The 'End' of Greed 2008

Once again we are experiencing the impact of the playing out of a cycle in the economy created by the greed that permeates a fallen culture driven by an out-of-control desire for greater wealth and accumulation. The economic crisis of 2008 has many causes but the primary cause is sin. Sin is such an antiquated and difficult word to use in the 'naked public square' without being ridiculed, but it IS the root cause of the woe's of our world including the recent credit crisis.

With a few noted exceptions our entire culture participated in creating the credit crisis. In this decade we have experienced unbelievable spending and consumption while US households actually had a negative savings rate. From Congress and entitlements and stimulus checks (paid for by issuing debt), to the White House and the "off-budget" funding of a war, to credit agencies looking the other way at bundled mortgage backed securities, to neighbors and the under-employed being encouraged to mislead lenders in order to qualify for more debt than they could afford - a good case can be made that The Influence of Affluence in this case is negative - and now the price must be paid. Will we simply borrow more and extend the deadline for debt or will we begin to look with wisdom at this situation?

Although we may not be able to effect change on a macro-economic basis and our White House and Congress may continue to try and fix this problem by more borrowing - the church (that's us individually and corporately) should look upon this crisis with wisdom and speak truth in our words AND how we live. If we refuse to participate in a culture drunk on the desire for more and live as wise stewards we will have a testimony that means something and peace that comes from obedience and a world view that refuses to follow the culture. Reform of culture begins with one person making a decision to follow God and his principles regardless of the culture. Though "The 'End' of Greed" will not come until Christ return economic crisis and times like these give us opportunity to show the Truth to our families, culture and the world.

As James Madison said:

"If men were Angels, we would not need government."

and as my friend Kendall Hewitt said this morning,

"Freedom requires internal government coupled with endless checks and balances. "

Working Capital

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk in peace and the confidence that God loves you and cares for you in every area of your life? I long for the day I can walk with God and know and understand His sovereignty over life and our welfare. In the mean time I am convinced my utmost would be an attempt, though a poor one at best, at obedience to those things He has clearly shown me through His word as well as through life and others.

Consecrated Wealth

In the story of Jesus and the wealthy young ruler it says, "Jesus seeing that he (the wealthy young man) had become sad, said, "How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!"(Luke 18)

What is the kingdom of God? In the New Testament alone this phrase is used over 100 times. For the the purposes of this post 'the kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal sovereign God over all creatures and things (Psalms 103:19; Daniel 4:3). The kingdom of God is also the designation for the sphere of salvation entered into at the new birth (John 3:5-7), and is synonymous with the "kingdom of heaven".'

The kingdom as "sphere" or a way of seeing things (world-view) is the one so many of us struggle with. When we are contemplating spending, giving or keeping what we possess we are confronted with our own world-view. Is what we have really ours and does it lead us toward God? I read a great quote last week that said, "Our checkbooks should be read as theological statements of our beliefs."

Perhaps we need to begin, or renew, to consecrate all that we have and will have to God as His possessions and we merely His stewards, or Trustees, for a time? I believe this would eliminate a tremendous amount of anxiety in our lives. This is surely a world-view that leads us toward Him who stores up treasure for His children. Where is our treasure? For sure when we analyze this we get a good view of our heart!

"As for the Rich..."

Are you rich? You might be surprised by the real answer to this question.

There is a fun and instructive tool on the web that let's you know where you stand in relation to the rest of the world at http://www.globalrichlist.com/

In light of your findings I offer I Timothy 6:17-19 which says the following:

"As for the rich in this present world, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life."

Wisdom From the Life of Henri Nouwen

My friend BJ Georgian in Dallas sent me the following devotion written by Dr. Gary Klingsporn. If we would follow Henri Nouwen's lead the quality of our lives would be much richer. Enjoy!

Henri Nouwen was a successful university professor, writer, and lecturer. At the height of his career, he left the prestigious world of Harvard to live and work among the mentally handicapped and seriously disabled people at the L'Arche community in Toronto. From the competitive world of the best and brightest, he moved to powerless people of few words, considered marginal to society.

The move changed Nouwen's life.

"These broken, wounded, and completely unpretentious people forced me to let go of my relevant self," he later wrote, "the self that can do things, show things, prove things, build things—and forced me to reclaim that unadorned self in which I am completely vulnerable, open to receive and give love regardless of any accomplishments."

Living among the poor and powerless, Nouwen rediscovered his true identity.

In our culture, my personal identity typically is measured by what I produce, my position in the workplace, the wealth I accumulate, my social status. But all the externals beg the question: Who am I? What gives my life ultimate value and meaning?

Christian faith offers a counter-cultural answer to these questions by saying our worth and identity come not from ourselves or what we do, but from God.

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus came to the Jordan River to be baptized. "As he came up out of the water, a voice from heaven said, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased' " (Mark 1:11, NRSV).

Before Jesus had said or done anything in his ministry, the heavenly voice said, "You are my Beloved."

Other voices tell us our identity is found in what we do or achieve, but the same voice that spoke to Jesus at his baptism says to each of us: "You are my beloved."

Throughout the Bible, God's voice speaks in many ways, inviting people to live in relationship with The Holy. Isaiah gives us this word from the Lord: "I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior . . . You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you"

(Isaiah 43:3–4). The apostle Paul says that by faith "we are children of God, and if children, then . . . joint heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:16–17).

