Thursday, November 13, 2008

Someone elses thoughts on the election

THE 2008 ELECTION…AS I SEE IT

by Ron Merryman

November 9, 2008



A number have asked me to comment on the recent election in the U.S. Here is how I see it.



Americans Voted for more Centralized Government



First & foremost: Americans, Christians and non-Christians, voted for larger, more centralized Federal Government, i.e., for more socialism. Why? Simply put: they have gullibly put their faith in the power brokers in WASHINGTON D.C.



The predominant concern in this election was the economy. Most people voted for the candidate(s) that promised to give them the most… more benefits, more federal moneys, more health care, more and better retirement programs. In other words, less personal responsibility for one’s security in life; less need for hard work; less need to save; less personal concern to plan – all these motivated Americans to vote as they did.



Secondly: Please understand that the results of this election indicate what the majority of Americans BELIEVE: they believe that the Federal Government will take care of them better than an economic system in which they take care of themselves, the best proven system ever for fair economic opportunity. Our Founding Fathers must have rolled over in their graves!



The Economic Crisis: A Faith Tester



I find it extremely telling that the current international economic crisis hit in full force about 8 weeks before our major election. [Sarah Palin was not the cause of McCain’s defeat; if anything, she revived true conservatism in the Republican Party. Americans’ knee-jerk reaction to the economic crisis insured Barack Obama’s election.]



Crisis is often God’s way of testing and teaching believers where and in what their faith really is. This is illustrated again and again in the Bible. The candidates in this election continually (perpetually!) reminded us that we are to trust them; that is, to believe that they will straighten out the greed and corruption that got us into this mess.



Get the picture: two Senators, both part of the Congress, a major, major, source of our economic woes, promised to straighten out the source of which they are a part. Do you, did you, REALLY BELIEVE THEIR MESSAGE? Have you put your faith in that which cannot and will not deliver, the power brokers in Washington, D.C.? GOD OFTEN USES CRISES TO TEACH BELIEVERS WHERE OR ON WHAT THEIR FAITH RELIES!



If you think the Federal Government is going to take care of you, visit an Indian Reservation sometime. America’s original inhabitants were sold the same bill of goods years ago.



Government & Economics



Are you deceived about the Federal Government’s capacity to create wealth or prosperity? The Federal Government neither produces nor markets any product. The only way it can get moneys is by taking it from us. If you voted for more economic distribution from the Government, where will they get the moneys? They have only two sources: taxation and inflation (inflation is simply printing more money thus making what you save worthless, another form of stealing).



By the way: State Governments CANNOT print money. I have read little about the disastrous effects of our fiscal crisis on State Governments. Think on this: there is less and less state- sales-tax revenues because Americans have quit spending; the States will receive less and less federal funds because the Federal Government is bankrupt; the States will receive less and less income tax from residents because unemployment is skyrocketing.



So expect State officials to get in line with those already there looking for Federal funds: AIG Insurance Co., General Motors, our major banks and lending institutions, ad infinitum, ad nauseaum.



Our Federal Government is a fiscal Titanic that has already hit the iceberg. It runs on foreign funds invested in fed-funds: China is a major investor as are the oil rich Arab states. What happens if (when) the American dollar deflates and these foreign powers call for their cash?!?



THE CONGRESS OF THE USA IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS PRESENT FISCAL CRISIS: how in the world can an informed American have confidence in their handling of OUR money? Congress will not and cannot balance the national budget because they do not want to, yet they have convinced good Americans that they are economic messianic deliverers. Woe is me.



Listen closely: if your government gives you anything, it is only because they took it from someone else!



A Closing Exhortation



We in the United States enjoy more freedoms than in any other country in the world. This has prompted many of our citizens to encourage elected officials to steal from our own neighbors; that is, to redistribute wealth that belongs to someone else (as happened in Russia via the communist revolution after 1918: consider what has happened economically to Russia since!). There is such prosperity in America that a majority of our people are overweight and lazy. We have all the food we desire; ditto for energy (electricity and gasoline), yet our greed and consumption demand more and more. The United States of America is on a path of self destruction due to personal greed, envy, jealousy, and animosity- all mental attitude sins that manifest themselves in evil, pernicious, and destructive acts.



Barack Obama has led Americans to expect positive change via government. But we who are Christians know that outward institutions (governments, schools, philanthropic organizations, even churches) cannot affect quality and permanent change. True positive change can only occur through a person’s submission to God, our Creator, and by living dependently upon the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The change needed for our day is a change of heart that can only happen through the transforming power of our Christ. There is no other way. Do understand that there is no other way. Do put your trust, your belief, in the Person of Christ for what is necessary to live successfully in this world and in the next. Faith in any other guarantees failure.



You have only a short time in this world. Use it wisely. Use your resources wisely. See that your sphere of influence directs men and women to Christ, our only Messiah and Savior. Give men the Gospel. When all is over and this stage of our life is past, all that will remain is our personal relationship with the Lord. Nourish it; grow in grace and knowledge of our wonderful Lord. And let your light shine in this dark period of American history.

BILD

Our church has recently started getting involved in a discipleship series published by BILD (Biblical Institute of Leadership Development). One of the neatest things about BILD is that is local churched based. The stuff is produced by a local church for use by local churches. Often times while attending Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, I asked myself why I had to go to college to learn this stuff. Why wasn't it taught in a local church? Of course, along with most problem that I observe, I'm fairly content and don't offer much in the way of solutions. Now, I have seen the that my questions, all though probably never voiced were great questions and deserved an answer. So here is what I believe to be the answer. It wasn't taught in the local church because most of us in the local church thought it couldn't be or shouldn't be taught in the local church and that true training for ministry must happen at a Bible college or other school of higher learning. The reason it wasn't is that it long hadn't.
God left his church here to accomplish great things and most of those great things should be accomplished through the local church. I'm hoping to start leading some BILD material with our next generation leaders at the Kerkhoven Evangelical Free Church. And I'm excited about it.