THE LEADERS WE NEED

Do government leaders reflect the morals of the people or do government leaders direct the morality of the people?  Are they thermometers or thermostats?  Some of both, I think. Since the leaders come from among the people, they should be expected to often be as the people, but since they have influence over the citizens, they make a difference in the climate of the culture.  For good or bad, government leaders can set the tone, even as they are sons of the times.  Proverbs 29 has something to say about this.

1.  LEADERS CAN BRING BURDENS OR BLESSINGS.   “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” (‭v.2‬). We can rejoice the day that a good leader is elected, but will rue the day that a godless one is.

2. LEADERS CAN UNDERGIRD OR UNDERMINE.  
“The king establishes the land by justice, But he who receives bribes overthrows it.” (v.4‬).  The leader’s policies will be built on a foundation of stone or sand.

3. LEADERS CAN BE WISE OR WICKED. “If a ruler pays attention to lies, All his servants become wicked.” (v.12‬).  A leader’s administration will feature those of delightful or demonic counsel, mirroring the leader’s heart.

4. LEADERS CAN BE COMPASSIONATE OR CRUEL.  “The king who judges the poor with truth, His throne will be established forever.” (v.14‬). How the powerful relate to the powerless says much about the leaders.

5.  LEADERS MAY BRING EARTHLY REWARD, BUT THE LORD BESTOWS ETERNAL REWARD. “Many seek the ruler’s favor, But justice for man comes from the LORD.” (v.26‬).  It may be that God’s people get no justice here, but they are guaranteed by a Sovereign God to get it hereafter!

King David was Solomon’s father.  Solomon, who penned these words had a son, Rehoboam who would become king.  David was a man after God’s own heart, and a great king—though not a perfect man.  Solomon succeeded his father and was superior in the material prosperity and military power he brought to the kingdom, but declined over time spiritually.  Just read Ecclesiastes to see how he spiraled downward. Rehoboam’s reign would degenerate further and the kingdom would deteriorate and divide.  The nation would never be the same.

It has been said that, “In a democracy, people get the leaders they deserve.” Nations are born, grow strong, decline, and die. It is comforting to know that the Kingdom of God abides forever!

GOD AND GOVERNMENT

Proverbs 20:2, 8, 26, 28

Solomon writes as a king to his son.  From that perspective, he mentions numerous times how a ruler should reign. In chapter twenty, Solomon presents four proverbs that underscore a king’s responsibility. Although a monarchy is not our form of government in America, there are still principles that we can learn concerning God and government.

1.  THE REASON FOR GOVERNMENT.  “The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.” (v.2‬). We see the word “sins,” reminding us that we live in a fallen world.  Because of that, there is evil which must be punished.  God has ordained government to this end. “The wrath of a king,” conveys the purpose of government. Because of sin, there are bad government systems. Because of sin, even in a good system by design, there is bad that is sometimes done by government. Yet, the worst of all is anarchy—where there is no government. Then, each man becomes his own law, and our depraved heart will guarantee evil.

2.  THE RESTRAINT OF GOVERNMENT. “A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes. A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them.” (v.8, 26‬). Evil is to be punished. Law and order must be established or wickedness will run amok. Justice is to be extended as judgment is passed. Law cannot make someone righteous, for only God’s work in Christ can do that, but what it can do is restrain the proliferation of sin. The founding fathers of America, in wisdom and Biblical understanding, knew government itself would need restraint.  They established a country because of tyranny they had known.  So, checks and balances were put in place. It is not a perfect system—only the eternal reign of God is—and so even the best system must be revisited at times.  The founders even gave us a process for this. Sadly, ours has degenerated for the lack of this.  Judicial activism rather than constitutional application has been at the root of this deterioration. We have failed to restrain the restrainers.

3.  THE REWARD BY GOVERNMENT.  “Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.” (v.28‬). The function of government, then is not only to punish evil, but to praise good. In so doing it restrains wrong conduct, and reinforces right behavior. Therefore, government ought to be marked by “mercy and truth,” as well as “lovingkindness.”  To be a citizen in such a civil society is the best government we can experience until Christ returns and the perfect King reigns.

So, let us pray for government leaders to be led by Scriptural principles. Let us vote for leaders who will follow Biblical tenets. Let us lobby for laws that fulfill God’s intent for government. Good government can make life better, and bad government is guaranteed to make it worse.