Underlying pain and loneliness, compulsive behavior, the need to perform, is the fear that our lives will have no meaning. But identity ultimately is not found in jobs or success, in what we do or accomplish. Our true identity lies in the fact that God says to each of us, "I love you; you are my beloved child."

This gift God offers us, the gift of "belovedness," can change us forever. To hear the voice of the Holy and to live as beloved children of God infuses new meaning into our lives, relationships, and the work we do each day.

Questions for discussion:

Do you ever find that you define yourself solely by what you have done or achieved?

Why do you suppose it is difficult in our culture to have a healthy sense that our true identity comes from God?

Another Inconvenient Truth

One of the many important truth's to communicate to children, whether 4 or 40, is the principle that, "a degree of adversity is necessary for all human development". Counselors and psychologists offices are full today because 'adversity' is something our culture tells us to avoid. I have heard more than once, "I don't want my children to have to 'work as hard as I have'. But we know that in order to grow physically stronger we lift heavy weights which put a strain on our current muscles in order for them to grow stronger. We cannot grow intellectually without applying our minds to strenuous work. But when we begin to consider hardship or the difficulties of life how often do we have a world view that points us towards an opportunity instead of simply avoidance. Pain, C. S. Lewis often stated, "can be Gods mega-phone". Pain is a reality in a fallen world, and can be instructive when seen as opportunity. We have a model in Jesus of capturing the moment to share this truth at his final supper with His disciples.

Jesus broke the bread at the last supper and said, "This is my body which is broken for you (and for you I will known pain)". His plan for change in the lives of his disciples, and the world, started with a decision to enter into a form of suffering, or discipline for our sakes. And the fruit of His pain has changed us and changed history.

If there are places in our life, or the life of our family, that need to be developed, let us embrace the pain of change and adversity that may follow the decision to make positive change. Christ's pain was not to make us happy but to make us holy and similarly lasting change that ultimatley yields good fruit will not be painless. What ways can we learn, and teach others to learn, to grow in grace and Christian discipline? Is our vision for life one that is shaped by the cross of Christ, or do we weep over our personal losses more than we weep for 'the lost'? Ouch! When I answer that question I know there is 'a degree of adversity' in my future.

New Living Stones

Down the corridors of time symbols have always been important. For countless years a "family crest" has been an identifying mark for everyone from Royalty to the pub owner and his family down the street. In light of my own growing family, and some of the families I serve in my practice, I have often wondered how we could more clearly identify who we are as followers of Christ in an affluent culture. It is, for me, a constant battle to capture the hearts and minds of my children with the reality of the gospel, so I believe we need to take advantage of creative opportunities that will capture our children's hearts and minds - and may change ours in the process.

So, our family along with several other families are creating a 'mark,' or 'identity' that will act as a reminder of the blessings and responsibilities of affluence.  (This is not a new church or non-profit....I promise...this is simply an exercise, or opportunity to disciple our children and create family unity.)

Because the culture we live in, and our children are growing up in, has such a heavy influence on even the strongest of Christian families, we need ways to help encourage one another as brothers and sisters in Christ - and as fathers and mothers who wish to help our children to identify with Christ. To that end I suggest families and small groups, perhaps even churches, create, along with the support of a few friends, a group we will call something like New Living Stones (I know the name isn't new or creative, and frankly the name itself isn't that important). However, for my family, Living Stones are a title given to Christ and His followers in I Peter 2:4,5 which states:

As you come to Him (Jesus Christ), a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

In this lifetime exercise, we encourage one another to "be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in His love, as Christ loved us, and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." As "imitators" of Christ we will be offering, hopefully in one more way, as a family, "a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Since most people reading this blog are already givers to their church perhaps New Living Stones can be done through the church or by simply choosing a few ministries you know that are faithfully serving the Lord by ministering to widows, orphans and the poor to help support them financially. Our families giving will be strategic, utilizing collective wisdom from others in our New Living Stones group, and our churches mission's committee, to identify where we know work is being done well and in the name of Christ. I recently heard a great quote, "Social work done in Christ's name becomes Sacred work." I believe this is true.

As an 'identifying mark' and as a witness to our world my family will wear a bracelet(Sort of like Livestrong or the others that have come along) made by hand in the areas we choose to support (Or made in that part of the world). In this we are creating economic development and creating a symbol of solidarity (which kids love!) as well as following a principle of scripture. Deuteronomy 6:8 says of God's law and the principles of communicating a generational and covenantal system of belief, "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes."

And, as a group of followers of Jesus, we do this we may even encourage our brothers and sisters, as well as a world that there is great joy and power in following Jesus. As His children we seek "to know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9

The final principle I believe would be a good idea to articulate throughout this process would be that your family, or giving group, wish to see manifest a spirit of generosity, and hopefully this will strengthen, or begin a course of following Jesus in the area of giving of your life and not simply your money.

Giving is a private act but can be used in community to demonstrate acts of love and obedience to our children. So perhaps if we ask others to participate we would be wise to articulate the following principle from 2 Corinthians 9:6,7:

"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

It's not necessary to "join me". I hope you can use this idea as inspiration or as a catalyst to think of ways your family can more clearly identify your calling and mission. I see this as one more opportunity to show the love of Christ within our families, churches, community and the world in a creative and fun way I think our kids might like.

For more information email me: tom@wwmonline.com or just come back to the blog often.

"A Christian should not follow the crowd, but rather show them the way!" I like that.