Tag Archives: Government

Wealth Inequality: Country

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There is an Interesting article on David Stockman who warned of the wealth inequality in the United States.1 His problem isn’t with the wealthy achieving wealth through business or even through the stock market, but that the stock market is unusually propped up because of the Fed’s monetary policy of printing new money. Continue reading →

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One Lie

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There are many philosophies on how we ought to get along.  Some of them are lies.  One lie is Socialism.  Socialism actually intends to do well.  It intends to help man.  It intends to lift people up from their despair, helplessness or oppressed condition.  The problem is it depends on man’s philosophy, ability and techniques rather than on the absolute truth of God’s Word.

Socialism is a lie, because it establishes comparisons between me and my neighbor and I need the government to help mediate equality between us.  It’s a lie, because that is not the role of the government, nor the goal of man (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Cor. 10:31).  Socialism taunts and bashes the success of some, declaring they are evil while stealing from those who “have” to give to the “have  nots.”  Granted, the government merely calls it a tax, but it is stealing.

Anyone who has a business is considered well off and workers are poor.  A business owner might be scraping by to get the business going and the worker is living off the manipulations of some power hungry labor union (Unions had their place at one time, but the greediness of business has been surmounted by the greediness of some labor unions).

Unfortunately, Socialism establishes class warfare that as long as there are others “who have more than me,” I should have the government working for me to work for my equal rights.  It’s a lie.  It won’t happen.  It’s like a drug that people think will help them, but in fact, will hurt them.  It will not help me not feel small compared to what I think others have.

David Noebel writes, “[Socialists] believe that capitalism eventually destroys itself as it exploits more and more peole until everyone has been reduce to worker status”  Understanding the Times, 9.4.3. Socialism seeks to stop that perceived fall and safeguard the people by its own devices, albeit controlled by “Elites.”

People foolishly think that it will be those “above me” economically will be the ones pulled down “to my level,” when in fact everyone will lose.  Socialism thinks that the free-market system is top-down managed system to hold workers down, when it fact it is a bottom-up system that works according to the decisions of everyone in the system making decisions about what they want to buy or not and who can provide the best product at the best price.  IN FACT, Socialism is controlled by “Elite people” who think they know what is best for everyone.

Ludwig von Mises wrote, “The entrepreneurs and capitalists are not irresponsible autocrats.  They are unconditionally subject to the sovereignty of the consumers.  The market is a consumers’ democracy.”    http://mises.org/humanaction/chap15sec4.asp

The very complaint many have against successful people – greed – is really at the heart of those who resent their success – they are also greedy.  The fact is they want someone else, the government, to make sure they get to see falsely established success.  Then when politicians promise benefits and give gifts, people foolishly vote for the benefits rather than the principle.  If American continues toward socialism, it will eventually kill the means by which America became great.  Socialism depends on man controlling the economy.  Free market is, as Adam Smith wrote in his book The Wealth of Nations (1776), is guided by the invisible hand of the decisions made in the market place.  It eventually evens out.

Will you trust the sovereignty of God?  Will you work if you can so that you can eat?  Will you trust in the Lord and trust His provision?

The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. (Proverbs 13:4)

For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:10) [For those in genuine need, the church has the responsibility to help immediately and help the person get on his feet so he can feed himself.  The person must humble himself and want the help).

Pursue God and trust His Word and He will provide what you need.

 

Strong Delusion – Part 2

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As I  quoted from Paul yesterday, “They did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie”  (2Th 2:10-11) This will actually be fulfilled during the Tribulation, but because of the falling away of Christians in the last times, we will see this even during our days.

We revealed in the election that we are rejecting God as a country.  We are rejecting a personal relationship with God, God’s design for marriage, who is sovereign in our lives and the gift of life from God.  Our moral compass is slowly spinning around and does not know how to orient to Truth.

Decisions made Tuesday reveal several things about our attitude toward God.  First, we do not want God in our lives.  The Democratic Platform almost left God off the platform, until the committee heard enough backlash from constituents to force a voice vote to reinstate God into their platform.  I still believe the voice vote went in favor of leaving God off the platform, but the chair knew the right answer was to keep God at least written into the platform.  We want what we want rather than submitting to God’s Word.  Many are warning America is heading for a fiscal cliff when the real problem is we have reached the tipping point of the spiritual cliff.  The fiscal cliff is only a tangible sign of the spiritual and moral cliff we are falling off.  We don’t trust in God; we as a nation trust in government. 

You might think that we Christians already know this.  Most know this, I realize.  Yet, I am ashamed of fellow conservatives and Christians who did not vote.  Complacency and lack of understanding biblical responsibility caused many to think their one vote would not count.  That foolish thinking could have changed every race.  Some who did not vote are thinking, “But I prayed for the election.”  That is foolish.  Get off your seat and get on your feet and vote for biblical principles.  A Christian who did not vote, but could have, does not have God ruling in his life.