A WORLD UPSIDE DOWN

(This is the manuscript I had prepared for my sermon yesterday in response to the legalization of same-sex marriage. It is what I would have said if I had an hour to preach. I had 20 minutes--that sermon as delivered should be posted in a day or two--if you prefer that format, and that length! You will get the core of it. God bless!--Pastor Dennis)

A WORLD UPSIDE DOWN

 

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  (Isaiah 5:20)

 

When is a person not a person?  When they are a piece of property.  That is what the Supreme Court ruled in the Dred Scott decision in 1857.  Scott had sued to obtain his freedom.  Chief Justice Roger Taney ruled that because Scott was simply considered the private property of his owners, that he was subject to the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution, prohibiting the taking of property from its owner "without due process."  Strike one!

 

When is a baby not a baby?  When it is a fetus.  The Supreme Court in its infamous Roe v. Wade decision in 1973 made abortion legal.  Since then 54.5 million babies have been brutally butchered—their mother’s womb meant to be a sanctuary turned into an execution chamber.  Strike two!

 

When is a marriage defined as between a man and woman not the only definition of marriage?  When the Supreme Court says it can also be a union of two of the same gender.  That was the irrational, unconstitutional decision rendered by 5 of the 9 justices on this past Friday.  Strike three!

 

Now in baseball, three strikes and you’re out.  Have we crossed the point of no return for America?  The final judgment will not be rendered by nine men and women robed in black, but by one Judge robed in white who sits on the throne in the Supreme Court of Heaven.  When will He say that America has gone too far?

 

Here is what I do know.  The inhumanity inflicted on a race of people whose only crime was to be born with darker skin led to their cries of pain reaching God’s ears.  America was plunged into Civil War, where on both North and South, the greatest loss of life occurred in any of our wars—620,000.  Lincoln said this in his second inaugural address, “If we shall suppose that American slavery is one of those offenses which, in the providence of God, must needs come, but which, having continued through His appointed time, He now wills to remove, and that He gives to both North and South this terrible war as the woe due to those by whom the offense came, shall we discern therein any departure from those divine attributes which the believers in a living God always ascribe to Him? Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said ‘the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.’”

 

Now since 1973, the blood of the little ones torn to pieces, burned to death with chemicals, their brains sucked out with vacuum hoses, and when sometimes still surviving the abortion procedure, only to be suffocated, having their spinal cord snipped with scissors, tossed into a toilet, discarded to whimper alone in a closet until they die.  Millions of little voices, crying out to God for vengeance!  The Creator who takes notice of a little sparrow fluttering to the ground and dying, surely knows each one of these babies made in His image and weeps for them.  Meanwhile His anger builds—How long, O Lord?

 

Then this Friday—legalizing perversion—shaking our fist in the face of God—that which grieves a Holy God is now celebrated.  The rainbow colors illumine the White House.  “A great victory for the United States,” the President exults.  Those rejoicing should read the story of Belshazzar’s party in Babylon documented in Daniel 5 to see how such pompous parties may end.  When Justice Anthony Kennedy and four others affixed their names to the majority opinion legalizing same sex marriage in the U.S. they may have signed America’s death certificate.  Listen to Isaiah’s warning, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”  (Isaiah 5:20)

 

The world is upside down.

 

How are we to respond?

 

1.  PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL AWAKENING.  The  ills of America cannot be cured with elections, legislation or court decisions—that crowd is a contributor to the mess!  Someone correctly said that neither a donkey nor an elephant can save us—it takes a Lamb—the Lord Jesus is our only hope!  Unless there is a mighty move of God, America is going to fall.  2 Chronicles 7:14 is our Biblical imperative.  The great need is not in the culture, but in the church.  Sinners do what sinners do.  The world can only impact the culture as light and salt when we are distinctively different.  Instead the world has impacted the church.  Scripture warns, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Pet.4:17)  Revival or wrath—which one will descend from heaven?   Our problems are spiritual and require spiritual solutions.  If a spiritual awakening comes to America then a government transformation can come.  Without that there is no political answer.  What if spiritual awakening should sweep across America?  Before you scoff at that don’t forget nothing is too hard for the Lord!  Following I describe a political framework to build on the spiritual foundation.

2.  PARTICIPATE IN REAL CHANGE.  Christians are citizens of two kingdoms.  Too often we think that if we just elect the right President or a different senator or congressman that everything will change.  It has not and will not.  The faces of leadership change—the pendulum swings from one party to the next—but most go up to D.C. and sell their soul; they settle into the same old progressive nonsense.  Both parties propose government solutions—the Democrats want to micromanage every part of our lives, as well as tax and spend us into oblivion and the Republicans say different but then do the same thing, just slower.  The Supreme Court—not only on Friday, but two other outlandish decisions on Thursday—usurped authority and made laws contrary to their Constitutional role.  “The Founders knew the federal government might one day become drunk with the abuses of power. The most important check to this power is Article V. Article V gives states the power to call a convention for the purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution.  By calling a convention of the states, we can stop the federal spending and debt spree, the power grabs of the federal courts, and other misuses of federal power. The current situation is precisely what the Founders feared, and they gave us a solution we have a duty to use.” (http://www.conventionofstates.com/)   An informed citizenry with a moral backbone could rebuild this one nation under God.  

