Modern secularism has succeeded in deleting religion from public discourse. The state has replaced religion and has become the greatest source of collective human power on earth. And so to that power we run, and ask of it, or take from it, all we long for and all we can get.
For this reason, religious opinion has been silent in this critical national debate. From my perspective, the debate is as much an issue of morality as it is of economics. Our crisis is a reflection of a godless philosophy, devoid of virtue. Simply put, it is the result of "the love of money [which] is a root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10).
This is our story - the U.S. federal budget revenue for 2012 is about 2.5 trillion dollars, a bit over $8,000 of revenue/income per person. And our current U.S. debt is 16.5 trillion dollars, about $52,000 of debt per person. How come? Well, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, unemployment, disability and so on make up about 62% of the U.S. budget.
The problem is not, as such, the state providing a safety net for its most unfortunate citizens. The problem is that the various entitlement programs go well beyond a safety net and provide ever more lavish benefits to more and more people so that now middle-income people are dipping into the federal entitlement pie.
In addition, we are spending much more money than we are earning. That is tantamount to living outside of our means. That is unsustainable so we are now attempting to adjust the problem.
Each year, the government spends more than it takes in, and this gap must be funded with debt. Hence the need for debt or credit limits. The debt limit is simply the maximum amount that the U.S. government can borrow at any given time. Currently, the limit is set at $16.4 trillion.
Because we (post-modernists) have removed any idea of the metaphysical (religion) from our discourse, we do not apply a religious understanding of ethics to our doing business. Consequently, we have become more crass. Some even argue that vice and greed are good, because the desire for wealth - especially if it is inordinate and all-consuming - will produce more wealth for oneself and others and spread technological, medicinal and practical benefits that enhance everyone’s life.
So what happens when some people realize that they can get a lot richer, a lot more quickly and with a lot less work, if they milk the system for whatever its worth? They make super-risky investments with other people’s money, sell rotten bundled loan packages to unwitting investors, strike secret deals with members of Congress, crush competitors by gaining control of regulatory agencies, set up exorbitant compensation packages in companies that then get government bail-outs, and rig and manipulate stock market trading.
According to author Dr. Benjamin Wiker, "Government covers the risky investments, rewards rather than punishes the chicanery and, even more, becomes the place where the money-makers increasingly go to control the market. And why not? Government will pick up the tab by bailing out banks, bailing out industries and subsidizing gross mismanagement and predatory monopolies" (North Carolina Register).
And, to whom is the state accountable? Well, since there is no one greater than the state, I suppose one should just eat, drink and be merry (Ecclesiastes 8:15). In the process, post-modernists are creating a society in which the human spirit is suffocated by a materialistic worldview.
Honestly, Congress’ understanding of debt is incompatible with our biblical worldview of debt. The Bible neither expressly forbids nor condones the borrowing of money. The wisdom of the Bible teaches us that it is usually not a good idea to go into debt. Debt essentially makes us a slave to the one who provides the loan. At the same time, in some situations going into debt is a "necessary evil." As long as money is being handled wisely and the debt payments are manageable, a Christian should be able to take on the burden of financial debt, if it is absolutely necessary.
Let us join with Senate Chaplain Barry Black and pray for our lawmakers. Pray that God would guide them with His wisdom. "Lord, show them the right thing to do and give them the courage to do it. When they feel exhausted, remind them of the great sufficiency of your grace, look with favor on our nation and save us from self-inflicted wounds."
Chaplain Black’s prayer before the Senate should truly express the desire of every Christian. God’s wisdom is needed when it is obvious that the wisdom of our lawmakers is not working.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 9, 2012
GOOD NEWS!
Something incredibly rare happened in New York City on Monday, November 24. Not one single person reported a shooting, stabbing or some other violent crime. New York Police Department chief spokesman, Paul Browne, told Reuters that it was the "first time in memory" the city's police force had experienced such a peaceful day.
With a population of almost eight million people, New York City knows violent crime. From 2,245 murders in 1990; this year, the city's murder rate is on target to hit its lowest point since 1960. The Police Department is hoping for less than 400 murders in 2012. Now, that is good news.
Good News is always good, especially when one is surrounded with bad news. That was true for the shepherds in Bethlehem when they were told by an angel “I bring you good news of great joy…” At that period in history, shepherds stood on the bottom rung of the Palestinian social ladder. They shared the same status as tax collectors and dung sweepers.