Secondly, we think we know about love and marriage better than God.  Same-sex proponents are no longer quiet about their lifestyle.  They are open, brash and hardened about it and not desiring the freedom that can be acquired in Jesus Christ. Scripture warns repeatedly that marriage is between one man and one woman from the beginning to the end.  The issue is not whether love exists between two people, but whether God exists between two people.  For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.  Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.(Rom 1:26-27)  I don’t hate those who choose a lifestyle contrary to God’s design.  I want to help them see how they can experience the joy of God’s design. 

We are merely living out what Paul wrote in the last days, But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good…” (2Ti 3:1-3)  I’m no better than anyone else, I just know I need to pursue God’s design for the best way to honor Him and experience the blessing of what He designed.

Thirdly, we think government will best be able to care for us.  Government is put in place by God to insure external and internal peace so that we can worship Him, live in peace and extend His reach in peace to other nations of people. (Rom. 13:1-7)  The local church was intended to care for people.  We have failed over the last twenty centuries to do that.  It’s no wonder why people look to and are dependent on the government.  That is indicative of our failure to disciple people to Jesus Christ’s mandate of making disciples of all the nations.

In 1900, the church was the center of people’s lives.  Today, church is a drive-thru place where I can get my spiritual fix and move on to more important events in my schedule.  When the church gets back to true discipleship and an orientation where each person understands his/her role in discipleship, the church can be restored to her rightful place of being the Bride of Jesus Christ. In the meantime we’ll likely continue following “everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judg 21:25)  The solution is always to seek what is “pleasing to the Lord.” (2 Cor. 5:9)

Fourthly, we think we can control life.  Whether we think we can end a baby’s life in the womb and call it a choice, or we can spend our way to prosperity with fake money, God will have the final say.  One day, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  (Phi 2:10-11)  As you and I look and depend on Him, only then will we experience His life and the life He intended for us (John 10:10).

Yesterday, I said I was disappointed.  Yes, I didn’t know how much the outcome would affect me.  I’m actually excited to see how God is going to work through the details of these events.  I’m excited to see how people will respond.  I’m excited to see how His power will inspire us to press to the objective of the upward call in Christ Jesus.  I know in whom I believe.

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

Refrain

But I know Whom I have believèd,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.

I trust you will join me in that endeavor to press on!

Strong Delusion – Part 1

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          Paul says it well, “they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie”  (2Th 2:10-11)  I rejoiced that Mike Pence will become Governor Mike Pence for Indiana, but regarding many of the other elections, I admit that I’m disappointed.  I’m thankful that history never depends on man and I will never trust in man.  Jeremiah warned Israel, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.  (Jer 17:5-8)  When Jeremiah prophesied, Israel was in a downward spiral to her fait accompli.

I’m not disappointed in those who achieved personal victory, even if I didn’t vote for some of them. I’m disappointed in where my country is spiritually.  I realize today how deluded we are in our thinking.  We Christians have not fared well in living out the gospel message and discipling people to a saving faith in Jesus Christ and to holiness in spiritual discipleship.
 
The vote tells me several things about my country.  First, we are more concerned about self than principle.  We would rather get what we can get for free than live principles of hard work and doing what is best for our community.
 
It has been alleged that Benjamin Franklin wrote, “When the people find they can votethemselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.”  Whether he said it or not, it’s a true statement.  As the political pundits discussed why some won and why others lost, the bottom line is a spiritual issue.  People are selfish and would put aside principle and vote for freebies they can get.  Fifty percent of American people pay a total of 3.4 percent of the federal income tax receipts.  Forty-seven percent are receiving food stamps.  I am troubled by much of the greed of the wealthy, but I’m also troubled by the entitlement mentality of my less well off brethren.
 
Ron Paul lives on principle and many of his ideas should have been adopted by both of the parties.  He said,
“People do not want anything cut…They want all the bailouts to come. They want the Fed to keep printing the money. And they don’t believe that we’ve gone off the cliff or are close to going off the cliff. They think we can patch it over, that we can somehow come up with some magic solution. But you can’t have a budgetary solution if you don’t change what the role of government should be. As long as you think we have to police the world and run this welfare state, all we are going to argue about is who will get the loot.”
 
 
 
 
Secondly, we care about present personal rights than biblical ethics.  A majority of youth, women, those in labor unions and non-whites in America voted for President Obama and only white males voted in majority for Mitt Romney.  I’m not anti-any-group.  Jesus died for every person.  There are clear biblical principles that are more important than my “rights” or desires.
 
I can learn from anyone and I need others to complement what God has given me to do on earth. Yet, as a country, we’re more concerned as a nation about personal rights like women’s rights than the right of the unborn baby.  We’re more concerned about who will pay for my education of reconstructed history than someone who wants students to learn true constitutional history.  We’re more concerned about creature comforts, vacation, high pay for mediocre work than a system that allows people to be rewarded for excellent hard work.  We’re more concerned about getting the golden eggs from the government for free because we came from a country of oppression than following the guidelines everyone else has to follow.
 
