Spiritual Direction: Infiltration and Insurrection Heading Into the Abyss?

Today's article is about Infiltration and Insurrection

At first, these two words appear to have little in common.  They have different meanings and normally are not a topic of conversation when it comes to the Church or to spiritual direction but today your views on this subject and these words may radically change.

First, we will look at the two different terms and what they mean

Definitions

Infiltration is defined by Oxford Languages Dictionary as “the action of entering or gaining access to an organization or place surreptitiously, especially in order to acquire secret information or cause damage.”

Insurrection is defined by the Oxford Languages Dictionary as "a violent uprising against an authority or government."

INSURRECTION. A rebellion of citizens or subjects of a country against its government.

     2. The Constitution of the United States, art. 1, s. 8. gives power to congress " to provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions."

     3. By the act of Congress of the 28th of February, 1795, 1 Story's L. U. S. 389, it is provided: Sec. 1. That whenever the United States shall be invaded, or be in imminent danger of invasion, from any foreign nation or Indian tribe, it shall be lawful for the president of the United States to call forth such number, of the militia of the state, or states, most convenient to the place of danger, or scene of action, as he may judge necessary to repel such invasion, and to issue his orders, for that purpose, to such officer or officers of the militia as be shall think proper. And in case of an insurrection in any state, against the government thereof, it shall be lawful for the president of the United States, on application of the legislature of such state, or of the executive, (when the legislature cannot be convened,) to call forth such number of the militia of any other state or states, as may be applied for, as he may judge sufficient to suppress such insurrection.

     4.-2 That, whenever the laws of the United States shall be opposed, or the execution thereof obstructed, in any state, by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the powers vested in the marshals by this act, it shall be lawful for the president of the United States to call forth the militia of such state, or of any other state or states, as may be necessary to suppress such combinations, and to cause the laws to be duly executed; and the use of militia so to be called forth may be continued, if necessary, until the expiration of thirty days after the commencement of the then next session of congress.

     5.-3. That whenever it may be necessary, in the judgment of the president, to use the military force hereby directed to be called forth, the President shall forthwith, by proclamation, command such insurgents to disperse, and retire peaceably to their respective abodes, within a limited time. A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States. By John Bouvier. Published 1856.

Second, look at some scriptures from the Holy Bible to see how we are supposed to look at our enemies. 

Leviticus 19:18 ESV 
You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

1 John 4:20-21 ESV 
If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Matthew 22:39 ESV 
And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:36-40 ESV 
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Romans 13:10 ESV 
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
1 John 4:11 ESV 
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Clearly, there is a theme here- we are to love our neighbors and not eliminate them.  The application of Matthew 22: 36-40 is most appropriate here.  We learn that the second part of this verse admonishes us to love your neighbor as yourself. By causing insurrection and infiltration we are neither fulfilling either in our society today. 

Third, there is clearly spiritual warfare taking place in our society today.  This concept is not new.  Pope Leo XIII clearly explained his concerns on the topic and how it could start when he said, “by the example of teachers, the minds of the youth are corrupted and a tremendous blow is dealt with religion and the perversion of morals is spread. So the restraints of religion are thrown off, by which alone kingdoms stand. We see the destruction of public order, the fall of principalities, and the overturning of all legitimate power approaching. Indeed this great mass of calamities had its inception in the heretical societies and sects in which all that is sacrilegious, infamous, and blasphemous has gathered as bilge water in a ship’s hold, a congealed mass of all filth.”  Pope John Paul added to in 1986 when he said in his encyclical on The Holy Spirit (Dominum Et Vivificantem), “Not only the devil is involved in spiritual warfare, but the Holy Spirit is equally involved, or more involved in it, bringing men and women of goodwill the ability to overcome evil in their lives, so that they too can say: “Where evil abounded, grace super-abounded!” (Rom. 5:20).”

Clearly, the visions of the two popes help to clarify the conditions that we find ourselves currently in our society.  Dr. Taylor Marshall said in his book, Infiltration: The Plot to Destroy the Church from Within, “The modern world, after all, is inspired by the principles of the French Revolution: the absolute freedom of man from any divine revelation or commandment; the absolute equality that abolishes not only any social or religious hierarchy but even differences between the sexes; and a brotherhood of man so uncritical that it even eliminates any distinction on the basis of religion.”

Marshall also explained in his book, Infiltration: The Plot to Destroy the Church from Within, ““Supernaturalism — relying on God who is above the natural — is Catholicism. Naturalism — relying on our created nature without the aid of God — is Satanism.”

Maybe this was the Spiritual warfare that was revealed to Pope Leo XIII who was so upset and worried about what was revealed to him wrote the following prayer, “Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.”

With this as a background, look at the current political situation in the United States.  There are groups of people who disagreed with the Jan. 6 protests in Washington D.C. calling that protest- an insurrection.  Why? Could it possibly be that instead of looking at Matthew 22:36-40 they are looking for a way to eliminate their enemies?  Their concept is really interesting by calling people who participate, encouraged, or cheer on this group in violation of the third section of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Section Three 14th Amendment

Section 3.
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

Here, by charging people with insurrection in the court of public opinion they are trying to force people from not running for office unless and until they can prove their innocence.  Is this what the Lord had in mind in Matthew?  Is this turning the other cheek?  Is this even a Christian attitude to have? Do we overlook our sins or our side’s sins and then try to eliminate the competition completely?

Brothers and sisters, are we living in the last days?  Are we living through a period of great spiritual warfare?   Listen to the Church leaders who predicted this very thing over 130 years ago.  Listen to the messages of hate and elimination and ask the question why?  Why here and why now? Brothers and sisters if you do this I am sure you will come to the conclusion that in times like these we need more spiritual direction than ever.  Amen