Friday, December 19, 2008

The Upside of the Down Turn: How the Economic Slump will Serve the Greater Purity of Christ's Church

We need a public recognition of answered prayer: God is giving us a recession!

Yes friends, let us remember the absolute sovereignty of our God. He not only controls the weather, he controls Wall Street, the big 3 auto makers, the Oval Office, Main Street, and the big things too.

Many have expressed concern over the downward turn of our economy. But it is important to remember that God is orchestrating history and continuing to work all things for the good of those who love him. He is the one causing the slump!

Why does he see fit to let the Dow Jones slide? One answer is obvious, to correct the market system and punish those who have not obeyed the norms of the capitalist system (otherwise known as the 8th commandment). But it is not simply for punitive measures that this is happening, it is for the greater purity of his church. And though I cannot see into the secret counsels of God, I would go so far as to posit that this slump is primarily for the benefit of the church. I say that with confidence because God's eye is ever upon his beloved church (more than national politics of the nations) and his church is at the center of his providence.

As well, this slump can be the answer to our many prayers for the purification of Christ's church! So many of us have lamented the fact that the church is fraught with errors. We have prayed (importunately) that God would restore her. And this could be the answer we've been waiting for!

Now I know that many Christians will most likely be affected by a slowing economy. I do not rejoice in that. But let me list a few of the many possible benefits of a recession:
  1. Churches will become closer knit bodies: In our day many churches do not have a familial feeling. That is to say, they do not practice hospitality and involve themselves in close fellowship as they are called to do. In a recession, people will have correct this because they will have to conserve money. People will end up bonding together to pool resources (sharing meals) and save electricity (you won't need as many lamps on and you won't have your TV going because you will be entertaining one another). As well, the church will become the primary networking establishment (Joe can help John and vice versa). The Church will also have to start supporting their widows again (and thus interact with them again!).
  2. Churches will become more active in compassion ministry: This one is fairly obvious. Throughout history the church has been the home of empathy in financially unstable times. But today she has forfeited the job to the government. But as the need exceeds government's possibility to help, Christians will be able to pick up their role in society again. Christians will have the opportunity to help those outside the church through charity, lending, and mutual favors. Remember: to the unbelieving it is "every man for himself." But for Christians know the way of love.
  3. Worship services will become more Biblical in their format: We have lamented the fact that dramas, videos, and all other sorts of non-Biblical practices have found their way into our worship services and that preaching and prayer have virtually become extinct. But these unbiblical practices will fall off dramatically because they take time to organize and lots of resources--two things that are not exceedingly available in a recession. To fill the vacated time in the services, ministers will have to labor more diligently in preaching. As well, the greater needs will force churches to spend more time looking to God, the Provider, in prayer. Also, services will return to a central focus on preaching because the ministers will not be able to fill up the services.
  4. False or poor teachers will be purged from their pulpits: You shouldn't be surprised that false teachers won't stick around in economically bad times. Moreover It shouldn't surprise you that people who attend churches where there isn't solid biblical preaching don't give much. (You have to believe in a big God to part with your money.) Since giving is bound to decline in a recession, churches focused more on the bank book than the gospel will be forced to close. But those of us who have a fire penned up in our bones (Jer. 20:9) and whose hearts cry out "Woe to me if I preach not the gospel." (1 Cor. 9:16) will always be present, no matter how bare the offering box is.

These are just a few things we can think about as Almighty God trumps the not-so-almighty dollar. God is just shaking out the chaff that has built up in the church. I'm sure that there are many more upsides to this economic down turn (your suggestions are welcome!). But that should be enough to allow us to say "Praise the Lord for financial upheaval!"

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