AUGUST 22 - Faith in the Midst of Financial Crisis

As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17

You don’t have to be politically savvy or a news junkie to know that our country is in the midst of a financial crisis.  Newspapers, news shows, talk radio, the Internet, and politicians reminds us every day. And if that were not enough, we know it from personal experience.  If you have any experience with a paycheck, you have experienced the effects. Retail sales are lower. You are more aware of the level of your credit. And for many the balance on their credit card has been skyrocketing as they struggle to keep up the lifestyle they are accustomed to living.  For others, the situation is even more difficult.  Some of our own church members have been laid off or are having a hard time finding work to pay the bills. 

For those of us whose lives are connected in some way to the economy in Huntsville, we live in a paradoxical bubble.  We are one of the least affected areas of the country but we still know people who have lost jobs or fear losing jobs. Because the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process is promising thousands of new jobs for this area, we have to plan for expansion and for a better economy. But at the same time, we have are fearful for the future of the space program and how that will impact us.

Quite honestly, this is a frightening time for our economy.

And our fears don’t stop with what is happening to our pocket book because we’ve also learned the hard way that we can’t trust our financial institutions or big business or big government.  And when we can’t trust we grow fearful. And when we are fearful, we become depressed or cynical or anxious. And when we are fearful, depressed, cynical and anxious, we sleep less, have more stomach problems, more heart attacks, and more anxiety attacks.  On a larger level, we build walls between ourselves and others, bigotry rears its ugly head, social discourse becomes ugly, and abuse escalates.  And on an even larger level, fear underlies social unrest, wars and terrorism. 

Several years back, a cartoon character famously said, “We have met the enemy and he is us!”  And I believe it is fair to say that today we have met the enemy and the enemy is within us because the greatest enemy we face today is not terrorists or economists or politicians but the fear and cynicism and anxiety that lies within us.

 In the midst of the Great Depression in 1933, Franklin Delano Roosevelt spoke these famous words in his first inaugural address:

 . . . Let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory.  [i]

More than ever, we need to remember the wisdom of those words: “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

How can I say that?  Well there are several reasons why I believe we can let go of our fear for the future and grasp tightly to hope for the future.

It is not a matter of “if” the stock market will recover but of “when” the stock market will recover.  History shows us that the stock market is remarkably resilient.  The market rises and the market falls but every time there is a significant drop, within a few years there is a significant rise. 

In this video clip, Adam Hamilton, the pastor of the Church of the Resurrection explains the ups and downs of the stock market since World War II. 

And while I’m not an economist when I look at the graphs it appears that even the Great Depression corrected itself within 10 years!  We won’t be in economic crisis forever.

Of course, while we wait for the economy to improve, people are still adversely affected by the economy. Some will lose their jobs. Some will lose their homes or cars.  Some may need the help and support of their church family—in fact some already do.  Still others will not feel the effects of this financial crisis at all.  But despite it all and through it all, we must not allow ourselves to be controlled by fear because we have more than historic trends in which to place our trust!

And isn’t it wonderful that in the midst of a financial crisis, we find a reminder of that greater truth printed on every piece of money we handle: In God we trust! 

Ultimately, the Christian faith declares that security is found not in human institutions like banks, governments or a stock market.  Security is found in God alone! Furthermore, our security is not found in some generic definition of God but rather our security is found in the God revealed in the Bible.  The God who continually promises that no matter what all will be well!  The God who revealed himself most fully in the life of Jesus Christ, who taught us that even death does not get the last word.

Yet, how often do we live as if money, and not God, is where we look for security and hope?

Even if that is not true for you personally, I believe we have to admit that as a country we have looked to our economy as the source of hope for our nation.  We’ll talk more about this later in this series, but the American dream has never been that we would rely on God for our security. Instead the dream was that we could get an education and/or work hard to ensure that our children have more than we have and that they in turn would have that same opportunity and so on and so forth.

Sadly, at the heart of this financial crisis is the extension and abuse of credit.  Far too many people have literally mortgaged their future and their children’s future to a standard of living far above their income.

Do you know where the word credit comes from?  It comes from the word credo, which means, “I believe” or “I trust.”  The person loaning the money trusts that the person borrowing the money will repay.  Unfortunately, far too many people borrowed money trusting that what they wanted was what they needed and that was worth the risk of not being able to repay in the future. 

The sad truth is that the biggest crisis we face today is not economic but spiritual.  The root cause of this financial crisis is sin. In fact, our current economic crisis stems from at least five of the seven deadly sins. 

·        Gluttony—not just eating too much but wanting and consuming too much.  Too many cars, too many clothes, too many electronics, too many . . . No wonder marketers call us consumers.  And it costs us dearly. 

·        Greed. Business owners want it all. We want it all.

·        Sloth.  Thomas Aquinas defined sloth as “sluggishness of the mind which neglects to begin good.” We often think of sloth as doing nothing but this means sloth is doing nothing good. Therefore, we can be very busy and still be slothful!

·        Envy.  We want what others have.

·        Pride.  We want others to think we have it all.

