The increasing invasion of Surveillance in our modern lives
Big Brother Surveillance is increasing in our modern day society and becoming ever more intrusive, as surveillance increases..... so privacy decreases. Some people do not mind losing some privacy in exchange for an increase in security? If it helps to find criminals and terrorists then it is a small price to pay. The problem is, where does surveillance end and basic human rights to privacy begin?
This article delves into the very fine line between privacy and surveillance and also takes a look at what the Bible has to say about Privacy and Surveillance, if anything at all.
Mass Surveillance according to Wikipedia
Mass surveillance is the intricate surveillance of an entire or a substantial fraction of a population in order to monitor that group of citizens.[1] The surveillance is often carried out by governments or governmental organisations, but may also be carried out by corporations, either on behalf of governments or at their own initiative.
The idea for this all started after spotting a bizarre tweet with the picture of a loo roll in a holder, found on Twitter which on the surface sounded hilarious, but on closer inspection has much more sinister undertones. It was tweeted out on the Twelve Gates Twitter feed @ThatFJ and as expected got limited interest and probably a few people scratching their heads as a result.
Here's a sample from this excellent article from the Guardian a couple of days ago that sheds some light on this new totally ridiculous system.
One of Beijing’s busiest public toilets is fighting the scourge of paper theft through the use of technology – giving out loo roll only to patrons who use a face scanner.
The automated facial recognition dispenser comes as a response to elderly residents removing large amounts of toilet paper for use at home.
Now, those in need of paper must stand in front of a high-definition camera for three seconds, after removing hats and glasses, before a 60cm ration is released.
Those who come too often will be denied, and everyone must wait nine minutes before they can use the machine again.
A local went on to make a very valid point:
"I thought the toilet was the last place I had a right to privacy, but they are watching me in there too,” wrote one use on Sina Weibo, a Chinese version of Twitter
In this day and age. Obviously NOT!
The thing is, it is the sign of the times that we are living in at present and conspiracy theorists and quite rightly so, are saying this is all paving the way for the Orwellian New World Order where your every move, speech, actions and even thoughts are monitored.
What forms of surveillance exist right now in our modern day lives that we take for granted but are intrusive none the less.
1. Stores, supermarkets, restaurants, fast food outlets, libraries, shopping malls and other public areas including Stations, Outdoor Events and Government Buildings.
2. Public transport including Buses, Underground, Trains, Airports
3. General outdoor areas such as Street Cameras, Traffic Cameras, Speeding Cameras
4. Internet Usage via cookies, browsers, IP address and other techniques to monitor your activity
5. Technology such as mobile phones and tablets contain apps that can monitor your usage and also even hear what you are saying when you don't want them to. The recent Smart TV's with voice recognition being a case point.
6. Via banking details and card payments and cash withdrawals.
7. Vehicle tracking systems
8. Cameras at work in offices and factories to monitor actions, movements and productivity.
9. Emerging nano technology the size of a fly is capable of monitoring anybody or anything for days if not weeks without even being seen.
The list just goes on and on!
Going back to the Facial recognition for Toilet Paper in China fiasco, as one local mentioned, Public Toilets are the one last place where somebody can have a bit of privacy and go about their personal business. Is China setting a new precedent so that even our toilet habits, how long we spend and how many sheets of paper are used will be monitored whether we like it or not? This is just as bizarre as the recent LGBT Toilet guidelines that made the headlines in the US.
What does the Bible have to say about Surveillance and Privacy?
Which brings us onto the Bible. What does the Bible have to say about Privacy and Surveillance. A famous quote from Luke illustrates a point about Privacy.
Luke 12:2-3
“For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.” “Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.”
Christians are well aware that our moves, thoughts and actions are monitored on a daily basis by The Lord,. If you are in the faith you will be able to recall countless times when that was the case and what happened was not merely a coincidence. It is a form of surveillance, but it is not intrusive or invasive such as the increasing surveillance tactics being used in our modern times. This sort of surveillance is more like a loving parent looking out for us in the background and correcting us when we are going astray or doing something wrong. Not the in your face hyper high tech not trusting anybody surveillance that we see everywhere today.
