What Crisis?
So far I have yet to be effected by the economic crisis in any measurable way. I think somebody might be pulling my leg. From what I gather, the crisis is that people aren't spending money left and right anymore. People are losing houses because they can't pay their mortgage. People can't buy houses because they can't get a mortgage. They need a mortgage because house prices have inflated because of the previous availability of mortgages to anyone. Stores are closing because way too many were built when economic times were good. People are no longer spending money they don't have so our economy is falling apart.
Here's my solution: let it fall apart. The bailout is simply trying to buy back this lifestyle so that we can all go back to living our comfortable lives. I don't really get how a nation can be trillions of dollars in debt. Who are we indebted to? All I know is printing more money can't be good for the plunging value of the dollar. If we keep putting bandaids on the system it will eventually explode in much graver ways than it might right now.
These words from Chelsea's grandfather offer a needed perspective through all of this:
I was born in 1934, in the midst of the depression. My father worked for an oil company (Humble Oil and Refining Company, which is now Exxon-Mobile), so we had enough to live on, but we drove the same car all through WW II; gasoline and tires were rationed, so we didn’t drive except when we had to. I got one new pair of blue jeans every year. It cost a quarter to go to the movie-matinee on Saturday afternoon. Nobody had any money to spend, but it was a good time to be alive unless you lost a family-member in the war.
It is a lot different now. People just throw pennies down on the sidewalk. Everybody has money for every electronic gadget they want. Every young couple buys whatever they want on credit, including houses and cars, instead of saving for many, many years, like they did when I was young. Nobody wants to go back, but I believe the old times and ways were better for the soul.
Please excuse my ramblings because I am no economist, these are just my observations. It really doesn't seem that bad to me. Maybe instead of throwing more money around trying to fix our lifestyle of throwing money around, we should slowly adjust to living within our means. Seems like it could work.
A Politician That Makes Some Sense
Jesus Isn’t Patriotic
I walk into the church doors hesitantly every year on the Sunday closest to July 4. Red, white, and blue button-up ties and button-up shirts, patriotic anthems, and talk of the good ol' days when America was a Christian can pretty much be expected. To preface this post, I'm not anti-America. I just feel like Americans, especially Christian Americans, are a whole lot more pro-America than God is. It might sound rash, but in many cases I think nationalism inside the Church constitutes idolatry. I will give examples of what has made me feel this way.
Last Memorial Day happened to fall on the Monday right after Pentecost Sunday. The only reason I knew Pentecost was approaching was that I had seen something about it on the website of my friend's Anglican church. I went to church that Sunday in great anticipation of celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit, the coming of "another Comforter". No mention was made. But we did have a section of the worship set aside for remembering the people who died while protecting our blessed freedom. This isn't the only case of national holidays superseding Church holidays.
Today in Church this verse was quoted multiple times in reference to our nation:
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
That's a great passage, but unfortunately it was written a couple thousand years ago and it's not talking about the United States. After Jesus' blood sealed the New Covenant His nation became the Church worldwide. That's the beauty of Jesus' death: Gentiles—most of the people reading this—were given access to God's grace. Yes, if His people (Christians) would turn from their wicked ways, he would hear from heaven and heal our land (the Church). Stating that a nation is God's is a dangerous thing; its actions no longer require justification. It's time manifest destiny was laid to rest.
Lastly, here are some photos that, I think, give a glimpse into the mindset I've been describing: 1, 2, 3
It seems like nationalism has become our excuse. "If only America would legislate Christian principles (life before birth, heterosexual marriage, etc.) then the Church would be the life-transforming community is should be." Reading the New Testament you find Jesus avoiding the political realms. He could have easily taken a governmental position, ensuring his following. Instead, he went around with twelve common men, ministering to common people, teaching the world a very uncommon way to live. Let's turn our focus to ridding worship of impurity so that we can experience Christ both corporately and individually in ways that transform within and without the doors of American churches.
the author
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