I really have done my best to refrain in making comments about our current political/economic circumstances. There are a number of reasons for this, amongst them the admonition of my mother that, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything.” This contains some wisdom, but it is limited. Some folks, like me, have to labor with great difficulty and practice in order to learn to say smooth things that others will even give a moment’s notice to. It is also very difficult to predict future events with any reliability and the moment one steps into that arena, there is always a crowd gathering rocks to throw.
Oh, well.
It is relatively safe to note that our current economic and political system is in the midst revolutionary convulsions. This was not brought on by the election of Obama, though he and his cohorts have added immensely to it. They are really reinvigorating the failed policies of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and darn proud of it at that.
But, regardless of your particular party affiliation, we have to admit that Obama hasn’t caused this malaise. This is a problem that has been brewing for a hundred years or more, and the fermentation has finally matured. Those from the other political party have done little or nothing to even retard the continual advancement of “progressive” policies. Regardless of who was elected this past November, we would still be in the position of having the arsons in control of fighting the fire.
We are now in a situation where the economic tailspin is obvious and, depending on where you live, that tailspin is steeper than others might be experiencing. Folks we know are loosing their jobs and their ability to earn a livelihood. While we may observe that the media moguls might be exaggerating this to some extent, the problem does really exist. Add to this problem, as if this is not enough, the fact that the reintroduction of the political “hair of the dog” policies will only exacerbate everything. We need some strong medicine in the way of correctives, but are quite unwilling to take it. Who really thinks the patient will miraculously improve without treating the disease?
Here are a few observations and suggestions.
First, we Christians seem to believe that all of this has been done to us by “them”, whoever “they” are. Surely there are those who have been active and instrumental in making a perfect mess of things. But why have they been successful? Are they really so powerful that they can do whatever they wish when they want? Are there really more of “them” than “us”? If we look at this on the basis of demographics, this doesn’t actually seem to be the case. Or, could it be that we have been sufficiently complacent and lethargic to encourage them in their profligacy? Could it be that “they” are merely reflecting back to “us” our image, and suddenly we don’t like what we see in the mirror? Or, worse yet, do we now believe that nothing can be done to change ourselves so that that image is altered in a positive way? Have we sufficiently compromised with our own vices that unbelief has become a normative part of our day to day living? Have we, like Adam, become experts at blame shifting? I think this is likely.
If this hypothesis is correct, then it would necessarily follow that we are under the hand of God in judgment. If we have offended Him by our unfaithfulness and unbelief then all of this is explainable, even to a ten year old. If this is true, then we already know what the corrective is. The only question is whether we will take it.
I would argue that we need to repent vigorously, down to the bone. We need to ask ourselves which lies and sins we have bought into and accepted. We need to ask God to convict us by the power of His Spirit so that we really understand that, in a fundamental manner, “we” are at the center of the problem. Has there ever been a case in history where the condition of the civil culture has exceeded the degree of righteousness and fidelity displayed by the Church of God? I haven’t found any such example.
What does repentance like this look like? First, I would argue that as faithful Christians we need to learn to say “No”. And one of the first places we should exercise this is in refusing to accept the benefits offered by the totalitarians we say we oppose. I am amazed by the number of professing Christians who, when real difficulties arise, believe that their first recourse is to go beg for help at the door of the idolatrous State. And, of course, the priests of that Baal are more than willing to “help”. It makes them feel good as they steal from your neighbor to assist you in your time of need.
Why are our churches so inadequately organized to respond to situations like this? Is it possible that we were so intoxicated by our material prosperity that we refused to assess the “signs of the times”. Could be. We seem to have thought that the carnival ride would go on forever. We thunderously denounced those who warned us repeatedly that something like this was bound to happen, simply because we didn’t believe it could happen here or, alternately, because the forecasters couldn’t give us the exact hour and day when it would occur. Well, it’s here now.
We need to take a serious look at how our church communities are organized in order to support those in our midst who really do need assistance. It is, of course, much simpler to suggest this than to map out the particulars of how this is to be accomplished. There is no excuse, however, for neglecting to do this just because all of the answers are not simple ones. We need a healthy dose of doing the “one anothers” and not a mere acknowledgement that such commands exist.