What if neither occur?  What if there is no spiritual revival and no political reform?

 

3.  LET THE CHURCH BE THE CHURCH ANYWAY.  Whatever society does, we must do what Christ has commanded us to do—to preach the Gospel, calling sinners to repentance and offering forgiveness and salvation. Should America turn back to God, it would only be a reprieve from judgment.  According to Scripture the day of reckoning is coming.  Imagine that this world is the Titanic.  It has hit the iceberg called sin (that happened in Gen.3).  It is sinking and nothing can stop that.  Our task is to man the lifeboats and get as many on as we can.  It will not be an easy job.  People will hate us for telling the truth.  But we must never respond with hate.  The good folks in the Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C. showed us that—and love is a powerful.  Love does win!  God’s kid of love, that is. It is increasingly likely that persecution will come to the church.  Four of the Supreme Court justices spoke to the grave danger to religious liberty.  We will stand and speak the truth in love as long as we are able.

 

Here is what God has in mind:

 

See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.”  Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.  Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.  For our God is a consuming fire.  (Hebrews 12:25-29)
 

When the shaking comes, Your life must be founded on the solid rock—personal faith in Christ.

Only that will enable you to stand in the storm of God’s judgment.

 

This shaking will sift out the wheat from the chaff.  The church is filled with people who profess faith, but may not possess faith.  Easy-believism and cultural Christianity wither under the fire of persecution.

 

Because the world is upside down, genuine Christians will be described like this, “These who have turned the world upside down…” (Acts 17:6).  In reality the world is standing on its head and saying we are upside down!  Our desire is to put things right-side up!

GOD AND GOVERNMENT

“Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites.  And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes….”  (Deuteronomy 17:18-19)

Israel was meant to be a theocracy.  God would be their King.  He would deliver their laws, direct their governance, and defend them from their enemies.  This set them apart from all the other nations—which would become their problem, they would eventually want to be like the other nations.  All the other nations had a human king, so they would want one also.  The problem would be that they would want to emulate the other nations in their ways and worship as well.  There would be some good kings, who would lead the Jews, and even they had their flaws—and some more than others did.  Most of their kings would be depraved men leading degenerate people, and the downward spiral would remove the blessing of God and bring judgment instead.  Knowing that Israel would eventually clamor for a king, God told them the kind of king they would need.  In our republic, there is no king, but the principles here can help us determine the kind of government leaders we need, whether it be a president, senator, governor, mayor or judge.

Our leader must realize that God has ordained government to maintain a civil society (Deut.17:1-13).  Authority is meant to check anarchy.  The rule of law is meant to restrain fallen nature.  While the law cannot make us good, it can punish the bad and thereby hold it in check.  Government is to promote morality and punish evil—even capital punishment may be required.  Strict parameters are proscribed for this. 

• The government official must realize his accountability to God (Deut.17:14-20).  Ultimately, he or she will not be judged in the court of public opinion, but in heaven’s tribunal.  Several qualities are to mark the kind of leaders we should elect.
• We should seek God’s will for His choice rather than consider his personality or promises, both of which may be a masquerade (v.15a).
• He is not to be of foreign birth, but chosen from among his people (v.15b).  None can better sympathize with the citizens than one who has shared their experiences.
• The leader must not lean on human power, but on Divine protection to defend the nation (v.16).  This is not to say maintaining a strong national defense is wrong.  It is folly to fail in this.  Yet, that alone cannot protect us.  God must watch over us as we look on Him.
• Government officials must be people of character whose hearts are not drawn to immorality or captivated by greed (v.17).
• Knowing the Word of God and submitting to it will give the nation’s leaders the beacon of truth to guide them (v.18-20).

This is the kind of leader for which I am praying.  May God raise them up! 

