It is the year 2020 in America. It’s a jungle out there–death is prevalent in almost every aspect of life. So, most Americans stay at home these days getting their information, entertainment, shopping, communication, education–just about everything–via their computer-linked 3D dual remote microdish television sets.
Game shows are still a popular form of escape. One old dinosaur from the late part of the 20th century still manages to survive somehow–Jeopardy. Only now it’s called Jeopardy 2020 to keep the public thinking it’s a new show (anything that conjures up images of being out-of-date or passé is looked down upon in this society). The show’s host, Morty DeThanantos, has shed the serious air that the show’s preceding hosts had exhibited. Morty is more "laid-back," pretentious, and superficial; necessary traits of survival for a TV personality.
We come in now having already missed the first half of the show. After the 10-minute commercial break, we rejoin the game about to begin its final round...

[Applause, applause]
Morty: Alright, thank you and welcome back to Jeopardy 2020. I’m your host Morty DeThanatos, and we’re ready for the start of our Double Jeopardy round. But before we begin… Our defending champion, Adolf, shared something with us during the break. I believe I speak for all of us when I say that it was quite moving. Would you share it with the audience please, Adolf? [Morty applauds, signaling the audience to follow his lead. They do, of course]
Adolf: [a little nervous.] Well? OK. As most of you are aware of, the President has recently implemented his new plan – the "Making Utopia a Reality by Removing the Disabled, Elderly, and Rejected People Program," also known as his MURRDER People Program. I am now 63 years old and have been convinced by representatives of our fine Welfare Department that I’m through; I can do no more for the good of society. I have been shown, instead, that I can contribute to a better community for all you younger folks by allowing myself to be mercifully terminated.
Morty: Gosh, that’s great, huh folks? [Applause] But, hey, whaddaya gonna do with all that money you’ve earned so far? Heh-heh!
Adolf: I’ve already taken care of that, Morty. My contract doesn’t call for my termination for another 10 months. So, my mistresses and I are going to spend all my money eating, drinking, and just being happy.
Morty: Say, that’s great! And what a way to go, huh folks? [The audience laughs and applauds again.] Alright, let’s get back to our game.
As you all know, the stakes are now doubled from the first round of play. It’s been a close, exciting game so far. Let’s check those scores, shall we? We find Joseph in the lead with 100K dollars; Charlie has 70K; and Adolf, our current champion, is in a not-so-distant third place with 50K. Oooooh, good match, gentlemen. Now, please look up here with me to our 3D array as we see today’s Double Jeopardy categories. They are: D-WORDS...NUMBERS... TRUTH... CULTS... HOPE... and our final Double Jeopardy category, CIDERS. Contestants, all of the answers in this category will end with the suffix "-cide." And we’ll start this round with Adolf. Please choose!
Adolf: Alright Morty, thank you. I’ll think I’ll start off with D-WORDS for 10K, please.
Morty: The answer is, Most citizens can expect this once they have been robbed, no matter the amount they’ve been robbed for. Yes, Adolf!
Adolf: What is death, Morty?
Morty: Right! Adolf, again!
Adolf: D-WORDS for 20K, please.
Morty: The answer, This is the platform that nearly all bend-in-the-wind politicians presently rally to support. It includes ruining*, infanticide, euthanasia, and executions. Charlie!

* ruining – from the verb "to ruin," an acronym of Removal of Unwanted Intrauterine Neoplasm, a 21st century politically correct euphemism for abortion.