Thirdly, we get sucked into hype and misinterpretation rather than truth.  The two senator hopefuls from Missouri and Indiana made comments that were distorted and likely caused their losses. Todd Akin from Missouri, made the comment about “legitimate rape” which was extremely an unfortunate choice of words, much like Richard Murdock’s comment, “even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that is something that God intended to happen.”  Murdock’s statement is easily misunderstood if people don’t listen to understand. Akin did not speak well and did not handle things well.  Murdock was blasted by the viral threat of digital gossip.  The situation was indicative of where our country is spiritually.  But I don’t put my hope in people or my country.
 
My hope is in nothing less that Jesus Christ.  This vote merely means there are many more opportunities to penetrate the world with the gospel and I need to use every day for clear thinking and effective discipleship. The following words are my hope:
 
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
 
            Let me address specifically tomorrow, how my country has revealed that its eyes are divided and away from Jesus Christ.

Book Review: God versus Socialism by Joel McDurmon

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“God versus Socialism: A Biblical Critique of the New Social Gospel” by Joel McDurmon. This book will make you humanly mad and divinely wise.  We in America for too many years have fallen under the pretense that “America, right or wrong, America.”  The problem is that we are swiftly floating down the river of socialism in the name of doing good.  We Americans have bought the premise too many times that Scripture deals with spiritual issues and not other mundane concerns like politics, property and population.  We have begun to look to the king (government) for the answers, rather than trust the King of Kings and obey what His Word already says.

Joel McDurmon in his excellent volume “God versus Socialism” has done a brilliant job of exposing the evil promulgated by government programs intended to help the masses.  However, by helping the masses, the government messiah has stolen from the rich to enable the poor to continue in poverty.  There is only one King and He owns everything (Ps. 24:1).  The foolishness of man has been and is to look to man for answers which he will never resolve in the realm of mankind, Republican, Democrat or Independent.  Conservatives, especially the NeoCons of the last two decades are no better than their Liberal counterparts.  They have increased the size of government in the name of personal power and individual aggrandizement.

McDurmon astutely exposes the evil agenda of several contemporary authors and speakers.  At best they believe what they are writing will help, at worst, they are deceived by seducing spirits.  McDurmon uses the subtle, or not so subtle, agenda of Jim Wallis, Tony Campolo and Ronald Sider as examples of wolves in sheep’s clothing.  They have infiltrated many denominations and pulled them perilously close to the cliff, pushing many off into the chasms of ineptness and spiritual despair.  They have twisted and distorted Scripture for their own purposes, which in short is to strengthen man’s dependence on man’s government, to redistribute property and to dislodge the Christian’s understanding of biblical theology.

Christian Socialism is an oxymoron, because instead of freedom in Christ, Christians are set into bondage to the state.  Unfortunately too many Christians like the benefits they seem to get on their personal behalf and they don’t have to see who the government is stealing from in order to pay for what they need.  It’s simply another ploy from the demonic realm that Christians will one day find themselves in such a deep pit of dependence on government and not be able to extract themselves from that pit.  “The biblical view provides for freedom and responsibility, the socialist view leads to serfdom, slavery to government, and dependence on the state.” (p. 223)

War on Poverty Man’s Way

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            In 1965 Lyndon Johnson declared war on poverty when 15% of America was under the “poverty” level.  His “deal” became a raw deal, because man will never solve his problems without the Grace of God.  We now spend 668 billion dollars per year on 126 programs.  We are still at the same level of poverty of 15%. God is not a part of the program. If you leave God out of any solution, you’ll have a temporary fix at best and a deceitful money pit of misery at worst.

            When a repentant woman came into a dinner engagement and anointed Jesus’ head with a very costly oil of spikenard, the indignant criticized her for this seemingly waste of resources.  Jesus told them to leave her alone and then said, “For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.”  (Mark 14:7)  Jesus didn’t say, don’t help the poor, but you may do them good.  He also said they would always be with you.  In other words, we ought to do good by helping, but always in the name of Jesus, so Jesus is the reason for our help to them and they know the reason for the help they receive.  But we should also know that money and resources in themselves are not the solution to poverty as the raw deal has shown.

            Am I against the support the poor receive from the government?  Not really.  I believe the church should be the source of help, but the church is at a point, where it can hardly take care of its own.  Unfortunately, the government welfare level of support has risen 41% in the last three years alone, an astronomical figure and still there is no change to godliness or upward mobility of the poor.  The only true answer is a change of heart and seeking after God’s way.  Money has become one of the “gods of this age.”  People think money will solve theirs and the world’s problems.  It never will and never was meant to solve problems.

            What we can do is reach out to the poor through intentional outreach.  Grace does that through Servant’s Heart, individual ministries and the newly formed Outreach Ministry Team. Who can you tell about your relationship with Jesus Christ?