TWILIGHT OF A NATION

 

Righteousness exalts a nation,

But sin is a reproach to any people.  (Proverbs 14:34)

The sunlight of truth is sinking low, and the shadows of evil deepen.  Although there are political, social, financial, and international concerns for America, the gravest peril is the spiritual darkness falling across the land.  Many Americans have an increasing unease—even the non-religious acknowledging something is wrong.  For those who are Bible believers, the danger is clear and imminent, for we understand the warning of Scripture, “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.”  (Ps.9:17)  America has forgotten God—the Creator who called us into being, the Provider who has blessed us, the Defender who has shielded us—even now fighting against Him. 

That is futile, of course.  The landscape of history is strewn with the wreckage of proud nations that arose with great pomp, ruled with great pride, and then were destroyed because they did not acknowledge the source of their strength.  It is folly to think these United States will be any different.  The glimmer of hope is that the Gospel is still being preached, and God’s church is still present, and spiritual awakening might yet raise us from the sickbed before the disease becomes terminal.  God makes dead bones live!

The twilight of a nation comes through IGNORANCE.  Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  (John 8:32)  If freedom is lost, it is that we are ignorant concerning the foundation, form, and function of our government.  This country was founded by people who—in many cases—fleeing religious tyranny in order to find freedom to worship.  The very laws upon which this nation was established were rooted in Biblical principles.  The Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.”  Deny the Creator and we have no basis for those rights.

The twilight of a nation issues from IDOLATRY.  Man will worship someone or something—for we are all religious in heart.  Even those who claim to be atheists deify the secular.  It is unavoidable.  An unholy trinity of false gods comprise the pantheon of idols in America today—pride, pleasure, and possessions.  Pride is the religion of humanism.  Its doctrine proclaims the self-sufficiency of man.  Pleasure is the religion of hedonism.  Its tenet is, “If it feels good, do it!”  Possessions become the religion of materialism.  Its creed teaches that life is found in the abundance of wealth.

The twilight of a nation grows with INDIFFERENCE.  The people of God are meant to be salt and light.  We are sentries posted on the wall to sound a warning.  Yet, for most, there is a shocking indifference toward iniquity.  Rather than influencing the world, the world influences the church.  Ezekiel warns that if we are silent the blood will be on our hands.  May the church grow a spine, and speak the truth in love, but please speak up!  One pastor, martyred for his stand against the Nazis, challenges us, “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless.  Not to speak is to speak.  Not to act is to act.” (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

DEPTH PERCEPTION: Seeing Things As They Truly Are

 

Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?  (Mark 12:24)

We do not live in a flat world, but in 3-D.  Things have depth and proper vision recognizes that.  When we lose depth perception, it is difficult to walk without falling or grab something without failing.  Depth perception helps us see things as they truly are.  In the twelfth chapter of Mark’s Gospel, we see those with a distorted spiritual vision.  If we understand what Jesus is teaching, it is because we have spiritual depth perception—we see things as they truly are. 

For example, we see SALVATION AS IT TRULY IS (v.1-12)  The religious leaders of Jesus day, rather than receiving the Savior who had come, had decided to devise a salvation of their own religion and ritual.  God planted and provided for His vineyard, Israel, and expected fruit.  The religious leaders were to cultivate the spiritual welfare of the nation.  God sent his prophets to look for fruit and they were hated.  Then, He sent His Son and they would kill Him! This rebellion would bring retribution.  Others would receive the vineyard and become the people of God—the Gentiles who largely comprise the church.  Christ quotes from Psalm 118 (v.10-11).  Those Christ came to, evaluated Him, and decided He was unworthy to be the Messiah, but God had made Him the chief cornerstone!  In Christ alone is salvation!

Then we can see SUBMISSION AS IT TRULY IS (v.13-17)  There was the perception among the Herodians that submission to Caesar was in order—to compromise with Rome would secure their status.  The Pharisees, on the other hand, saw this as defiling and rebellion was demanded.  They sought to draw Jesus into the middle of the conflict—knowing He was bound to alienate someone.  These men were not seeking truth, but setting a trap.  They lacked depth perception.  Jesus tells us that we do have a Christian duty to the state.  As bad as we might hate to pay taxes, and may disagree with how much of it is spent, we receive benefit from the government and are responsible to fund it.  We are responsible to be good citizens by submitting to the laws of the land.  Ultimate allegiance, however, is to God—so civil disobedience may be needed if man’s laws contradict God’s!

Furthermore, we observe RESURRECTION AS IT TRULY IS (v.18-27)  The Sadducees did not understand the resurrection.  It was a doctrine they rejected.  Not believing in the resurrection is what made them “sad you see”!  They were the liberals of their day.  The argument hinges on the tense of the text and that says much about the reliability of Scripture!  Many denominations are headed for the ecclesiastical garbage dump because they have abandoned the faith once and for all delivered unto the saints.  They have turned their ears from the Word of God unto fables.  Liberal preachers have sown the seeds of error and we are reaping the bitter harvest of evil in moral relativism in America.  Such know neither the Word of God nor the power of God.