What I have suggested so far is a small beginning. There is much, much more that needs to be discussed and, more importantly, done. I, for one, believe that the ongoing developments in our society will require us to rethink a bunch of stuff but, more than that, it appears to me that the Lord is requiring us to do so.
Oh, well.
It is relatively safe to note that our current economic and political system is in the midst revolutionary convulsions. This was not brought on by the election of Obama, though he and his cohorts have added immensely to it. They are really reinvigorating the failed policies of Franklin D. Roosevelt, and darn proud of it at that.
But, regardless of your particular party affiliation, we have to admit that Obama hasn’t caused this malaise. This is a problem that has been brewing for a hundred years or more, and the fermentation has finally matured. Those from the other political party have done little or nothing to even retard the continual advancement of “progressive” policies. Regardless of who was elected this past November, we would still be in the position of having the arsons in control of fighting the fire.
We are now in a situation where the economic tailspin is obvious and, depending on where you live, that tailspin is steeper than others might be experiencing. Folks we know are loosing their jobs and their ability to earn a livelihood. While we may observe that the media moguls might be exaggerating this to some extent, the problem does really exist. Add to this problem, as if this is not enough, the fact that the reintroduction of the political “hair of the dog” policies will only exacerbate everything. We need some strong medicine in the way of correctives, but are quite unwilling to take it. Who really thinks the patient will miraculously improve without treating the disease?
Here are a few observations and suggestions.
First, we Christians seem to believe that all of this has been done to us by “them”, whoever “they” are. Surely there are those who have been active and instrumental in making a perfect mess of things. But why have they been successful? Are they really so powerful that they can do whatever they wish when they want? Are there really more of “them” than “us”? If we look at this on the basis of demographics, this doesn’t actually seem to be the case. Or, could it be that we have been sufficiently complacent and lethargic to encourage them in their profligacy? Could it be that “they” are merely reflecting back to “us” our image, and suddenly we don’t like what we see in the mirror? Or, worse yet, do we now believe that nothing can be done to change ourselves so that that image is altered in a positive way? Have we sufficiently compromised with our own vices that unbelief has become a normative part of our day to day living? Have we, like Adam, become experts at blame shifting? I think this is likely.
If this hypothesis is correct, then it would necessarily follow that we are under the hand of God in judgment. If we have offended Him by our unfaithfulness and unbelief then all of this is explainable, even to a ten year old. If this is true, then we already know what the corrective is. The only question is whether we will take it.
I would argue that we need to repent vigorously, down to the bone. We need to ask ourselves which lies and sins we have bought into and accepted. We need to ask God to convict us by the power of His Spirit so that we really understand that, in a fundamental manner, “we” are at the center of the problem. Has there ever been a case in history where the condition of the civil culture has exceeded the degree of righteousness and fidelity displayed by the Church of God? I haven’t found any such example.
What does repentance like this look like? First, I would argue that as faithful Christians we need to learn to say “No”. And one of the first places we should exercise this is in refusing to accept the benefits offered by the totalitarians we say we oppose. I am amazed by the number of professing Christians who, when real difficulties arise, believe that their first recourse is to go beg for help at the door of the idolatrous State. And, of course, the priests of that Baal are more than willing to “help”. It makes them feel good as they steal from your neighbor to assist you in your time of need.
Why are our churches so inadequately organized to respond to situations like this? Is it possible that we were so intoxicated by our material prosperity that we refused to assess the “signs of the times”. Could be. We seem to have thought that the carnival ride would go on forever. We thunderously denounced those who warned us repeatedly that something like this was bound to happen, simply because we didn’t believe it could happen here or, alternately, because the forecasters couldn’t give us the exact hour and day when it would occur. Well, it’s here now.
We need to take a serious look at how our church communities are organized in order to support those in our midst who really do need assistance. It is, of course, much simpler to suggest this than to map out the particulars of how this is to be accomplished. There is no excuse, however, for neglecting to do this just because all of the answers are not simple ones. We need a healthy dose of doing the “one anothers” and not a mere acknowledgement that such commands exist.
What I have suggested so far is a small beginning. There is much, much more that needs to be discussed and, more importantly, done. I, for one, believe that the ongoing developments in our society will require us to rethink a bunch of stuff but, more than that, it appears to me that the Lord is requiring us to do so.
