The Perfect Economic System

In Acts chapter four verse 32 the Bible records:

“And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”

Surely this is Biblical evidence of a perfect economic system right? This verse is evidence to show that capitalism is wrong and it must be replaced by communism right?

Two things must be taken into account to answer these questions. That which was believed was the resurrection of the dead and salvation by Jesus Christ, and, those that believed held private property which, having been inspired by God, freely shared. The state did not mandate this practice of holding all things common, it was done freely.

It is when communism is forced that it must be opposed. It must be opposed because when it is declared among those holding private property that their belongings now belong to all, it is simply property theft. The Bible says, “Thou shalt not steal.” It also says in Proverbs 29:24 says “Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul…”

But why does it matter? It matters because if you don’t really own something, you can’t really give something. You can not be loving with your material things if such things don’t even belong to you. You have to express love in another way.

And, it is the cross of Jesus where this is the most important. We don’t know that Jesus had any earthly possessions. He gave his mother to a disciple declaring her to be his mother and him to be her son. Jesus had already given his body to die for the life of the world and he commended his spirit to his Father. He gave up everything.

And, he had no obligation to do so. These things were his and he still -gave- them. Were they not his he could not have given them. The gospel in a nutshell would be fundamentally altered. John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” If God really didn’t have his Son, there would be no gift, there would be no love.

Love just can not be mandated. Man can not make himself loving towards his neighbor. We can be told to love and to give but it does not give us the power to do so. The inspiration of God, his love towards us, moves us to love others. Like a mirror reflecting a lamp, the mirror is not the lamp, but the mirror gives light from the source.

The perfect economic system is where Jesus gave all to gain all. That is what the Bible teaches. All other economic systems pale in comparison to the giving that God has done. John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

 

He Is The Solution

I wanted to take the time today to speak to you about a number of things. These things might be weighing on you but you can know for certain that the Lord your God fights for you. He has the evidence of your salvation at his right hand: the wounded body of his Son Jesus Christ.

As you go about your path, your path that is Jesus Christ, the Way, you can find rest in him. You will find as you are exposed to Holy Scripture that he is carrying you, that the good you do-you only do in him. You are a member of his body. God does his work alone, but as members of his body, he is touching the world through you as well.

For all the things that you might find troubling: politics, religion, the state of your community, the condition of your country, your relationships, all such things, God has gone before you and has given you good works, that you should walk in them. The world can never be so dark that it is hid from God. He sees all, and he has met wrongdoing with justice.

You can let go of all indignation because Jesus, the Son of God, died for all. He died in the place of all. All sins were punished in him and so you can regard your neighbor with grace, not because you are good or your neighbor is good, but because you with your neighbor have been spared. You both have been spared from destruction by the rescue of Jesus Christ the Lord. You can greet your neighbor with a true peace that surpasses all human understanding.

Despite your political views, be assured that God knows truth from error. There is no lie that is told that will not unravel. The corrupt will have their corruption exposed, either now in time, or, on the Last Day. There is no evil that man can perpetrate that God can not undo. And while this does not mean you are free from responsibility, it does mean you are free from worry. God is above all and God is good to all.

The Truth is Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Word of God. His light was shining from Adam, the first man, until now. People have been told from the start that the head of the serpent would be crushed by “Her Seed”. He is the One the serpent fears. While the muck of false teaching sticks, like mud, to the faithful; it only sticks. It does not poison and it can not kill what God has planted: the new man that is in Jesus Christ.  The new man resists false teaching. God will draw you out and away from false teachings.

Regardless of what you think or feel God is shining his light, both from the page, and off your flesh, that is, reflecting from you, to those around you whenever you tell what Jesus has done. May God open your mouth to speak about him whenever he wishes. The dark night is fading into the new day, and you are part of it, an instrument of God for his good and gracious will: that all be saved and come to a knowledge of the Truth.

In our country, a republic, you are the Sovereign. The government works for you and answers to you. A monarchy is where a king or queen rules, he or she is the sovereign of the nation. In the United States of America however (If you happen to live here), it is the People who are the Sovereign: from the homeless man sleeping on a cold bench in a public park, all the way to the billionaire lounging on a warm beautiful coastline; the People, all together, are the sovereign. The government answers to us. And we all are under the merciful King Jesus Christ the Lord.

And God is with you in your close relationships with others. He has given such to you to teach you about him. You are a child of God. God is your Father. Those who believe are the Bride of God. Jesus Christ is the good Husband, the Head of the Church. Let your relationships, your friendships, be God’s ground to tread. A focus on him will diffuse conflict, and more importantly, lead you in the way everlasting, into eternal habitations. God wants you. God wants them.

Do not fear corruption, expose it. Do not trust false doctrine, refute it. Do not fear darkness, enlighten it. Do not obey tyranny, dismantle it. Do not neglect your loved ones, embrace them. This is God’s creation, and he puts you in charge of certain things. You are dear to him. He keeps all his promises. The enemy will rage and fume. God will bless and inspire.

