So - What Do You Depend On?

On Monday's edition of TMH, I talked with Craig Smith of Swiss America - not only does he have incredible insight on economic issues and what is taking place in the financial markets globally, but he also approaches the topics of economics and politics from a Christian perspective.

We were discussing generally the topic of dependence...and we recognize that government spending is greater than what is being taken in, and we have a whole array of social programs that, in order to be sustained, have to be funded through increased revenues.   And, while I appreciate the contributions of so many in our listening audience who are employed by federal, state, or municipal governments, we also recognize that there is a Biblical view of the role of government, and philosophically, as government entities have become more of a safety net for the less fortunate in society, the role has increased to include entitlement rather than empowerment.   The government is charged with keeping order, and can be effective in the areas of accountability and regulation.

Government can be an incredible incentivizer and facilitator, if it stresses personal responsibility and an entreprenuerial spirit.   But, when it becomes an entity that fosters dependence on itself, to the extent of perhaps short-circuiting and demotivating personal growth, we end up supporting a system that is contrary to the Biblical model we find in Romans 13.   And, the church, is charged with the role of ministering to those less fortunate, to helping those in need...James 2 paints the picture:

2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives ? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren : did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. 

God ultimately desires for EVERYONE to be dependent on Him - He does not desire to look to man-made institutions for our sufficiency, and even though the church is charged with helping the poor, He wants people to look to Him as their source - the government and the church can help people get back on their feet, but He wants men and women to look to Him.