Summary
Increasingly in our modern society the line between Security and Surveillance and Privacy is becoming increasingly blurred. People are becoming aware that not only their rights and privacy are being infringed, on a daily basis, but increasingly there is nothing you can do to avoid being monitored and tracked and your every move being analysed. The recent headline of the Terrorist attack in London illustrates that surveillance is useful but what was learnt from this incident is that especially in crowded places, people themselves can be the best form of surveillance, right there at ground level as the news reports illustrated.
Revelation 13 and the Beast System it's it's accompanying the New World Order springs to mind when surveillance and privacy come into question. The question is if toilets could be next on a global basis, will our homes be the final privacy barrier to fall down and be removed with not only public surveillance but also private surveillance becoming compulsory?
Bible Quotes
Bible quotes that ensure us that God is always watching over us but always in a loving, caring and unobtrusive way.
Genesis 28:15 - "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."
Psalm 32:8 - I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
Proverbs 15:3 - The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
Deuteronomy 11:12 - It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.
Matthew 6:4 - So that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Psalm 121:8 - The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
The Seven Deadly Sins also known as "Capital Vices" or "Cardinal Sins" are Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth. They are the exact opposite of the "Seven Heavenly Virtues" of faith, hope, charity, fortitude, justice, temperance and prudence. These 7 sins are often thought to be abuses or excessive versions of somebodies natural faculties or passions.
This article looks at the emotional problems faced by modern men and women and the temptations that are out there in the modern world . Whether you are a believer or an agnostic this article will see how sin manifests itself in our modern times and society and more importantly is it something to worry about and what can be done to overcome it.
The Seven Deadly sins are a list just like the Ten Commandments but nowhere are they recorded in a list like this and nowhere in the Bible are they specifically referred to as the seven deadly sins or as the exact opposite as the seven virtues. The Seven Deadly Sins do not pre date the Ten Commandments. Catholicism seems to teach this listing of sins it appears in Protestantism less so. I'm not a Catholic by the way!
A video that gives a quick explanation of what are "The Seven Deadly Sins?" in non religious laymans terms
Are we powerless to resist sin?
Sin doesn’t just happen. First there is temptation, and then there is a choice.All sins have a common characteristic in that they produce an emotional reaction that impacts the body. A person experiencing for example anger will also experience physical conditions, such as increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and increased levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline. The modern day word used to describe this state is a "Buzz" or "High". Interestingly enough Drugs, Alcohol and Promiscuous sex such as Rape and Adultery and Pornography can produce these sensations along with Winning at gambling or even Rebelling.
All sin has the same qualities it produces a short term buzz. It's addictive but the long term effects are devastating, destroy the soul and ultimately destroy lives and relationships. Sin never satisifies. You always crave for more and a stronger version of what you had before, you become a slave to it and it takes over your life and often you are not aware that this is happening but others around you notice and may bring it to your attention, but you carry on regardless laughing it off. Eventually it destroys lives and can lead to loss of a job or business, homelessness, imprisonment, destruction of a marriage or family and even a long term illness or even death. What starts as "just a bit of innocent fun" ends up destroying a persons life. Believe me I've been there. See my Testimonial.
The Film Se7en (1995)
A video below of a Trailer for the Film Se7en which was released in 1995. The film itself is a stomach churner to say the least especially the ending but the message is very clear and relevant to our modern day society. This film initially gets you siding with the police in finding this psychopath that is committing these atrocities but when the film finishes and a day or so later it dawns on you that this man as sick as he was, he was trying to tell and show the world all it's sins in all their gory detail. He knew that the only way to get such a message across is to hit people over the head with a sledge hammer, otherwise people don't take any notice. You could say in true Christian faith style he sacrifices his life for what he believes in. (we never do find out whether he is a Christian or not). It's a recommended film but keep a bucket handy. don't say you haven't been warned!
The Seven Deadly Sins According to the Bible
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief. A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
(Proverbs 6:16-19).
Extra sins including some of the before mentioned
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,lasciviousness,Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21
The Seven Deadly Sins
PRIDE or Vanity
It was Pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels. - St. Augustine
The sin of pride is a preoccupation with self. Pride is excessive belief in the self that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity. There is a fine line between self confidence with a sense of accomplishment, and thinking you are better than everyone else around you because of that. It is the gateway through all other sin enters the mortal soul. This is how Lucifer became the fallen Angel as illustrated in the Bible quote below from Isiaih.
