A Farewell and Remembrance
1 year ago
10.15.2009
10.14.2009
10.10.2009
Jesus: Opposed to Capitalism?
Michael Moore is on the attack again. This time his victim is the nasty, greedy, capitalism of our evil nation. For Michael Moore, capitalism is one of the greatest evils of all time. In his movie he marches around with a megaphone to condemn the atrocities (usually rightfully so) committed by big businesses. He even uses the voice of Christ to drive home his point about money. So, was Jesus against capitalism?
Pastors are often heard saying, "Jesus spoke on money more than any other topic." This is said I assume to cause us to believe that Jesus thought money was of greater importance than other things. First of all, the number of times a subject is brought up by Christ does not determine its importance. I would consider his crucifixion and resurrection more important than money. Secondly, I disagree entirely. Jesus spoke about God more than any other topic, and when he spoke of money it was God's view of money.
About all that Jesus says about money is that it can be a source of evil, a deterrent to discipleship, and that one should pay taxes if the government requires it of you. He never promotes a system or denies one. To say that Jesus was communist or that he was capitalistic is like me saying "I promote free trade commu-capatilisticism.....when it exists 1500 years from now." These systems were not in existence at that time, and hence not a part of his thinking.
The good part of Michael Moore's documentary/movie is that it does point out abuses of our capitalistic system. The cheating of somebody out of their property or the abuse of banks and governments upon the individual is outrageous. Jesus would confirm this, and as Christians so should we.
However, where Moore's logic takes a horrible turn is in this principle. Bad people abuse capitalism, therefore capitalism is bad. No Mr. Moore, bad people abuse capitalism, but that does not make it a bad system.
The virtue of capitalism is this, freedom. It is freedom that is supposed to grant the individual power against abuses by the government. It is freedom that allows the individual in a free-market society to purchase or not purchase what he or she desires. It is freedom that allows the individual to better themselves, or to be lazy and worsen their situation. Our Constitution sets up our powers to be equal players in order to protect the freedom of the individual.
The problem with socialism is that it grants power to one set of persons, the state. And unless those in power are men and women of virtue (I would argue Christian men and women) then an evil state will have all power over all material goods. To whom should we give this power? To you Mr. Moore? Who is good enough to ensure the best use of all resources for all people? I don't trust Michale Moore, and I wouldn't trust myself. There is no freedom in socialism, only slavery. Didn't the world already learn that lesson?
If Mr. Moore's movie proves anything it proves this, that if capitalism is corrupt then socialism would never work. Could you imagine, Mr. Moore, a society in which the government you claim has abused our material freedom did not allow us any material freedoms at all? Mr. Moore, you are a millionaire, would you be so kind as to live as a beggar in order to promote the kind of society that you so envision? Would you even be a millionaire except for the fact that you live in a capitalistic society, and a society in which freedom (of expression included) is allowed? I would think not.
Thank you Mr. Moore for showing us that our freedoms are at risk from a corrupt society. And thank you for answering your question. We are a society that needs moral people. We need ethical government, not more government. We need ethical capitalism, not socialism. We need morality. And true morality can only come from God. I believe God in Christ. Which is what Jesus said about money, that you must view both it and yourself as God's property. Exercise your freedom to chose to follow Christ and his model of living, then I guarantee you that capitalism and our society will succeed.
Pastors are often heard saying, "Jesus spoke on money more than any other topic." This is said I assume to cause us to believe that Jesus thought money was of greater importance than other things. First of all, the number of times a subject is brought up by Christ does not determine its importance. I would consider his crucifixion and resurrection more important than money. Secondly, I disagree entirely. Jesus spoke about God more than any other topic, and when he spoke of money it was God's view of money.
About all that Jesus says about money is that it can be a source of evil, a deterrent to discipleship, and that one should pay taxes if the government requires it of you. He never promotes a system or denies one. To say that Jesus was communist or that he was capitalistic is like me saying "I promote free trade commu-capatilisticism.....when it exists 1500 years from now." These systems were not in existence at that time, and hence not a part of his thinking.
The good part of Michael Moore's documentary/movie is that it does point out abuses of our capitalistic system. The cheating of somebody out of their property or the abuse of banks and governments upon the individual is outrageous. Jesus would confirm this, and as Christians so should we.
However, where Moore's logic takes a horrible turn is in this principle. Bad people abuse capitalism, therefore capitalism is bad. No Mr. Moore, bad people abuse capitalism, but that does not make it a bad system.
The virtue of capitalism is this, freedom. It is freedom that is supposed to grant the individual power against abuses by the government. It is freedom that allows the individual in a free-market society to purchase or not purchase what he or she desires. It is freedom that allows the individual to better themselves, or to be lazy and worsen their situation. Our Constitution sets up our powers to be equal players in order to protect the freedom of the individual.
The problem with socialism is that it grants power to one set of persons, the state. And unless those in power are men and women of virtue (I would argue Christian men and women) then an evil state will have all power over all material goods. To whom should we give this power? To you Mr. Moore? Who is good enough to ensure the best use of all resources for all people? I don't trust Michale Moore, and I wouldn't trust myself. There is no freedom in socialism, only slavery. Didn't the world already learn that lesson?
