Creativity – I interviewed Andrew Ferguson, a business CEO, who has an amazing story. One of the things he mentioned was very profound. Andrew has been through an amazing number of ups and downs. He learned that failing in a business is not the “end” of an entrepreneur – it is simply a launching point for his next idea. Kings are not immune from setbacks, but they do know how to rebound (resurrect – “though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again” Prov 24:16). Andrew understands the nature of Kings. They are creative; able to come up with the next great idea.
It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. Prov 25:2 NIV
The Political Christian – The same principle of resurrection is true in the government mountain. Yes, it’s bad. That’s why we need to fix it! I am ashamed to say that much of the body of Christ has a theology of abdicating their responsibility to be involved in finding political solutions. Separation of Church and State is an attempt by the enemy to keep believers out of the political process. But what is far worse is our own self-inflicted theology of abandoning the process instead of conquering this mountain with Godly solutions and wise congressmen. We have the greatest nation on earth that was founded on Godly principles. It is totally our responsibility as believers to steward this treasure on earth. Why? The U.S. has a prophetic call to spread personal freedom and free markets that come with the presence of the Lord around the world. Freedom in Jesus is a central part of the Good News. We have the privilege of discipling nations as part of our national calling. It’s called the Great Commission.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Cor 3:17-18 NIV
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Matt 28:19 NIV
‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. Ps 2:8 NASU
Examples – Solving a problem involves three things: #1) We have to believe that we can find a solution (or we won’t look). #2) We have to frame the problem correctly to answer the right question, and #3) We have to know where to look for a solution. We have some great political debates raging in America right now. They share a common denominator – the real solution hasn’t shown itself yet!
The Economy – There is a raging debate regarding funding priorities; paying down the national debt, military budget, social programs, taxes and job creation. All of these compete for a bigger slice of the pie. Congress will have many high profile debates in the coming months and years. The concept of increasing wealth creation is an idea and value system that is outside the scope of government. The government mountain is totally incapable of creating one net dollar or one net job on its own. A legal framework for fairness and justice is an absolute necessity for free markets. However, the business mountain is the source of additional wealth in any nation or society. We are prone to demonize the entrepreneurial spirit that feeds us. Like households, governments cannot spend their way out of a recession.
What’s missing? #3 We’re looking for a solution in the wrong mountain.
Terrorism – Our president and his predecessor are bringing justice to terrorists through military action. I’m not suggesting that’s wrong, but I am amazed that we aren’t dealing with the root issue. Every time we kill a terrorist, two more spring up in some other part of the world. As explained in the Starfish and the Spider, we’re fighting an ideology, not a nation… and we’re doing nothing to combat the ideology (the Islamic motivation to kill infidels). We don’t have the initiative that competes with a bad idea / a bad ideology. We’re prone to buy favor and protect murder under “freedom of religion.”
What’s missing? #3 We’re looking for a solution in the wrong place.
Global Warming – The reason the debate is difficult is that the argument isn’t really about global warming… science has very little to do with the ideology and the motives behind this one. The middle ground between neglecting our environment and trying to leave it untouched by humans is to simply manage it. We have done some good things to mitigate pollution but we are not addressing the “religious fervor” that opposes industrialized society, opposes resource development and insists that animals have the same rights as humans. The core of this idea is that humanity is a bad influence on Planet Earth! We’re an overpopulated species of animal that needs to be thinned out.
What’s missing? #2 We’ve framed the problem so that we can’t reach agreement.
Abortion – We debate abortion as a political issue. Most nations have some form of legalized abortion, and historically abortions have been a part of culture. The real question is, “Why do parents want to kill their children?” and “Why do doctors terminate their patients?” The government isn’t forcing abortions – just permitting them. It’s a family issue with philosophic roots in the environmental movement. If we believe that the presence of humanity is bad for the planet, it’s a short step to believing that reducing the number of babies would be a good (perhaps noble) contribution.
What’s missing? #3 We’ve framed the problem in the wrong mountain – it’s family.
Health Care – This debate is centered on the degree of government control in providing health care. One side says the government should provide it or mandate it and the other says too much government is bad. I personally haven’t heard the free market idea that provides the solution. That’s what is missing. Everyone wants improved health care. No one believes that same entity that gave us the postal service will actually deliver health care on schedule and within budget. Absent the real idea, we’re going to compromise so that we can get poorer health care at a higher cost with bonus points for increasing the entitlement mentality behind poverty. Thank you, Congress – current approval rating is 13%!
What’s missing? #1 We don’t believe a free market solution exists.
Poverty – To date, the only political solution to poverty has been to move capital from the wealthy and give it to poor people, poor states, and poor nations. The argument is always framed around how much we should give. I’m not opposed to helping people in need. I do it myself. However, giving money never removes poverty because poverty is a welfare state of mind that simply keeps a person from doing the things that produce wealth. We’re doing nothing to reduce the roots of poverty at a national level.
What’s missing? #3 We’re looking for a solution in the wrong place.
Homosexuality – We’ve just legalized gays in the military… and really throughout much of the political, media and entertainment landscape there is a vocal minority clamoring for gay marriage as a normal part of society. The legal framework is changing to permit homosexuality… not exactly the end of the world. What’s missing in the church and family mountain is a loving cure to help the people who want help. We’ve been busy condemning it and fighting on a political level, but we’ve largely missed the opportunity to offer hurting people a genuine option for healing. Gays have been fed the genetic logic that there is no choice… Jesus gives that choice.
What’s missing? #1 We don’t believe a solution exists. It’s time to showcase examples of freedom from the gay lifestyle for those who want it.
New ideas – Can you see the need for Kings to search out these matters and find the solution? These are all solvable and relatively simple problems! We need Kings in the media mountain to expose the missing ingredient in our debates. We need Kings in the business mountain to offer free market solutions. And finally, we need Kings in the political / government mountain with integrity and vision to maximize freedom and justice for all… as opposed to maximizing government control.
Can Kings rise up with the new ideas that represent a solution for everyone? Yes we can! “and” yes we will. The simple reality is that when Kings identify a “God Solution,” the logic and spirit draws everyone into supporting implementation of the answer.
We all face personal road blocks. Here’s the take-home message. You are more than a conqueror. You are able to come up with the next great idea that will take you to the next level. Men and women with imagination, creativity and enthusiasm will rule and reign with the King of Kings. We have the keys of the Kingdom and we’re called to bless the nations. Let’s get started… rise above whatever stands between you and the next step toward your dream.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, Eph 3:20 NIV
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”— but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. 1 Cor 2:9-10 NIV
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations… Matt 28:19 NIV
‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. Ps 2:8 NASU
