Tuesday, 24 November 2009

• God's 'Stimulus' Plan

  [The thoughts presented in this post were prompted by Bruce Davidson’s devotional remarks at Pleasant Hill Church Spring of 2009.]

  Yahweh God and His Messiah, Jesus Christ are widely despised, disparaged and discounted; publicly ignored (if at all possible) by the world, the news media and the powers that be. Before his speech at Georgetown University this Spring, the president elect insisted that all Christian religious symbols above and behind his speaking lectern be covered or removed. As recently as this May, the National Day of Prayer (which was originally established by congress fifty six years ago) was all but ignored.

  It is politically incorrect to pray in the name of Jesus in many places. Attempts have been made (sometimes successfully) to exclude Him from places and events that at one time welcomed (or at least tolerated) Him. All mention of Jesus, His teaching and religious displays/depictions of anything related to Him are prohibited in both public and governmental venues. More and more He is being excised from our consciousness in the name of ‘religious toleration’.
  

  People appear to be deeply offended when Jesus is referred to as ‘the Way’- The only Way. Those who would simply repeat the words of Jesus: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. . ." are bitterly marked as hate mongers.

  I wholeheartedly agree that many who claim to represent Jesus to the community at large have failed miserably to portray Him accurately. Instead, the caricatures they have painted, have served to exacerbate an already tense and increasingly hostile environment. In earnest attempts to favorably influence people ‘for’ Jesus, many of these well intentioned folks have instead created a toxic atmosphere in which the name of Jesus has become even more odious.

  In catering to the politically correct mentality, the business community has incorporated this whole mind set into its marketing strategies. This has resulted in a concerted effort to omit even the mention of ‘Jesus’ (and its derivatives) in all of its advertising. And so the less objectionable, but more benign term ‘holiday’ has been inserted in its place. Thus, last winter, I was taken aback to some degree at the extraordinary effort to promote ‘holiday’ trees.

  The only conclusion to be reached is that Jesus is becoming less and less welcome in our culture. In every realm He is being edged out. Our society is doing its very best to ignore and/or marginalize Him to its most obscure place.

  But that has not stopped God!  He knew full well in advance that His entrance into the world, for the most part, would not be welcomed (cf. Ps.118:22-3 & Isa.53:). Despite the rejection, ". . . This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good the bad, the nice and the nasty" (Matthew 5:45 [MSG]). "God. . . gives generously to all [Emphasis Mine] without finding fault. . . . For every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights . . . ." (James 1:5 & 16).

  We live in difficult economic times in which the powers-that-be have decided that ‘stimulus funds’ are the best option to guard our nation and its people against a serious recession or even economic depression. Billions upon billions of dollars have been disbursed to banks, troubled businesses and other organizations and agencies that supposedly need ‘bailouts’. And despite being ‘awash’ in government funds and the oppressively burdensome debt that has followed, the expected economic recovery is still in doubt. Things have just not worked out according to plan. The next governmental ‘fix’ will likely involve throwing even more good money after bad.

  Do you know, however that Yahweh God had His own ‘stimulus plan’?  It is not a one time infusion of billions of dollars to ‘jump start’ the economy. Rather His ‘stimulus plan’ is a yearly long term package. It has been in place and functioning year after year after year for many many years. Helping our national economy, however, was not foremost in His mind when He inaugurated this plan. It was never His primary goal. All I know is that by the mere fact of His action, the American economy has been profoundly affected on an ongoing basis, annually.

  It has been well documented that American businesses receives up to 30% of their income annually during the holidays. It is the time during which the Christian community at large celebrates the coming of Jesus into this world as a helpless baby. Can you imagine how the economy would be affected, had Yahweh God, being completely aware that the world would rebuff Him and His Messiah, had reacted by not sending His Son to born of a virgin?

  Or, after the fact, recognizing His error, God in His sovereignty somehow withdrew this promised blessing and in some fashion, made America’s customary celebration an impossibility (of course the whole idea of God erring is a ludicrous blasphemy against the Sovereign God)? Many in our culture have arrogantly shouted at the top of their lungs: "We don’t need  you! Get out of our lives--our world!" Why should it surprise anyone if that’s exactly what He did?! After all the abuse and garbage that gets dumped on Him day in and day out in these United States, who could blame Him? What if He did what we  would do under similar circumstances? Couldn't you imagine Him snorting: "Ok if that's the way you want it, I quit!  I’m gonna take My marbles and go home!!"

  Would losing a third of its annual income have any effect on an already stressed economy? Would it influence the stock market at all? Would anyone notice or miss that amount of loss? Would the nation be thrown into a panic?  Can you imagine the devastation of the ensuing collapse of our whole economic system on the heels of this sudden non-event?

  It pleases and brings great comfort to me when I consider what Hosea had to say about the great God of Heaven; 

  But how can I give up on you, Ephraim?
  How can I turn you loose, Israel?
  How can I leave you to be ruined like Admah,
  devastated like luckless Zeboim?
  I can't bear to even think such thoughts. 
  My insides churn in protest.
  And so I'm not going to act on my anger.
  I'm not going to destroy Ephraim.
  And why? Because I am God and not a human.
  I'm The Holy One and I'm here—in your very midst.
    -- Hosea 11:8-9 (MSG)
  

  God is not human like us. His response to our insensitivity and outright snubs toward Him is not a ‘knee jerk’ reaction. Though He is slow to anger--exceedingly patient toward His creation, He is also a consuming fire, not to be trifled with by continually refusing and ignoring His goodness and mercy. Though it is unthinkable, our great nation may be on the precipice of total obliteration. In large measure, we have turned our backs on Him--Can we afford to have Him turn His back on us?

  As it is, give thanks to God that He is not at all like us. Despite the utter rejection and disdain continually heaped upon Him, God in His almighty power and sovereignty chooses to; 

  He tends his flock like a shepherd:
  He gathers the lambs in his arms
  and carries them close to his heart;
  he gently leads those that have young.
   -- Isaiah 40:11 (NIV)
  
  Today, "Taste and see that the Lord [is truly] good" (Ps.34:80), because after everything is said and done, He really is!

  What do you think would happen if God suddenly retracted Christmas? Is Christmas like God's stimulus plan?
  

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