In reporting the story of the birth of Jesus, Luke says that the shepherds were “living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night” (Luke 2:8). As second class and untrustworthy Jews, no one expected them to host angelic messengers.
Near Eastern Studies scholar, the late Dr. Joachim Jeremias, contended that shepherds were despised in everyday life. They were deprived of all civil rights. They could not fulfill judicial offices or be admitted in court as witnesses. According to Jeremias, “to buy wool, milk or a kid from a shepherd was forbidden on the assumption that it would be stolen property.”
One wonders, why would angels choose shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus? They could have opted for the religious or political elite of the day. It is obvious, even with the announcement of His birth, it would seem that the name of Jesus was never to be associated with snobbery and class prejudice - the good news was for everyone, not merely the elite.
The New Testament was clear in reporting the words of the angel – “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). We are reading this information more than 2,000 years later, and can confirm that the good news of Jesus’ birth continues to have a global audience and impact.
Interestingly, the term “good news,” is a single compound word in Greek. It is the same word from which we get the English word gospel. Hence, the gospel is good news. For New Testament writers, this was more than a play on words. They actually believed, witnessed and passionately taught that the coming of Jesus was good news to the world.
Many of those New Testament eyewitnesses gave their lives in the process of sharing the message of good news to the world. Thankfully, millions have followed them in paying the ultimate price to share with others the message and mission of Jesus. The impact of that sharing is evident, not only in the size of Christian churches, but more so in the influence of Christian values in society. These values are consistent with the message of transformation, integral to the coming of Jesus.
Even a cursory study of the history of hospitals and health care will recognize the contribution of the Christian message. The same can be said of major universities and education on a whole, especially in the western world.
Despite attempts to deconstruct history by deleting the role of Christianity in many institutions, it is more than apparent that Christianity influenced the abolition of slavery and infanticide. In addition, it is because of the Christian ethic that the outrage against euthanasia and abortion persists.
Sometimes one wonders, where would civilization be today without Christian notions of compassion and forgiveness? In attempting to answer, simply peruse the history of institutions like the Boy Scout movement, YMCA, Credit Union, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and so many others. Serious students of history in civil liberties, medicine, the arts, economics, science and the humanities, often express a sense of awe, because of the influence of Christianity in the birthing of these disciplines.
However, the good news of the birth of Jesus was not only intended to influence horizontal relationships. The birth was primarily intended to bring about vertical relationships with the God of heaven. Jesus Himself said, “I have come that you might have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). That fullness of life Jesus promised is both for now and eternity – that is good news.
However, the good news of Christmas is more than a once a year celebration. It is best reflected in a lifestyle, displayed throughout the year. Agreed, the Christmas season provides additional opportunities to care and share, but it does not stop there. It is a spirit that should influence us throughout the year.
With a population of almost eight million people, New York City knows violent crime. From 2,245 murders in 1990; this year, the city's murder rate is on target to hit its lowest point since 1960. The Police Department is hoping for less than 400 murders in 2012. Now, that is good news.
Good News is always good, especially when one is surrounded with bad news. That was true for the shepherds in Bethlehem when they were told by an angel “I bring you good news of great joy…” At that period in history, shepherds stood on the bottom rung of the Palestinian social ladder. They shared the same status as tax collectors and dung sweepers.
In reporting the story of the birth of Jesus, Luke says that the shepherds were “living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night” (Luke 2:8). As second class and untrustworthy Jews, no one expected them to host angelic messengers.
Near Eastern Studies scholar, the late Dr. Joachim Jeremias, contended that shepherds were despised in everyday life. They were deprived of all civil rights. They could not fulfill judicial offices or be admitted in court as witnesses. According to Jeremias, “to buy wool, milk or a kid from a shepherd was forbidden on the assumption that it would be stolen property.”
One wonders, why would angels choose shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus? They could have opted for the religious or political elite of the day. It is obvious, even with the announcement of His birth, it would seem that the name of Jesus was never to be associated with snobbery and class prejudice - the good news was for everyone, not merely the elite.
The New Testament was clear in reporting the words of the angel – “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). We are reading this information more than 2,000 years later, and can confirm that the good news of Jesus’ birth continues to have a global audience and impact.
