When will this cursed economy ever recover? I certainly have my views on the economic and political causes of this prolonged recession, which has been the worst since the Great Depression. But whatever the causes, the effects of this economy have been devastating.
My heart goes out to all of those who have lost jobs--but to our entire nation as well. Even those who have jobs worry about losing their job. There is so much stress in people's lives. It is affecting marriages. It is affecting churches--particularly churches that, like individuals or families, already have had major stresses. Like in these individuals and families, this economic downturn is pushing many churches to a tipping point, making existing problems worse. When we are under stress, we often are less patient, less kind, less forgiving, more fearful, and less trusting of God.
This kind of economic stress would be difficult for any people in any time. Jesus talked in the Sermon on the Mount about not worrying about food and clothing. But perhaps this stress is most especially difficult for the US because material things are so core to our American identity. After all, the American dream is not about a life of dependency on God, but about a bigger and better house, the right education, the right job, early retirement, and a vacation home.
If we want to be both pastoral and missional, we need to share a message with the world and with our own people that our purpose and identity come through Jesus Christ--not the things of this world--and that whatever happens, God will help us through the storms of life.
Jesus says this:
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
How have you seen that the economic recession has affected individuals, families, and churches? How can we help our people and the world through these difficult times?
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