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Isiaih 14:12-15
The modern day equivalent of Vanity and Pride as a Sin would be the world of Celebrity. It is an example of something that makes old fashioned sin look good and flaunts itself and influences our society in many ways but the devastating results of sin are all prevalent in the celebrity world and prove that Pride is the gateway to all other sins listed below. The Illuminati in the Entertainment Industry sheds further light on this topic
Further Bible Quotes
Proverbs 16:5 - Every one [that is] proud in heart [is] an abomination to the LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
Proverbs 29:23 - A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
Proverbs 16:18 - Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Galatians 6:3 - For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
ENVY
Envy is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation.Envy is like a parasite. Of all the seven deadly sins, envy is the most internally destructive. It will eat away at you until there is nothing left but a shell. You get what you think you want, but that want is not from desire. Envy is the double edged sword where it is not just about hating other people for what they have. It is also hating yourself for not having it. Modern day society places great emphasis on material possessions and the marketing machine surrounding this including the media creates plays on Envy in our society, which is one of the Seven Deadly Sins, it's the very mechanism that generates sales in our Western Society
Bible Quotes
Job 5:2 For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.
Proverbs 14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
GLUTTONY
Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires. Gluttony is the consumption in excess to the point of being wasteful. To the point of being harmful. This can be food, it can be water, it can be fuel, it can be alcohol it can be drugs . It can be anything. Examples in our modern day world would include, overeating
such as Buffets - all you can eat, Over indulgence, drug abuse and drug addiction(marijuana, alcohol, nicotine, crack, cocaine, etc.)
Proverbs 23:20-21 - "Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags."
Proverbs 25:16 - "Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it."
LUST
Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body. Lust is an addiction. Lust is a desire that objectives others into tools for achieving that desire. Lust can be for power, for knowledge, for money, for blood, for alcohol, for drugs, for sex, for pleasure for anything. Modern day society confuses lust such as Adultery and Rape with love with devastating consequences. Lust is the trail of clothing in the hallway, the trashy cousin of love.
Further examples include Sexual lust, Lust for money, Lust for power, Lust for glory, Extreme passion for another person, Strong attraction to a celebrity, Sudden uncontrollable sexual attraction. Lust in our modern days can take many forms here are some examples
1. Lustful murder is extinction of a life by another's sexual fantasies
2. Rape is Forced genital penetration
3. Pedosexuality is sexual attraction towards children
4. Zoosexuality is sexual attraction towards animals
5. Sexual Assault is unwanted groping, unwanted flashing, or forced sexual arousal by another entity
6. Fornication is sex outside marriage
7. Exhibitionism is seduction outside the privacy of home or living quarters
8. Sexual Objectification viewing another living being as an object of sexual pleasure,
-watching Pornography
-hiring Prostitutute - Buying sexual services for money
-going to a strip club
9. Homosexuality is sexual attraction towards the same sex
Bible Quotes
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
1 John 2:16 - For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Mark 4:19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
WRATH
Anger is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath. It is not to be confused with Anger and is not murder. Wrath is blind uncontrollable rage, irrational and blind hate, a lashing out at its target with anything from spiteful words to violence to outright slaughter or murder. Wrath on a global scale is what starts wars and can continue to spawn wars for decades to come. Examples of wrath can be Domestic violence, War and Speech promoting violence
Bible Quotes
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires
James 1:19-20
“In your anger do not sin” : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:26-2
Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.
Proverbs 29:11
GREED
Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness. Greed can cover the acquisition of power, the obsession over wealth and the accumulation of material possessions. Having these things in their selves is not a sin but having them in excess and just for the self and nobody else and for self gain is a sin. In the corporate world major global corporations are guilty of these and it is evidenced in politics.
