Ray Ciervo Ministries

The US Senate has just passed a major “bail out” piece of legislature. What amazes me is the “ear marks” attached to this bill. Why are there any ear marks at all? One senator was quoted as saying this is a bitter pill wrapped in a marshmallow. Excuse me? Are we children that we must mix sugar in with our medicine to disguise the taste? When it’s time to “man-up” our senators are holding their noses and cringing until they can sweeten the pot to their own taste. Personally, I’m embarrassed and dismayed.

Our problems are not social or financial but spiritual. This is seen readily when our politicians lie and we call it “misspeaking.” We dole out dollars in the millions to CEO’s while workers struggle to make house payments and then we justify it under “capitalism.” Heck, we pay men and women millions to play games, elevate it to a “sport” and justify the entertainment value. Who is being stupid here? It’s not those who receive the money. Capitalism isn’t wrong in itself - greed is. Manifestations may be social or financial, but the problems are spiritual.

Here’s how I see it . . . America is in the tank. We’re facing financial ruin because our well-being has been in the hands of godless men and women. We have an energy crisis because we’ve been greedy and stupid. (Greed is stupid in the long run.) In a country where the technology supersedes most of the world we have not developed different energy sources and produced more efficient transportation because we’re bound by greed. Our problem is spiritual, we’ve lost our way.

We’ve lost our moral compass; our true north heading is not registering. We haven’t known which way to go and we have given in to accommodating a pluralistic worldview that negates the God of the Bible and the virtue he represents. Ideas have consequences and the ideas we’ve embraced have given us drastic consequences. We believe the wrong things and hold ideologies and belief systems that have no anchor in the transcendent God of the universe. In many ways, they oppose him. We are reaping what we have sown.

Let me illustrate how I see our condition. Several years ago I had one of those “travel experiences” that could only be understood by going through it. Flights were delayed, canceled, and rerouted. Baggage was sent to parts unknown. Confusion reigned. I don’t mean it was confusing; I mean no one knew what was going on nor did anyone know what to do. There was a sense of helplessness in the passengers. The staff and crew were no better off. The look on their faces revealed problems way beyond their control as confusion reigned. 

It was at that time I realized, whether through revelation or simple common sense, that America’s infrastructure was imploding. It was evident that air travel wasn’t what it once was nor what it was supposed to be. Surrounded by this confusion I thought about how far this was really affecting the rest of life. Was the government in this kind of disarray? I wasn’t thinking of energy then, but could see how this would fit now.

The church in the America has not been any better. In fact, we have to own some fault. We’ve mistaken America for the kingdom of God. We think God uses America or cares for America the way he cares for His people. The church hasn’t separated itself from American values and politics when they are clearly not biblical. We “christianize” elements of our lives in an attempt to ease our own consciences. Our faith is politicized and our strength gutted. 

Some have tried to resurrect the “liberal” agenda of the early 20th Century. That movement gutted the gospel of its saving power then and it became a political movement, not a spiritual one. We see the same thing in parts of the Emergent Movement today. There is no call to holiness or removing ourselves from the essence of our culture. There is no “in the world, but not of the world” in its theology. It is politically flavored with leftist ideology. But as far as the left has gone one way so has the church on the “right” gone the other way. It’s arrogant triumphalism is embarrassing and repulsive. It politicizes the issues dear to God in a way that makes them unrecognizable. It too guts the gospel message and leaves it powerless. In my father’s words, “Same meat, different gravy.” What the church doesn’t seem to understand is that if the problem is spiritual so must the solution be. Instead of being caught in the undertow of politics it should fall on its knees and seek the Lord through repentance.

Here’s my perspective: Americans only have one choice - to yell for help. But to whom do we turn? Who will really bail us out? The financial mess is just one piece and it’s the one piece that really gets our attention. But what does it signal? Do we get passed this crisis and go back to business as usual? Do we keep allowing godless unscrupulous men to continue to make decisions for us that will benefit them but hold us hostage? If you think regulation and legislation will stay their hand you’re sadly mistaken.

It is not in the hands of politicians to do good. As I began Part 1 of this blog commenting on Thomas Aquinas’ view of democracy, I’ll return to it. Democracy is a poor form of government for getting things done, especially with 535 members who have to have their ego’s stroked and have an insatiable appetite for pork. America needs a single voice, a clear call. I don’t believe it will or should come from Washington. Wall street has no voice for direction either, but responds to the call for greed. Madison Avenue has no voice but that of the harlot: “Come lay with me.” No the voice must come from God; it must come through the church.

If Jesus is clearly the light that lights every man, then the church is in the best position to show the way. It will take more than being devoted; it will take a resolute heart to be biblical, merciful, holy, and resilient. It will take being outspoken, yet compassionate, firm but understanding. And, it must begin with our own repentance and humility. Our arrogance must be abandoned for the power of humility. We must rise above our pet doctrines and cling to the essentials of being Christ-like, born from above, recipients of His grace and forgiveness. We must demonstrate what salvation in Christ looks like.

It is time for the church to own up to our part in a quest for a secure homeland here on earth by buying into worldly issues. We must repent of thinking the kingdom of God would come through Washington, Wall Street, or Madison Avenue and not from the King himself. We’ve traded His power for political power, His riches for man’s and we’ve traded looking good for His goodness. The list could go on and on.

We must embrace His kingdom and His righteousness. Once we have identified our alliance with the world we can humble ourselves and ask God to restore to us a sound mind, one not tarnished by Adam’s sin of independence, but one complicit with God’s mind and will.

The church is the only entity that can truly stand outside of politics and draw on God’s wisdom, not to make life easy for the rest of the world, but to right wrongs and take a stand for righteousness. The church can lead the way back to godly character and virtue, but it must do so by example, not “christian-speak.”

Character, virtue and the transcendent values of Christ are what’s needed today. This is our Christian witness that is on the line. History will ask, “Where were the Christians?” If we don’t act our legacy will be undone. Listen, even the world recognizes the financial problems are the result of greed. We ought not be hesitant to establish that greed is the problem and provide the resolution for greed. Greed and its accompanying power have brought us to this place. We ought to promote and argue for the transcendent values of the King of kings. One thing is certain: it is not the time for the church to be silent.

This financial crisis may be the undoing of America. Who knows? The ramifications of the crisis may reach to hitherto parts unknown. It will take months to see the effects of any legislation. God only knows where this all goes. The question is: Where is the church? Where are its leaders? Why isn’t the church crying out against the greed on Wall Street, the mismanagement of Washington, and the seductive lure of Madison Avenue? Is it because it too has lost the transcendental values of godly character and virtue?

On the other hand, this financial crisis may pass and America will regain its stride in world economy. Will the church stay asleep? Will it continue to embrace a worldly mindset on finances and legislation? Or, will it rise to God’s leading and embrace the kingdom its been born into? This, remains to be seen.