Interestingly, the term “good news,” is a single compound word in Greek. It is the same word from which we get the English word gospel. Hence, the gospel is good news. For New Testament writers, this was more than a play on words. They actually believed, witnessed and passionately taught that the coming of Jesus was good news to the world.
Many of those New Testament eyewitnesses gave their lives in the process of sharing the message of good news to the world. Thankfully, millions have followed them in paying the ultimate price to share with others the message and mission of Jesus. The impact of that sharing is evident, not only in the size of Christian churches, but more so in the influence of Christian values in society. These values are consistent with the message of transformation, integral to the coming of Jesus.
Even a cursory study of the history of hospitals and health care will recognize the contribution of the Christian message. The same can be said of major universities and education on a whole, especially in the western world.
Despite attempts to deconstruct history by deleting the role of Christianity in many institutions, it is more than apparent that Christianity influenced the abolition of slavery and infanticide. In addition, it is because of the Christian ethic that the outrage against euthanasia and abortion persists.
Sometimes one wonders, where would civilization be today without Christian notions of compassion and forgiveness? In attempting to answer, simply peruse the history of institutions like the Boy Scout movement, YMCA, Credit Union, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity and so many others. Serious students of history in civil liberties, medicine, the arts, economics, science and the humanities, often express a sense of awe, because of the influence of Christianity in the birthing of these disciplines.
However, the good news of the birth of Jesus was not only intended to influence horizontal relationships. The birth was primarily intended to bring about vertical relationships with the God of heaven. Jesus Himself said, “I have come that you might have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). That fullness of life Jesus promised is both for now and eternity – that is good news.
However, the good news of Christmas is more than a once a year celebration. It is best reflected in a lifestyle, displayed throughout the year. Agreed, the Christmas season provides additional opportunities to care and share, but it does not stop there. It is a spirit that should influence us throughout the year.
Monday, December 3, 2012
EXACTLY WHEN Was Jesus Born?
History provides no precise information about the birth of Jesus. It would seem, Jews had very little interest in celebrating births and non-Jewish historians wrote with little precision. Our interest in details like month, day and even time of day, were not characteristic of ancient historians.
In reporting the story of Jesus’ birth, both Matthew and Luke clearly demonstrated that His birth was a fact of history. Whereas Matthew aligned the birth with Herod the Great, Luke focused on Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus. Historians would concur with Matthew and Luke that Herod ruled in Judea while Augustus was emperor from Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire.
In order to satisfy today’s desire for precise information, one would need to reconstruct the information currently available. For instance, Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus seemed quite certain that Herod died on or before April 4, 04 BCE. From Matthew we learn that Jesus was born at least two years before Herod died (Matthew 2:13-16).
Deductions from Luke 3:23 and John 2:20 would also place the birth of Jesus sometime around 06-04 BC/BCE. This conclusion would require some knowledge of Herod’s rebuilding of the Temple in 20 BCE.
In his presentation of the birth, Luke also adds, that the events took place “while Quirinius was governor of Syria.” Historians are now confirming that the Quirinius to whom Luke referred, served as governor on two occasions. One census took place during his first term in office and another in 06 CE, during his second term. These procedures took place every 14 years.
Jesus could not have been born during this second term – Herod was already dead. However, based on the 14 year cycle, Jesus should have been born in 08 BCE. However, because of political conflicts with Herod and Rome, it is believed that the census was delayed by about two years. Here again, that would place the birth of Jesus sometime between 06-04 BCE.
Whereas much of this information may seem to have little value to Christians, it is critical for dialog with skeptics who question the historical Jesus. Some of this questioning is based on the choice of December 25th as the birthday of Jesus.
For more than 200 years, no one seemed to care about celebrating the birth of Jesus. The church even announced that it was sinful to contemplate observing Christ’s birthday “as though He were a King Pharaoh.”
The idea to celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25 was first suggested sometime in the year 300. Other dates like January 6, March 25 and May 20 were suggested. May 20 became a favored date since Luke stated in his report – the shepherds who received the announcement of Christ’s birth “were watching their flock by night” (Luke 2:8).
Scholars argue that shepherds guarded their flocks day and night only at lambing time, in the spring.
The early church fathers debated their options and chose December 25 because this date was a popular pagan festival to honor the birthday of Mithras, the “Invincible Sun God.” So, it was not until December 25, 337 AD/CE, Christians officially celebrated the first Christmas.