The end result of all this is that “in 2002, 61 % of U.S. credit card users carried a monthly balance, averaging $12,000 at 16 % interest. This amounts to about $1,900 a year in finance charges—more than the average per capita income in at least 35 countries (in purchasing power parity).”[ii]

Christians, however, are called to have another credo: Trust in God.  At the center of our worship is our credo: I believe (credo) in God the Father, Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord.”  We believe in the God revealed in the Bible.  God who speaks words of hope and reassurance to people in the midst of physical, emotional, political and, yes, even financial crisis.

Listen to God’s words of assurance:

Isaiah 41:10  “do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”

Psalm 46:1-2 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea”

Matthew 6:25, 33 “”Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  . . . . But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Matthew 14:27 “But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.””

Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 8:37-39 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

As I’ve mentioned before, “Do not fear” is probably the most frequent command in the Bible.  No matter our situation, we trust in the one who makes all things work for good.  As the Christian mystic Julian of Norwich reminds us—with God “all shall be well, all shall be well, all manner of things shall be well.” 

As Christians, our credo is the belief in a God whose steadfast love endures forever. A God who is faithful. A God who cares and provides for us.  A God who goes before us, behind us and with us.  We believe in God the Father Almighty.

It is that belief—that trust—that should set us apart from the rest of the world.  And our lives should show the world the security that comes from trusting in a loving God.

Fearful, anxious people surround us. People whose lives have been broken apart by their sin and by the sin of others.  And Jesus said that we are to be a light to the world.  Our job is to invite others to know the steadfast love of God, the love that forgives them of their sin and assures them of the security that only comes from God.

The great challenge and opportunity of this financial crisis is for the people of God to stand fearless in the midst of anxiety and fear and point the way toward the God who brings good from all things.

Click the links below to read the text of some past sermons.

Date & Title	Text Link
July 26, 2009, Fins
July 19, 2009, He Went to Paris
July 5, 2009, Cheeseburger in Paradise
June 28, 2009, Changes in Attitudes
June 14, 2009, Come Monday
June 7, 2009, Margaritaville
May 31, 2009, Presence, Prayer, and the Power to Proclaim
May 24, 2009, Cross Fit
May 17, 2009, Many Gifts, One Spirit
May 10, Concerning Spiritual Gifts
May 3, 2009, March of the Unqualified
April 19, 2009, Ants in the Pants
April 12, 2009, When the End is the Beginning
March 29, 2009, Snake on a Stick
March 22, 2009, Overturning Tables
March 15, 2009, What Would Jesus Do?
March 8, 2009, Where the Wild Things Are
February 22, 2009, Opening Up to God’s Transforming Grace
February 15, 2009, Running the Race
February 8, 2009, All Things to All People
February 1, 2009, What Should We Ask For?
January 25, 2009, Okay Lord
January 18, 2009, Speak Lord
January 11, 2009, Remember Who You Are
January 4, 2009, What Gift Can We Give?
December 27, 2008 - Those Who Wait
December 24, 2008 - The First Christmas Gift
December 21, 2008 - Keeping Christmas
December 7, 2008 - Preparing the Way
November 30, 2008 - Will the Real God Please Come Down?
November 23, 2008 - Responsible Thanksgiving
November 16, 2008 - Responsible Investing
November 2, 2008 - Back to the Basics - This We Believe!: I Believe in the Communion of Saints.
October 26, 2008 - Back to the Basics - This We Believe!: I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body and the Life Everlasting. Amen.
October 19, 2008 - Back to the Basics - This We Believe!: I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sin
October 12, 2008 - Back to the Basics - This We Believe!: I Believe in the Holy catholic Church
September 28, 2008 - Back to the Basics - This We Believe!: I Believe in the Holy Spirit
September 21, 2008 - Back to the Basics - This We Believe!: I Believe in Jesus Christ… [Who] Shall Come to Judge the Quick and the Dead
September 14 2008 - Back to the Basics - This We Believe!: I Believe in Jesus Christ… Who on the Third Day Rose from the Dead
September 7, 2008 - Back to the Basics - This We Believe!: I Believe in Jesus Christ… Crucified, Dead, and Buried
August 31, 2008 - Back to the Basics - This We Believe!: I Believe in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord
August 24, 2008 - Back to the Basics - This We Believe!: I Believe in God the Maker of Heaven and Earth
August 17, 2008 - Back to the Basics - This We Believe!: I Believe in God the Father, Almighty
August 10, 2008 - Back to the Basics - This We Believe!: I Believe . . . We Believe
August 3, 2008 - Dining with Jesus
July 27, 2008 - Disciples of the Kingdom: Change-Bearing Disciples
July 20, 2008 - Disciples of the Kingdom: Power Bearing Disciples
July 13, 2008 - Disciples of the Kingdom: Seed Bearing Disciples
July 6, 2008 - Disciples of the Kingdom: Burden Bearing Disciples
June 22, 2008 - Disciples of the Kingdom: Cross Bearing Disciples
June 15, 2008 - Preparing for the Harvest