will we succumb to the great diversion of the “bread and circuses” offered by the world, the flesh and the devil?
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