If Mr. Moore's movie proves anything it proves this, that if capitalism is corrupt then socialism would never work. Could you imagine, Mr. Moore, a society in which the government you claim has abused our material freedom did not allow us any material freedoms at all? Mr. Moore, you are a millionaire, would you be so kind as to live as a beggar in order to promote the kind of society that you so envision? Would you even be a millionaire except for the fact that you live in a capitalistic society, and a society in which freedom (of expression included) is allowed? I would think not.
Thank you Mr. Moore for showing us that our freedoms are at risk from a corrupt society. And thank you for answering your question. We are a society that needs moral people. We need ethical government, not more government. We need ethical capitalism, not socialism. We need morality. And true morality can only come from God. I believe God in Christ. Which is what Jesus said about money, that you must view both it and yourself as God's property. Exercise your freedom to chose to follow Christ and his model of living, then I guarantee you that capitalism and our society will succeed.
10.07.2009
Student Calendar '09 to '10
‘09
Oct.
14 Small Group & SS Meeting
18 Photo Scavenger Hunt
20 Youth Guys Serve @ LA F
Nov.
22 Turkey
Dec.
4-5 Youth Campout
6 Parents Meeting
9 Small Group & SS Meeting
13 Christmas Party – 5-7 @ FAC
31 New Year’s Party
2010
Jan.
5 Student Back to School
15-17 D-Now
24 Bigger and Better Challenge 5-7 @ FAC
Feb.
7 Super Bowl Party
14 Parents Meeting
17 Small Group & SS Meeting
March.
7 Mission Trip Meeting
12 WFISD Weather Day
15-19 Spring Break – Mission Trip to Boston
2 Good Friday
4 Easter Sunday
9-10 Bible Drill Semi-Final in Dallas
11 Parents’ Meeting
14 Small Group & SS Meeting
18 Paintball 3-6:30 @ Field of Honor
23-24 Bible Drill Final in A rlington
May
16 Mud Madness
23 Senior Banquet
29 Graduation
June
2 Camp Volunteer
6 Parents’ Meeting
9 Small Group and SS Meeting
14-18 VBS
20 Falls Creek Meeting
28 July 2 – Falls Creek
July
12-16 Super Summer
30-31 SEC ’09 Frisco
1 Parents Meeting
2 Order New Logo and T-Shirts, Banners
4 SS & Small Group Meeting
15 Youth Banquet or Pool Party
22 Small Group Kickoff!
September
3-4 SS Teachers Retreat
17 Party 5-7 @ FAC
22 SYA TP
October
3 Parents Meeting
17 Party 5-7 @ FAC
6 Small Group and SS Meeting
November
24-28 Thanksgiving Holiday
Youth Campout
December
5 Parent’s Meeting
8 Small Group & SS Meeting
28-Jan. 1 – Ski Trip???
10.03.2009
Desiring God's Presence
Often times, we as the people of God experience a lack of God's presence. While this might be due to our own sin, in other instances the absence of God occurs in the life of a believer who is walking faithfully with the Lord. When that happens to us, what are we to do?
In Psalm 42.1-5, the writer of the Psalm expresses a yearning desire to be near to God. Humans experience thirst, yet the Psalmist chooses to use the image of a deer. In Hebrew, the yearning is one of movement. The deer is not merely standing still, but he is turning his head and moving to where the water can be found.
The Psalm when read in its full historical context does not point to some inward spiritual conflict, but to the writer's actual problem of getting to the temple. He wants to go to the temple to experience God's presence where he has known it before.
When we loose sight of God, we should not simply sit and focus on ourselves.
As Christians the Holy Spirit IS with us. God's presence is always with us in a way more real than the author of this Psalm could imagine. But simply attempting to revive the Spirit within us can lead to manipulate our own emotions or feelings. Pretty soon, we equate knowing God's presence with a feeling or emotion. And this leads to an unhealthy measure of God's presence in our lives.
Rather, when we do not feel God we should get up and go to where we have experienced God before. We should visit places where we know God has been active in a movement among his people. Once we arrive, I believe that we will realize that our experience of God's absence has been an experience of his presence. Our missing Him has led us to Him once again. And we will know even more surely that though our emotions fail, His love has never failed.
In Psalm 42.1-5, the writer of the Psalm expresses a yearning desire to be near to God. Humans experience thirst, yet the Psalmist chooses to use the image of a deer. In Hebrew, the yearning is one of movement. The deer is not merely standing still, but he is turning his head and moving to where the water can be found.
The Psalm when read in its full historical context does not point to some inward spiritual conflict, but to the writer's actual problem of getting to the temple. He wants to go to the temple to experience God's presence where he has known it before.
When we loose sight of God, we should not simply sit and focus on ourselves.
As Christians the Holy Spirit IS with us. God's presence is always with us in a way more real than the author of this Psalm could imagine. But simply attempting to revive the Spirit within us can lead to manipulate our own emotions or feelings. Pretty soon, we equate knowing God's presence with a feeling or emotion. And this leads to an unhealthy measure of God's presence in our lives.
Rather, when we do not feel God we should get up and go to where we have experienced God before. We should visit places where we know God has been active in a movement among his people. Once we arrive, I believe that we will realize that our experience of God's absence has been an experience of his presence. Our missing Him has led us to Him once again. And we will know even more surely that though our emotions fail, His love has never failed.
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