In the economic world the expression “buyer beware” is a warning that what the buyer is looking at may not be what it appears to be. “You get what you pay for” is another way of saying that if an item is cheap in price it is probably cheap in quality.

The same principle–check it out before buying it–is true in the spiritual world where labels and titles are thrown around with reckless abandon. The attitude is that if one looks and sounds like a Christian, then one is undoubtedly a Christian. This brings another slogan to mind: “All that glitters is not gold.” See the series by that name. As the Apostle Paul said: “In this world there are many gods and many lords” (1 Cor. 8:5). But in reality there is only one God (the Father) and one Lord (the Son). Along with “gods” and “lords” there are other popular religious words such as “orthodox,” “conservative,” “fundamentalist,” “Christian,” etc. commonly used to describe the spiritual condition of the 2,000,000,000+ inhabitants of the so-called “Christian world.”

Of late we have been hearing the Catholic Pope and his Vatican brethren complaining that “Ultra- conservative Catholics” are joining “Fundamentalist Protestants,” thereby creating a religious system based on heretical theological principles. The “sins” these catholic and protestant apostates are guilty of involve focusing their attention on the Bible, thereby taking their eyes of more important factors such as climate change, wealth redistribution, the removal of national borders, social justice, the elimination of war and the mal-treatment of Muslims. Before delving into the issue of religious labels, I will briefly address the issues listed above.

Changes in global temperature are predictable for anyone willing to study the climate changes that are known to have occurred over thousands of years. Scientific evidence proves that global warming and cooling have been taking place as far back in history as scientists are able to measure. Warming follows cooling follows warming, etc. This natural occurrence is as sure as death. And like death, man cannot predict when the changes will take place, only that they will. Information concerning this weather cycle is available to anyone honestly searching for the truth. This automatically eliminates political and religious liberals whose “truth” is whatever they want it to be.

Wealth redistribution is code for Socialism–Communism light–a political/economic system that has failed wherever it has been tried. Except for the 1%ers, that is. Recall that before the dissolution of the communist nation known as Russia today, it was known as the United Soviet SOCIALIST Republic. The word “Socialism” is used to hide the unspoken goal of all socialists–Communism. The only difference between Socialism and Communism is personal choice. The fact that the 1%ers that rule such utopias as North Korea and Cuba are forced to employ armed border guards to keep people from escaping their “worker’s paradise” tells us all we need to know. One will note that no one is ever caught sneaking in. If given the choice of staying in those communist havens or moving to where free enterprise is practiced, North Korea and Cuba would empty overnight.

The removal of national borders–a high priority for Social Justice Warriors (SJWs)–would result in the emptying of poor countries as anyone capable of travel would immediately relocate to where success is an achievable possibility. I would remind the pope that the Vatican is surrounded by an exceedingly high wall. To enter one must pass through an equally tall, thick gate where guards are posted. It is time for him and his ilk to practice what they preach. Why not practice a little truth in advertising? L.J.