Examples in our modern times are many and can include Capitalism where everything has a price, Materialism, Bribery, Fraud, Black Market buying / selling Out of Sight of mainstream society, Slavery (Human Trafficking) -Prostituting Sexual Objectification of one self to sell sexual services for money and Pornography is filming or photographing of one's sexual activities
Bible Quotes:
1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:9 - But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
Luke 12:15 - And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
SLOTH
Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work. In it's everyday form it can be translated as laziness BUT it can also apply to the following situations. If you see someone getting harassed, do you step in to stop it? If you see someone who is having a hard life, do you try to brighten up their life? If you see something suspicious, do you say something? Or is it none of your business and you turn a blind eye and carry on as normal?. Modern day examples would be the TV Addict and Couch Potato.
Bible Quote:
Proverbs 13:4 - The soul of the sluggard desireth, and [hath] nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
Proverbs 21:25 - The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
Proverbs 20:4 - The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing.
The Modern Social Sins
1. Destroying the environment
2. genetic manipulation
3. obscene wealth
4. creating poverty
5. drug trafficking
6. immoral scientific experimentation
7 violation of the fundamental rights of human nature
How can you avoid sin and what's the big deal?
Most people think that Sin is freedom to do what you want and forget about the consequences but Sin and the committing of Sin is going against God and his laws and statutes and is punishable in God's eyes in extreme cases just like it was in Sodom and Gomorrah. What if you commit sin in a private darkened room and keep quiet, surely God will not find out? He will. God sees and knows everything and will punish you more for doing so.! Sin is part of the battle of Good V Evil
The cure for these sins is the gift of a new heart that acts in accordance to the love and law of God. This new heart can only come from God.
Ezekiel 36:26-27 says, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” Humanity's only hope is the miracle of a regenerated heart that acts according to the direction of the Holy Spirit to walk in God’s statutes and judgements.
The only way to achieve the above and avoid sin is to be Born Again and in dwelt by the Holy Spirit. It cannot be done any other way. No matter how hard you try, it's in mans nature to sin that's why Jesus died on the cross.
and in Christ we have victory over the destructive power of sin. (See Romans 6:22 and 8:2.)
How can sin be overcome?
If you are a true born again Christian you will have and be aware of the Seven Heavenly virtues and these are your weapons to overcome sin.
The Seven Heavenly Virtues
1. Kindness = Cures envy by placing the desire to help others above the need to have what other people have
2.Temperance = Cures gluttony by creating the desire to be healthy, therefore making you fit and able to serve others
3. Charity or love = Cures greed by putting the desire to help others in need rather than storing up treasure for one’s self
4. Chastity or Self-control = Cures lust by controlling passion and diverts that energy for the good of others
5. Humility = Cures pride by removing the ego and boastfulness and haughtiness, therefore creating the right attitude of mind for service
6. Diligence or Zeal = Cures slothfulness by placing the best interest of others above the life of laziness and relaxation.
7. Patience = Cures wrath by taking time to understand the needs and desires of others before acting or speaking.
Summary
In this day and age where evil is disguised as good, and good is made to look evil, where lines are being blurred in every aspect of our lives and confusion and chaos reigns, the word sin is looked as something a bit old fashioned and something "of the past" and not really a concern in this modern day and age, it's even paraded round as fun or a pastime to get a few kicks to liven up the day.
The problem is Sin is just as valid as it was in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah as it is today and we all know what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah. Sin is clever, deceitful, divisive and enticing and on the surface it looks a bit of harmless fun but further down the line it takes you to a much darker place and you become a slave to it, whether it be drug addiction, porn addiction, alcoholism........... the problem is you don't even realise you are going there. I would say it's like getting on a roller coaster ride, it's fun initially until you realise you are stuck on this thing and you can't get off. So is Sin something to worry about.......YES it is! Sin is part of the ultimate battle between Good and Evil and why the Seven Deadly Sins are named as such for a reason
Some closing Bible quotes to ponder over regarding Temptation which is what leads to Sin
Keep these truths in mind: •You will never face a temptation that is impossible to overcome. (See I Corinthians 10:13.)
No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.
1 Cor 10:13
•God is eager to give you all the grace you need to reject the temptation. (See Hebrews 4:16.)
Further viewing over at The Twelve Gates You Tube Channel
The Seven Deadly Sins Playlist: 7 videos with further information on each of the Seven Deadly Sins filmed in London
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