The First Bird to Fly Out of The Forest Gets Shot
The model for America's deadly Woke-ist cultural revolution
The Four Oaths or “Four Olds”
The "Four Olds" were four oaths to radical change during Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) in which the Chinese Communist Party sought to eliminate customs, culture, habits, and ideas that they had deemed to be old or outdated.
A campaign characterized by widespread destruction, persecution, and turmoil, all ways of life and even thoughts that were not in full alignment with Maoist state-approved ideology and absolute authority were trained out of the Chinese people.
The woke-ism currently poisoning American tradition and God-given liberty is almost identical to this brutal model of social engineering through mind and life control. Kamala Harris and her newly tapped VP Tim Walz work directly from Mao’s playbook.
The Four Olds were:
1. Old Customs (旧风俗, Jiù fēngsú):
Traditional weddings, celebrations, or cultural festivals such as the Lunar New Year and religious observances honoring ancestors were considered backward, oppressive, and inconsistent with Mao’s Cultural Revolution and were suppressed, demonized, and criminalized.
2. Old Culture (旧文化, Jiù wénhuà):
Classical forms of Chinese literature, poetry, art, books, historical sites, temples, and the intellectual heritage that had grounded the Chinese people in tradition for centuries were destroyed to pave the way for a new revolutionary culture.
3. Old Habits (旧习惯, Jiù xíguàn):
Daily practices and ways of life that were rooted in the past, including everything from dietary practices to personal grooming habits were seen as unscientific and unfit for the new socialist society.
4. Old Ideas (旧思想, Jiù sīxiǎng):
Traditional beliefs, values, and ideologies, particularly those related to Confucianism, Buddhism, and other ancient philosophies along with the idea of personal ambition and individual success (labeled as privilege by today’s Woke-ists) were eradicated, criminalized, and replaced with Marxist-Leninist-Maoist thought.
Similar to Antifa and the campus riots of America today, Mao’s Cultural Revolution was spread and enforced by radicalized youth, called the Red Guards, who were mobilized to attack anything and anyone associated with the Four Olds or traditional life.
The result was not a Communist Utopia but rather the devastation of Chinese society through widespread persecution, destruction of cultural heritage, and deadly social upheaval. Intellectuals, artists, and anyone perceived to be associated with the Four Olds were persecuted, often publicly humiliated, imprisoned, or even killed. The loss of cultural heritage and the widespread violence during this period left deep scars on Chinese society.
Conform or Die
The Chinese have a traditional saying: "The first bird to fly out of the forest gets shot" ("枪打出头鸟" in Chinese). The Communist Party twisted this proverb into a revolutionary epithet representative of approved conformity to Maoist ideology. Drawing attention to oneself through innovation, leadership, or especially dissent was often a deadly proposition during Mao’s Cultural Revolution.
For the Chinese people, obeying one’s conscience was forbidden. The purpose of the “Four Olds” was to psychologically abuse the people into rejecting and suppressing their God-given conscience and inborn sense of morality (Ecclesiastes 3:11; Romans 2:15). Mao was their god and Mao was truth and morality.
At work or in school, one was compelled not to be too ambitious or confident for fear of being attacked by one’s colleagues, superiors, or peers. Deviation from the new imposed cultural norms would almost certainly face some level of social ostracism or criticism.
This concept extended to all areas of Chinese life. It became common for those who, out of fear or opportunity, sought favor with their abusive rulers to inform on their neighbors and even family members.
Mao’s Orwellian named “Great Leap Forward” from 1958 to 1962 was a campaign to reconstruct the country from an agrarian economy into an industrialized society through the formation of people's communes. As a result, at least 40 million Chinese starved to death and the Communist Party murdered an additional 20 million who were arbitrarily labeled as members of there oppressor class or colored as dissenters.
Leftist policies inevitably destroy the very ones they claim to be saving from the so-called oppression of free market capitalism and individual liberty.
There is to this day a strong tension between individuality and collectivism in China. Appallingly, right now in America, Communism has risen to a strange new popularity and being the "first bird" to notice or call out obvious frauds or destructive ideas can provoke particularly a hateful and harmful onslaught from those who have imbibed the poison of modern cultural Marxism.