Charlie: What is death?
Morty: Correct-a-mundo! Who knows what those politicians will stand for tomorrow, huh folks? [Morty flippantly sticks his finger in his mouth, then raises it above his head. He laughs and, of course, the audience sheepishly follow. Charlie interrupts.]
Charlie: Excuse me, I’d like to try NUMBERS for 10K, please.
Morty: Excuse me! Sheesh. NUMBERS for 10K. The answer is, It is the number of states which allow ruining up to the ninth month of pregnancy. This is the same number of states as it was 30 years ago! Joseph!
Joseph: What is only one?
Morty: No...Charlie?
Charlie: What is all but one, Morty?
Morty: OK, we'll accept that. All of the states, except that intolerant one, allow a woman to have herself ruined up to the moment of birth. That is what liberation is all about, huh ladies? [The women applaud.] Again please, Charlie.
Charlie: CIDERS for 10K.
Morty: The answer is, This common practice is utilized by political leaders throughout the world to rid themselves of entire groups of their population. Adolf?
Adolf: What is chemical discipline?
Morty: No, I’m sorry. Charlie...
Charlie: What is genocide?
Morty: Exactly! Remember contestants that all of the answers in this category must end with the suffix "-cide."
[Adolf curses out loud. Morty smiles and winks and the audience snicker.]
Morty: OK, Charlie continue, please.
Charlie: CIDERS again for 20K.
Morty: For 20K the answer is, The logical next step after ruining, it is rampant today and guaranteed to parents during their newborn’s entire first year thanks to the new constitutionally guaranteed ‘Right of Parental Privacy.’ Joseph?
Joseph: What is infanticide?
Morty: Correct! Pick again.
Joseph: NUMBERS for 20K, please Morty.
Morty: The answer, In the 1980’s, there were more than 4000 women ruined every day in the U.S. By 2000 that number reached more than 5000. Now, due to a nearly total lack of opposition plus the multitude of legal, home, do-it-yourself kits, the number of daily ruinations has topped this number. Charlie?
Charlie: What is 2.5 million?
Morty: No... Joseph?
Joseph: What is 6000?
Morty: No! Adolf, would you like to try?
Adolf: Alright, Morty. 7000... uhh... I mean What is 7000?
Morty: Yes! [Applause] You managed to answer in the form of a question just in time.
Adolf: Thank Baal!
Morty: Charlie, I believe you were giving the annual not the daily number of ruined women, weren’t you?
Charlie: Yes. [He curses.]
Morty: Ten years ago who would have thought more than 7000 a day? Modern progress in the area of reproductive convenience boggles the mind. [The contestants nod in awe.] Alright, Charlie… No? I’m sorry, Adolf, my mistake, it’s your choice.
Adolf: OK Morty, I’ll try D-WORDS for 30K.
Morty: The answer, In a recent poll, it’s what 86% of Americans have decided as the fate of an alleged murderer even before that person has been brought to TV trial. Yes, Adolf.
Adolf: What is destruction?
Morty: Well...[Morty looks to judges off-camera; Adolf looks anxious] aaall-right, "death" or "destruction," we’ll give it to you. Either way, 86 say "86!" huh folks? [Morty laughs, but the audience sit there half-heartedly laughing along, not knowing just what it is exactly they’re supposed to be laughing about. Morty is embarrassed.] Well, nevermind. Adolf, again!
Adolf: OK, D-WORDS for 40K, please.
Morty: The answer is, As of 2003, the most common sentence, worldwide, meted out to a religious or political dissident. Joseph!
Joseph: What is death?
Morty: Exactly. Boy, I thought all three of you were going to push the button through the floor with that one. Joseph got in first that time, however. Great competition here, gentlemen. Joseph, you pick.
Joseph: OK, Morty, I’d like CIDERS for 30K.
Morty: CIDERS for 30K. More than one million people in the US alone met their end this way last year. Joseph?
Joseph: What is euthanasia?
Morty: No... Adolf?
Adolf: What is homicide?
Morty: Yes! Joseph, numerically you were right; more than one million socially unacceptable and genetically inferior citizens did experience euthanasia last year, but the answer must end in "-cide", which automatically eliminates "euthanasia" as an answer. I am sorry.
Joseph: [with teeth gritting] Aaaaaarrrgh!
Morty: Sorry, again. Now, Adolf, your pick.
Adolf: I’d like to try CIDERS for 40K.
Morty: The answer is, Once discouraged by self-righteous moralists, it is now looked upon as an efficient way of allowing the weak and undesirable element in our society to eliminate themselves. Joseph?
Joseph: What is suicide?
Morty: Yes! There you go.
Joseph: CIDERS for 50K, please.
Morty: This will finish up the category. The answer is, The category under which one can place ruination, infanticide, euthanasia, suicide, and execution. Charlie?
Charlie: [not sure] What are forms of pesticides?
Morty: Excellent! With less than a minute left in Double Jeopardy, Charlie pick again, please.
Charlie: I think I’ll try CULTS for 10K.
Morty: The first for this category and the answer is, Up to about 40 years ago, a member of this cult was a power to be reckoned with. Today, however, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, it is a slang term for ‘one who sees a fire but does nothing to stop it.’ Adolf?
Adolf: What is a Christian?
Morty: Yes!
Adolf: I’ll try CULTS again for 20K, Morty.
Morty: The answer is, They were the one group in the U.S. in the late 20th century who had the numbers, but not the conviction or will, to abolish ruination and euthanasia in this country. Charlie?
Charlie: Who were the Anti-Choice element?
Morty: No... Adolf?
Adolf: Uhhh...Who were the Christians?
Morty: Correct! The Anti-Choice fanatics of the last century had the will but not the numbers, Charlie; Christians had the numbers but not the will. You had your characteristics reversed. [Charlie nods, disappointed in himself.] Alright, back to Adolf.
Adolf: CULTS for 30K, please Morty.
Morty: For 30K the answer is, Once known for fearlessly spreading their ‘Gospel,’ they have now shut themselves off completely from the world into small, isolated, exclusive communities. Joseph?
Joseph: Who are the Christians?!
Morty: Well done... [offstage a woman screams] Well, that’s the end of Double Jeopardy. [The contestants collectively sigh and take a step back.] You gentlemen did well on just about all the categories. But by the looks of what’s left on the board, none of you will have anything to do with TRUTH or HOPE. [Adolf, Joseph, and Charlie smile.] Nevertheless, gentlemen, let’s take a look at the scores so that you can prepare to make your Final Wager for Final Jeopardy. At the end of Double Jeopardy we find Adolf our champion with 160K, Joseph is in the lead with 170K, and Charlie has 110K.
Now, if you will, please draw your attention up here for our Final Jeopardy Category. You will have ten minutes in which to place your final wager. Today’s Final category is... [ding!]... Historic Rebels. We’ll be right back. [Applause]

Advertisements begin and after 10 minutes (or the time it takes the average 21st century American to find the U.S. on a world map)... we’re back.

