Opportunity – Christians on the left and right share a desire to help the needy and give everyone an opportunity for education. The political arguments are really about how we can best do that. As you are reading this newsletter the United States will be 13 trillion in debt and we lead the world in corporate tax rates**. Our government is unlikely to provide entitlements at the level we hope for… left or right. Social security, health care, Medicare, welfare, social services, education, etc. simply may not be in the budget. And, if we continue to borrow to meet those noble goals, we may not have a country!
Socialism assumes that all people will, given the opportunity, work equally with wisdom and diligence. In reality, many people will not work, even if they are given the opportunity. We have to admit that some people are lazy and foolish and simply deserve less. That is why socialism has never worked. It is built on the false assumption that people are all equally wise and diligent. Socialism is built on a lie concerning the nature of humanity. In contrast, capitalism is built on the truth of human nature. It recognizes people’s individuality, and it rewards and encourages wisdom, diligence, and a work ethic.
Capitalism, led by industrious and inventive entrepreneurs, is the engine that God used to make America wealthy and generous. Even after wars, we helped rebuild nations we defeated. Our national calling is to champion the cause of Christ and fund the Kingdom around the world. Our destiny is to represent the light and the glory of God on this earth. Like Jesus, we welcome the oppressed and our hearts collectively long to set the captives free (Lu 4:18-19). Can you see the same spirit in the poem by Emma Lazarus engraved on the Statue of Liberty? That’s our spiritual heritage. The only thing broken is that we’re trying to solve the world’s problems with our grandchildren’s money!
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Leaving the poverty mentality – Millions of immigrants came to America and helped make her great. They didn’t come for welfare; they came for the opportunity and the freedom to work hard and create something that belonged to them. How can we maintain or restore that level of welcome and free market opportunity for the poor? It starts at an individual level. Most Christians are taught, and content, to be servants. There is a door opening in the spirit to rise above that level and become Kings. We are no longer called servants!
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other. John 15:15-17
God is opening a door for believers to be friends and Kings; to be industrious, creative, entrepreneurial, and yes, wealthy. Money can be leveraged to do ministry! The corollary is also true; if we have just enough to pay the bills and the tithe, we won’t get involved in helping other people. The next level of equipping the saints in this hour adds a new dimension to discipleship – pursuing the desire of our hearts, becoming entrepreneurial, and creating wealth so we can build the Kingdom and bless the nations. “Love each other” is best expressed by being in a position to really help. Guess what? It takes money to “help.”
Reformation – Kings who wield wealth and do ministry in the marketplace will drive the next revival to a level of reformation. It won’t just be meetings in churches. We’re going to see it in the marketplace. Martin Luther gave us the “priesthood of the believer”… we all have access to the presence of God. This reformation is about becoming Kingly and having access to the purpose of God and the wealth to implement that purpose. The Holy Spirit is inviting us to be participants; co laborers to expand the Kingdom into our cities, culture, and to bless the nations. We’re going to touch all seven mountains.***
The “new” has a degree of prosperity and generosity that is showing itself in first fruits. Bill Gates may or may not be a Christian (I don’t know) but he is expressing the heart of God by converting wealth to ministry. So is Warren Buffett. The “new” isn’t just about giving money; it’s about imparting that entrepreneurial spirit behind capitalism that turns needy slaves and servants into Kings that know how to generate wealth. We are breaking the poverty mentality that goes with being servants and slaves. Wake up church! That’s part and parcel to the message of the good news. We’re not just giving away fish; we’re teaching people how to fish and own the fish factory! The Tea Party movement is an expression of a grass roots yearning for the new. They just haven’t been able to articulate a clear path to implement the level of change that God has in mind.
The door is open for you – Will we pay off the 13T national debt? Will we pay off our own credit cards? I believe we can. And we can put a similar amount into people ministry. We just have to admit that political leaders can’t deliver on that same promise. They don’t have, or generate, wealth. All the government can do is redistribute wealth from somewhere else (borrowed from China or taxed from us.) We are going to have to do it by embracing the message of capitalism and admit that individual freedom in the marketplace is God’s ideal; the engine to fund ministry. For this world to change, we are going to have to adopt a Kingly lifestyle: become entrepreneurial and generate wealth. It’s a big challenge. It’s starting among believers already. It’s fun. And the Spirit of God is opening the door for all of us.
** http://www.taxfoundation.org/publications/show/23034.html
