Tightening the Belt 12-6-09
As our country faces turbulent economic times, with unemployment exceeding ten percent and a growing concern over the weakening of our currency, it is important to examine America’s choice in hope and change. It is interesting to note that the states that have been hardest hit by budget shortfalls and higher than average unemployment rates such as Michigan, California, and New York are also states with lower than average worship attendance and charitable giving. They are also states that tend to vote for more government control in individual lives and are generally proponents of agendas such as the mainstreaming of homosexuality and the abortion movement. This is not to say that the states that tend to vote against these agendas have escaped the economic woes, but they do have lower than average unemployment rates; these states also tend to have higher than average worship attendance and charitable giving.
Hear this, you leaders of the house of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel, who despise justice and distort all that is right; who build Zion with bloodshed, and Jerusalem with wickedness. Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD and say, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us.” Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets. (Micah 3:9-12 NIV)
Our nation was founded on Christian principles and a strong belief in limited government and individual responsibility. Over the last century we have wandered from our founding beliefs and have increasingly rejected God and turned to the government to protect us in troubling times. Because of this, our schools have become battlegrounds and our courthouses have become dens of corruption. When times are good, we bask in the glory of democracy and human achievement; when times are bad, we turn to the government for our salvation.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. (Proverbs 3:5-10 NIV)
This country’s biggest problem is that the Church has not trusted in God but has turned to the world for hope and faith. When Christians do not look to God for guidance, but instead accept worldly principles, they cannot expect divine rescue from the worldly consequences! Too many in the Church have abandoned the principle of sola scriptura (Scripture Alone), and have accepted any number of manmade things to have equal or better authority than the Bible; much of the time they have seized upon the belief in “science” to reinterpret the Bible (such as deistic evolution and the Big Bang theory). God’s people have become wise in their own eyes and have lost the fear of the LORD and have embraced evil.
But God’s people can turn this around. We can seek out God through his word; we can apply God’s rule in our lives, and we can tell others about him. When we vote, we must vote for the candidate most likely to steer the nation back towards God; if no such candidate exists, we should vote for the candidate least likely to interfere with our Christian pursuits. We need to become involved in our neighborhoods and shine the light of God’s word to our fellow Americans. But you cannot shine forth the light of the word if you are ignorant of what that word says.
We must seek God and read his word, applying it in our lives and teaching our neighbors and coworkers the Gospel message. And when worldly problems arise, we need to turn to God for sustenance instead of turning to government. As lean times come upon us, government becomes increasingly useless; people in need are looking for help and direction. Let us make sure that we are prepared to show them the God who is leading us through famine towards eternal prosperity.