A new crisis, a new beginning
In September 2021, I felt a strong conviction to start a podcast to focus on freedom from a Christian perspective. It was during the height of what we know call ‘the pandemic,’ or ‘Covid-19,’ amid the fear, anxiety, and chaos of lockdowns, mandates and what they called ‘vaccine passports.’
It felt as if the world we knew was coming to an end, and many Christians were pointing to the horrible possibility that some of the ancient prophecies in the New Testament were imminent, such as possessing some kind of passport or stamp that ensured the purchase of food and other commodities (Revelations 13).
A paradigm shift
For the wealthy, and others, this pandemic made little impact on their lives, but for most of the world, it changed everything. It was what they might call a ‘nexus event,’ or a ‘game changer,’ or a ‘paradigm shift.’ The role of the state, and perceptions of the state changed completely, the relationship between organized religion and the state changed, we saw the weaponization of fear by the state and the media.
We endured the wholesale deceit of mainstream media, and the rollout of forms of propaganda we have not seen since the 1940s. The origins of the pandemic continue to be denied by the key participants, but evidence points to a man-made event in a city in China.
Our eyes were opened
It is now over 5 years since the official outbreak of the original virus strain that covered the globe. For many people, Covid Hysteria was the first time their eyes were open to the horrors of life in a capitalist, or materialist society. It shocked many of them, complacent in their beliefs that we lived in a free, democratic, open society.
Others had their eyes opened by the appalling treatment of the developing world by global corporations, or by the wickedness of the global arms trade, or by the inequalities of our society. Earlier generations had their eyes opened by the War on Terror, and the consequences of 9/11 or even earlier, the tragedies of the Vietnam War.
These crisis events force us to reevaluate our world, our position in the world, and our future. Like those who were challenged by the evils of capitalism, war, inequality, and organized religion, I was challenged by Covid Hysteria, and I decided to focus my attention on defending the heart of the good news of Christianity, which is freedom during a time when all I knew in the church were telling me that the key idea is obedience, especially obedience to the state, in everything.
At the same time, many church leaders in Australia and America, whilst demanding obedience to the state from their congregations were themselves receiving the largest cash transfer from the state to the church in the history of both Australia and America.
Organized religion is in trouble
This massive payout to religious organizations had never happened before. This huge transfer changed the dynamic of church-state relations forever. The sums were embarrassing, and while many non-religious organizations quickly repaid the debt to the state, churches, overall, did not.
They needed the money, because many of them are dying. Few today are viable based solely on contributions from their congregations. That is why churches are investing in schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and properties, all tax-free, because few people go to church anymore.
Most churches and most Christians have lost sight of God, the good news, and Jesus. For me, this Covid Theology was a betrayal of the good news, and we are seeing this played out ever since. During the pandemic, the state realized that organized religion could be bribed, and all they need is a monetary price.
Christianity has been corrupted by capitalism
The deep relationship between organized religion, money and capitalism is intimate, for this is the heart of Western Christianity. It has become a monied faith, a financial faith, a materialist faith, and this dovetails perfectly with how this epoch pressures us to view God.
God, in a society anchored in consumerism and materialism, is here for me, to satisfy my needs, to fulfil my desires, and meet my expectations. But this is not the God of the Bible, and it is not the God of the New Testament.
The origin of Jesus for Busy People is the good news
The good news of God is that the Father sent the Son, Jesus into the world, and that the Son is the presence, the power, and the person of God. Jesus knew who he was, Jesus was seen to be a man of deep authenticity, Jesus was a man of spirituality, and he lived in perfect freedom.
I realized in the madness of Covid Hysteria that I wanted to know this man more, and in knowing him, I could be free, truly free in this world.
Michael J. Sutton
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