February 20, 2010
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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 ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQbGnJd9poc&NR=1
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