Be extremely wary of anyone, especially a politician, academic, or corporate shill, who claims of “ending racism” or “ending poverty.” History proves that the spirit of cultural revolution is usually a deadly spirit of authoritarianism.
Biblical Perspective
The Chinese proverb "The first bird to fly out of the forest gets shot" reflects a worldview that prioritizes conformity, fear of standing out, and an avoidance of risk, often at the cost of justice, truth, and righteousness.
Unquestioningly following wicked rulers to curry favor with authority or avoid persecution erodes trust and stifles moral courage central to Christian living and American liberty.
This mentality opens the door and rolls out the red carpet for oppressive social and political authoritarian movements. Even those who do not agree are coerced through fear to ignore, suppress, and act against their conscience. In America, this manifests clearly in Cancel Culture and the shaming and shouting down of any who challenge the official narrative in the public square.
The Bible provides a counter-narrative that affirms the value of truth, justice, and the necessity of standing up for what is right, even at personal risk.
The Call to Righteousness and Justice
The Bible consistently calls believers to pursue righteousness and justice, even when doing so is unpopular or dangerous. The prophet Micah declares:
"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)
God expects His people to pursue justice, which often requires taking a stand against evil, even when it means being the "first bird" to do so. The pursuit of justice is not conditional on whether it is safe or advantageous but is a divine mandate.
Similarly, the prophet Isaiah calls out against the social ills of his time:
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20)
Moral complacency is a sin. Period. When individuals prioritize self-preservation over truth and righteousness, moral values will inevitably be inverted. The Bible encourages believers to stand against such corruption, even at personal cost.
Courage to Speak Truth in the Face of Persecution
Jesus Himself exemplified and taught the importance of speaking truth, even when it leads to persecution:
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:10-12)
Here, Jesus encourages His followers to rejoice when they are persecuted for righteousness' sake, affirming that such persecution is evidence of faith and a powerful testimony of God's grace and righteousness.
This teaching stands in direct opposition to the mentality of self-preservation that underlies cultural Marxism, and Woke ideology which takes their cues from Marx, Stalin, and Mao. Instead of avoiding standing out, Christians are called to boldly live out our faith, knowing that our reward is in heaven.
The Sinfulness of Betrayal
The concept of Cancel Culture and public shaming has its origin in the paranoia and opportunism of Communist societies like that of Maoist and modern China where informing on family, friends, and neighbors is often a tactic of self-preservation.
Directly opposed to biblical teachings about loyalty, love, and the sanctity of relationships, these betrayals are severely condemned in Scripture. Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, stands as a universal example of this treasonous activity (Matthew 26:14-16).
The Bible teaches that love and loyalty should characterize relationships, particularly within the family of faith:
"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10)
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17)
True love and friendship are marked by loyalty and support, especially in times of adversity. Informing on loved ones, especially for personal gain or to avoid persecution, is a violation of this biblical principle. Furthermore, the commandment "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16) emphasizes the importance of truthfulness and integrity in all relationships.
The Example of Christ and the Early Church
The Lord Jesus Christ did not conform to the unjust norms of His society. Jesus consistently spoke the truth, confronted hypocrisy, and exposed contradictory thinking and injustice. The society was offended by His message of love in truth that they crucified Him. Chirt’s example is a comfort to believers in all generations that the cost of righteousness may be high, but it is worth it. If God is for us, who can be against us! (Romans 8:31)
The early church followed in Christ's footsteps, often standing out as "the first bird" in a hostile environment. The apostles were repeatedly imprisoned, beaten, and threatened, yet they continued to preach the gospel boldly: Peter and the apostles declared,
'We must obey God rather than men.'" —Acts 5:29
For the Christian, obedience to God and the pursuit of His truth takes precedence over fear of man and the desire for self-preservation. The biblical response is a call to courage, righteousness, and loyalty.
Standing up for truth and justice is a divine mandate, even when it comes with risk. Christians are called to follow Christ's example, standing firm in their convictions and showing unwavering love and support for one another, regardless of the consequences.
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