What Do We Worship? The Dollar of Course!

We have an opportunity to recalibrate our national life and do better at aligning ourselves with our “perceived” historical national values as opposed to our “actual” values which are hedonistic. The professing – church has an opportunity to return to the Christ of the Cross and learn the Way of the Cross and stop enabling the worship of money and materialism.

Some of our political leadership is making it clear that our economy trumps virtually all other considerations – this is something we ought to have known, money rules – everything has a price and everyone is for sale…whether we want to be sold or not.

Last night the Lt. Governor of Texas indicated that older people should be willing to die for the greater good of the economy, to preserve “the American way of life”. Yes, let there be no doubt that the “American way of life” is all about the worship of money, affluence, fame – how else could we have a television show titled, “American Idol”?

For the most part the church has not only been mute about this idolatry, it has endorsed it by its failure to preach the Cross of Jesus Christ and by its actions in turning a blind eye to the sufferings and needs of others, both in our own nation and abroad.

Where is the prophetic voice of the church? Isn’t enough, enough? Have we not read the Prophets?

Below is an excerpt from the Lt. Governor’s interview with Tucker Carlson.

But perhaps more important than the interview, here is a piece by Ei Cook, Ph.D., of the University of Haifa, Israel, that recently appeared in the Saturday Evening Post (yes, it’s still published). When I read this piece a few weeks ago, I couldn’t believe how accurately it expressed my own thinking for the past few years – a thinking born of the Prophets and the rest of the Bible. Here’s the link: https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2020/02/putting-a-price-tag-on-life/

By Jamie Knodel (NBC News) March 24, 2020

Dan Patrick, Texas’ Republican lieutenant governor, on Monday night suggested that he and other grandparents would be willing to risk their health and even lives in order for the United States to “get back to work” amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Those of us who are 70 plus, we’ll take care of ourselves. But don’t sacrifice the country,” Patrick said on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”

His comments followed President Donald Trump’s statements about the country returning to business in weeks rather than months.

Patrick, who said he will turn 70 next week, said that he did not fear COVID-19, but feared that stay-at-home orders and economic upheaval would destroy the American way of life.

“No one reached out to me and said, 'As a senior citizen, are you willing to take a chance on your survival in exchange for keeping the America that America loves for its children and grandchildren?' And if that is the exchange, I'm all in,” Patrick said.

Leadership?

“He who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God, is as the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs out of the earth, through sunshine after rain.” 2 Samuel 23:3a – 4.

While there are many passages in the Bible about leadership, both explicit and implicit, the above passage struck me a few days ago. Consider the image – that of renewal and refreshment. Good leadership, great leadership, provides renewal and refreshment. In turbulent times, when refreshment is not an immediate prospect, great leadership nevertheless casts a vision of a future that is worth sacrifice and perseverance.

Great leadership exists to serve. It does not exist to cater to special interests, it does not exist to line its own pockets, it does not seek its own good, but rather the good of others. Responsible leadership does not exalt itself, nor does it malign others. Jesus teaches us that servant – leadership is Christlike leadership. Concerning Himself, Jesus said, “The Son of Man has not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (See Matthew 20:20 – 28; John 13:1 – 17).

We, the U.S.A., are a nation with many people in power but with few leaders. This is perhaps true globally, and it is, I think, true in the professing church. We have monetarized society and much of the church. Therefore, when a crisis arises which demands more than an economic response we are at a loss, our leaders are at a loss.

Yes, there are economic issues that need immediate attention for humanitarian purposes – and they should be addressed before anything else (economically speaking). However, at the same time our nation needs leaders who make the people the spotlight, the people the center of attention, and who speak honestly to the people of our immediate uncertainties and our hope for the future.

We do not know what the future will look like. Prior to Covid-19 there were already economic indicators that caused concern – such as the level of both personal and corporate debt. We do not know if we can, or should, return to a culture than encourages and enables unbridled consumption.

Perhaps we have an opportunity to recalibrate our social priorities. Perhaps the church has an opportunity to become reacquainted with the Christ of the Cross and the Cross of Christ – to learn what it is to live sacrificial lives for the benefit of others.

When a people are in uncharted and turbulent waters they need leadership with gravitas, understanding, and a determination to care for everyone. They need leadership that does not engage in knee-jerk rhetoric. They need leadership which tells the truth, calmly acknowledges uncertainties, and promises to put them first. They also need leadership which empowers others to seek solutions and which nurtures collective ownership and participation in the process and the development of goals.

Our hedonistic and narcissistic pursuit of pleasure has rendered us morally and spiritually bankrupt, and that bankruptcy has extended to our leadership (yes, there are exceptions).

“He who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God, is as the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs out of the earth, through sunshine after rain.” 2 Samuel 23:3a – 4.