Mental Health Monday

"To eliminate churches' unfair tax exemptions, Trump declares everyone tax-exempt," Babylon Bee, 10/14

ABSURDITY

While the world as we know it is indeed disordered and damaged, and to find answers in the world itself is absurd, God does not abandon us to absurdity. Into this world, into its pain and confusion, God, too, became flesh and dwelt among us. And it ended for Jesus as tragically as anything we observe under the sun. He went to the cross with the full force of every ugly, honest reality of Ecclesiastes on his shoulders. And he stood with us in that darkness, giving us an equally severe image of a God worth seeking in the midst of it. --Stuart McAllister, Slice of Infinity

SOCIALISM

Socialism is guilty of a fatal conceit: It believes its system can make better decisions for the people than they can for themselves. It is the end product of a 19th-century prophet whose prophecies (such as the inevitable disappearance of the middle class) have been proven wrong time and again. --Lee Edwards, National Review Online

NBA

The same league that pulled its all-star game out of Charlotte, N.C., over a contentious transgender bathroom law has no problem partnering with a country that fights diversity at the point of a gun. --Jonah Goldberg, NRO

But for now, the NBA is exposed. When push comes to shove, it is not progressive. It does not love liberty. It’s a crass commercial enterprise masquerading as a value-laden league. Its “bravest” voices — those who are ready, willing, and eager to uncork angry screeds against domestic political foes — have trouble making the mildest of statements against truly horrific human-rights violations. How “complicated” are concentration camps, exactly? Keep this up, and the NBA may well find that its craven appeasement of 10 percent of its revenue market will cost it dearly with the 90 percent who truly pay its multi-billion dollar bills. --The Editors, NRO

PARTISANSHIP & THE MEDIA

The partisanship of politics is no longer just about the issues. It now includes the media and social media framing the issues. A chorus of voices — especially influential media voices — can escalate the most mundane situation into something dire. We’re not talking about politicians murdering people in these hyped up stories. Murder stories should generate outrage. In contrast, we’re talking about behavior that has not yet been investigated, much less prosecuted. --Rachel Alexander, Townhall