[Applause, applause, applause]
Morty: Welcome back. The Final Jeopardy category is Historic Rebels. [Morty looks to see that all three are ready.] Everybody has made their wager and we’re ready for the answer. It is, He claimed he was ‘the Way, the Truth, and the Life;’ that he came to give life and give it abundantly. His followers claimed he was the Prince of Life. His own most impressive claim was that he himself was God, the Creator of all Life.
Contestants, you have 30 seconds in which to write your answer. Remember to phrase your answer in the form of a question. Good luck.

The theme music is played and the contestants all stare off into space with blank faces. After about 20 seconds, Joseph smiles suddenly and quickly scribbles down an answer. Charlie mutters some unintelligible profanities. Adolf continues to look absolutely puzzled and angry. Finally, the music stops...

Morty: O.K. Well, by the looks of your reactions, this appears to be a toughie. Let’s see. We’ll start off with Charlie. You have 110K. What was your answer? [Charlie’s screen reveals some illegible scribbling.] "Who... is...? Uhh? help me, Charlie. I can't read what you've written down on your screen.
Charlie: [sarcastically] I don’t know the answer, Morty. I just drew a complete blank.
Morty: Sorry, Charlie. What was your wager? Oh my! All of it. Well, that will take you to zero. Now to Adolf. Adolf what was your answer...? "Who is ?????"
Adolf: I don’t know who it is, either!!! [Adolf grits his teeth in anger.]
Morty: And what was your wager? 160K! All of it! I’m sorry, that will take you to zero, too. [Adolf slams his fist into his podium.]
Now Joseph, will you be the one contestant today to get the correct answer? Let’s see... [Joseph shakes his head as his answer appears.] "Who am I?" Well! Whaddaya say, folks? He’s partially right, huh? [The audience all nod and mutter in agreement.] Yes, Joseph, you are a god if you really feel that you are. But I’m not so sure that you are an historic rebel, heh-heh. [Morty smiles and Joseph nods in agreement.] Nice try, though. Now, the only way you cannot win here is to have wagered everything. How much did you wager? Oh my! 170K! You wagered all of it, too! It looks as though we threw you all a curve here with this question about Life. Quite frankly, though, this was a tough one for me, as well. The correct answer is...[Morty pauses to increase suspense.] "Who is Jesus Christ?!" [Adolf slams his fist again, Joseph buries his head, and Charlie stands frozen with a look on his face which, when translated, means, "How were we suppose to know that?"] You gentlemen did pretty well up to the Final and most important Question. Remarkably, you all bet everything you had that you’d ace the Final, but none of you knew Jesus Christ. Now you’ve lost it all. Sheesh. Well, this leaves us with no winners today, folks, heh-heh. Tomorrow we will start a brand new show with three new contestants. Until then, this is Morty DeThanantos hoping that you and yours manage to make it through tomorrow. Good night, everyone!

The audience applauds a final time. The theme music starts up again and Morty walks over to console the losers in a way only Morty can.

Of course, it need not get this tragically out-of-hand. But it is not difficult to see the seeds of Death planted and growing all over this land and the desperate lack of response to it. What is the answer to an unwanted pregnancy today?–abortion. How are we starting to deal with crippled or handicapped newborns?–infanticide. What about those human "vegetables" that we cannot afford to keep alive anymore?–euthanasia. Convenience stores owners are not just robbed anymore; they are robbed, then murdered. When one cannot deal with a terminal disease or a heavy personal problem anymore, he or she can be helped along into euthanasia, the "good death." And the list goes on; at every turn there is Death?

There is an alarming lack of reverence today for human life in this country and throughout the world. The Human Race is losing sight of their Creator, the Giver of Life, and thus are dying spiritually. The natural consequence of this is a total disregard for Life itself. There is overwhelming and undeniable evidence of this everywhere.

When Lazarus died Jesus wept, but then He raised him up again to the Glory of God the Father. So ought we–we who call ourselves sons and daughters of the Living God. We ought to weep over the Death taking place today, but then do as Jesus did and go out to give Life back to the Dying. We have been given the power to change this world, we must use it; it is not always pleasant but we have been commanded to do so.

We end this tract with a Jeopardy-type Answer: The 1990’s proved to be a time of revival for this group. Through the power of God and to His Glory, they again fed the Hungry, they gave sight to the Blind, they healed the Sick, and they made the Lame walk; once more they turned the world upside down.

Sword & Spirit Ministries
P.O. Box 712 • Murrieta, CA 92564

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