Some of these things mentioned might seem obscure. That is ok: It is for God to lead us by his words. Jesus told his hearers, “The words that I speak unto you: they are Spirit and they are Life.” Follow Jesus. Breathe in the Spirit, take in the Life: hear Holy Scripture. Peace to you in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the solution.

 

 

 

 

Power To The People?

The phrase “power to the people” does not describe the people of a republic. Why? Because in a republic, the people have not been divested of power. Hence, they need not power to them: they have it.

The funny thing about a republic is that the people are the sovereign. Their elected officials are not masters, but servants. They are even rightly called public servants. A republic requires or assumes an educated and responsible people, for the people bear the rule. That is how a republic works and that is what God expects of a republic people.

The homeless man plus all his fellow citizens hold authority above Congress, the Supreme Court and the President. And, such a homeless man and his fellow citizens retain such authority, delegating certain duties to each of the these branches of government.

It is always time for the people of a republic to step up, to rule, not individually, but collectively. Are there problems with America? Who is to blame? It is best not to regard servants as kings. There is no passing the buck on this one.

That the people rule a republic is an expectation that proceeds from God. The people have a responsibility to see that good is rewarded and evil is punished.

Power to the people?

Too late. We already have it.

Servants

“Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ”

“Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God”

“Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.”

Cited here are three verses concerning the duties of servants which include obedience of and honoring their masters.

The law of God regards all, so as to public servants: elected officials, the people have mastery over them-in a republic.

Whereas in a monarchy, where a king or queen exercises sovereignty over the people, a republic is where the people exercise sovereignty directly or indirectly through representatives, their representatives performing certain duties delegated to them, serving the people.

Kings are not elected and the people of a republic do not choose for themselves kings. Each form of government is God-given. Obedience to a king in a monarchy, or obedience to the people in a republic, is required by God.

Public servants are just that: servants of the public, the people. In power they are not above the people, but beneath, and are to exercise the duties specifically delegated to them by the people. In a republic, the people (the whole of the people and not individually or a sub-group of individuals) have mastery over their elected officials and are to regard them accordingly.

“Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.”

The people of a republic are to give their public officials what is lawful and fair, knowing that they with them have the Master Jesus Christ at the right hand of God. A just people will reward their public officials with fitting compensation and yet also hold them accountable for misconduct or crimes. An equal people will do unto their public officials as they would have done unto them. This is to be accomplished with the understanding all have a merciful Master in heaven who himself made himself the servant of all. That is the inspiration for proper treatment of others and the guiding principle.

So all are servants. Servants of a king are to obey the king. Servants of a people are to obey the people. And all, all are servants of Jesus Christ, who as a loving eternal king served them by laying down his very life to rescue them from eternal death.

Citations are from:  The Letter to the Ephesians chapter six, verse five; the Letter to the Colossians chapter three, verse 22; the First Letter to Timothy chapter six, verse one; and the Letter to the Colossians chapter four, verse one.

Governments Do Not Sin

Officials sin.

Just as one would not say that the Ministry, a gift of Jesus Christ to the Church, sins; so also government, and governments, do not sin.

Occupiers of office however do sin. When such step out of their role of governing to do that which is contrary to governing, they sin. Whether it be supporting actions contrary to law, or taking actions that undermine laws and governing, officials sin.

Evil is falsely attributed to governments, just as goodness is falsely attributed to rebels and tyrants. The responsible citizen who believes on Jesus Christ is to uphold law and to resist lawlessness-wherever these are found.

Scripture prophesies of Jesus Christ, “The government shall be upon his shoulder.” How, and in what way this has been, is being, or will be fulfilled, we learn from God. In the Book of Daniel, when the stone which was cut out without hands was cast at the feet of the idol, smashing the idol into pieces, and the stone growing into a mountain that filled the earth; it is explained that the coming one’s kingdom would never pass away. Jesus has come and he will come again.

The Apostle Paul gives warning in chapter 13 of the Book of Romans, “The powers that be are ordained of God.” The context is the bearing of the sword. Fathers, mothers, government officials, these are to be obeyed. And should any of these not father, not mother or not govern at any point, such are to be resisted on that point. This is what the Apostle Peter did in Acts 5 when the council questioned him-the council citing its command to not teach-he said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Should any command from men conflict with a command from God, God is to be obeyed.

Governments do not sin. Officials do. The Ministry does not sin. Ministers do. All of God’s instruments work. Only where there is an admixture of lawlessness is anything amiss. But this admixture will in due time be removed.

Until then we conduct ourselves in the tension between standing upon the solid ground of God’s Word and living in this fallen world. It is not easy but patience will serve us well as we observe the will of God (God wants all to be saved) unfold.

Peace to you in Jesus Christ the Lord and blessings as you affirm him and serve your neighbor in him.