Some historians contend that in the early 300’s, the cult of Mithraism was a serious threat to Christianity. For a period of time Mithraism was even proclaimed to be the official state religion by Emperor Aurelian (274). It was not until the reign of Emperor Constantine, Christianity began to receive favor from the state.
In 337, Constantine gave December 25 his blessing to observe the birth of Jesus. With time the observance of Christmas eclipsed the pagan festival of honoring the birthday of Mithras. Initially, the celebration of Christ’s birth was a sacred event. In Christ’s honor, there was Christ’s mass – from which we get the term Christmas.
Through the centuries Christmas has become an amalgam of traditions. The sacredness has been lost and today, many see it as anything but a sacred event. As Christians, we would be doing ourselves and the Lord Jesus a disservice, if we were to celebrate this season as anything but a season of sacred reflection. The date should only provide an opportunity to celebrate His historic birth and to recall His purpose for coming into this world.
For additional study, I would strongly recommend James Veitch’s article on Scythian monk, Dionysius Exiguus.
In reporting the story of Jesus’ birth, both Matthew and Luke clearly demonstrated that His birth was a fact of history. Whereas Matthew aligned the birth with Herod the Great, Luke focused on Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus. Historians would concur with Matthew and Luke that Herod ruled in Judea while Augustus was emperor from Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire.
In order to satisfy today’s desire for precise information, one would need to reconstruct the information currently available. For instance, Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus seemed quite certain that Herod died on or before April 4, 04 BCE. From Matthew we learn that Jesus was born at least two years before Herod died (Matthew 2:13-16).
Deductions from Luke 3:23 and John 2:20 would also place the birth of Jesus sometime around 06-04 BC/BCE. This conclusion would require some knowledge of Herod’s rebuilding of the Temple in 20 BCE.
In his presentation of the birth, Luke also adds, that the events took place “while Quirinius was governor of Syria.” Historians are now confirming that the Quirinius to whom Luke referred, served as governor on two occasions. One census took place during his first term in office and another in 06 CE, during his second term. These procedures took place every 14 years.
Jesus could not have been born during this second term – Herod was already dead. However, based on the 14 year cycle, Jesus should have been born in 08 BCE. However, because of political conflicts with Herod and Rome, it is believed that the census was delayed by about two years. Here again, that would place the birth of Jesus sometime between 06-04 BCE.
Whereas much of this information may seem to have little value to Christians, it is critical for dialog with skeptics who question the historical Jesus. Some of this questioning is based on the choice of December 25th as the birthday of Jesus.
For more than 200 years, no one seemed to care about celebrating the birth of Jesus. The church even announced that it was sinful to contemplate observing Christ’s birthday “as though He were a King Pharaoh.”
The idea to celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25 was first suggested sometime in the year 300. Other dates like January 6, March 25 and May 20 were suggested. May 20 became a favored date since Luke stated in his report – the shepherds who received the announcement of Christ’s birth “were watching their flock by night” (Luke 2:8).
Scholars argue that shepherds guarded their flocks day and night only at lambing time, in the spring.
The early church fathers debated their options and chose December 25 because this date was a popular pagan festival to honor the birthday of Mithras, the “Invincible Sun God.” So, it was not until December 25, 337 AD/CE, Christians officially celebrated the first Christmas.
Some historians contend that in the early 300’s, the cult of Mithraism was a serious threat to Christianity. For a period of time Mithraism was even proclaimed to be the official state religion by Emperor Aurelian (274). It was not until the reign of Emperor Constantine, Christianity began to receive favor from the state.
In 337, Constantine gave December 25 his blessing to observe the birth of Jesus. With time the observance of Christmas eclipsed the pagan festival of honoring the birthday of Mithras. Initially, the celebration of Christ’s birth was a sacred event. In Christ’s honor, there was Christ’s mass – from which we get the term Christmas.
Through the centuries Christmas has become an amalgam of traditions. The sacredness has been lost and today, many see it as anything but a sacred event. As Christians, we would be doing ourselves and the Lord Jesus a disservice, if we were to celebrate this season as anything but a season of sacred reflection. The date should only provide an opportunity to celebrate His historic birth and to recall His purpose for coming into this world.
For additional study, I would strongly recommend James Veitch’s article on Scythian monk, Dionysius Exiguus.
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