Do you have a Biblical worldview that enables you to see things as they truly are?  Open our eyes Lord, so we may have spiritual depth perception!

DROWNING IN RED INK

[As we face the current budget crisis in Washington, these words are more needed than when I posted them a year ago.]

“There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. Some were saying, ‘We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live.’ Others were saying, ‘We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.’ Still others were saying, ‘We have borrowed money to pay the king's tax on our fields and vineyards.

We and our children are [just] like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.’

I became extremely angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints.” (Nehemiah 5:1-6 HCSB)

Perhaps you’ve heard this definition, “A recession is when your neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours.”

Money talks, and mine usually says, “Goodbye!”

Businesses are struggling, property values have fallen, houses are “under water,” unemployment is high, inflation is creeping in, and I could go on with the misery index. The gravest peril, however, is that our nation is drowning in red ink—owing more than 16 trillion dollars. That is a mind-boggling amount. Serious people say that we are on the edge of a fiscal cliff. If America’s financial system fails, we will experience a global meltdown that is unprecedented in scope. There is a lot of hot air in Washington, but no backbone, it seems, to deal with the crisis.

As we continue in our reading in Nehemiah, we come to chapter five. There we see the kind of leadership needed to rescue us from drowning in red ink.

Let’s understand THE PERIL.

Their economic evils were brought on by UNBRIDLED GREED.

“There was a widespread outcry from the people and their wives against their Jewish countrymen. Some were saying, ‘We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live.’ Others were saying, ‘We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.’” (Neh.5:1-3)

Do you see the peril God’s people faced? During the days of the effort to rebuild Jerusalem, economic disaster loomed on the horizon. Nehemiah would have to provide strong leadership through this dangerous time.

The outcry of the laborers resulted from their unjust treatment, brought on by unbridled greed. Bible teacher, Chuck Swindoll calls this a strike by laborers who had been working on the wall. While they didn’t picket, they did create problems.

Perhaps we think that labor problems are something relatively new. They are not. They are caused by greed--the greed of management that doesn't care for the employees concerns, such as we see in this text, and the greed of workers who want a bigger slice of the pie than they deserve.

Yet, the Scripture enjoins that laborers be dealt with justly and compassionately and that laborers work submissively and eagerly. Numerous passages could be cited, such as Colossians 3:22-4:1.

Think about the transformation that would occur in the workplace, if these principles were placed in effect. The increase of productivity would create such a tide of prosperity that would drive down the deficit and lift all aspects of the economy. Workers who do their job at peak efficiency, not just when the boss is watching, but as a service to God and employers who pay as much as they can, instead of as little as they can, who create good work conditions, and provide benefits to the greatest degree possible will fuel an economic powerhouse. That’s the way to run a business.

We like to think of America as being a free nation. But today we are in bondage to foreign governments who help keep our economy afloat by funding massive debt. We are the largest debtor nation in the world.

Israel, during Nehemiah’s time, was also in trouble because of UNLIMITED CREDIT.

“Others were saying, ‘We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.’” (Neh.5:3)

Simply put, these were in debt over their heads. They had borrowed beyond their ability to repay. That is a recipe for disaster.

Did you know that many commit financial suicide with the edge of a credit card? Easy credit will ruin you. An escalating cycle of debt inevitably marches one toward the day of reckoning. What is true of a family will also be true of a nation. The day of reckoning may be postponed delayed because of the abundant resources of our nation, but eventually there will be a day of reckoning.

The federal government is spending money like there is no tomorrow. If we keep it up, there will be no tomorrow! We have loaned billions to other countries that have neither the means not intention to ever pay it back. Entitlements are growing at break neck speed. The national debt is like a hungry monster gobbling up all the capital that might have been used for investment. Washington, DC is a black hole where trillions of dollars disappear.

If we could travel back through time and interview the Founding Fathers--those brave souls who were willing by blood, sweat and tears to liberate a nation from tyranny, who spent their financial resources to establish America, what would they say about what we have allowed America to become? Could they believe we would permit such domination and intrusion of the federal government today?

Many times we feel helpless to change the course of our country—it seems so out of hand. But, we must try.

Let me suggest a place to start. Get your own financial house in order. Stop borrowing money. Perform plastic surgery and get rid of the credit cards, if necessary. Begin to work to get out of debt. Make a budget and stay on it.

How many people are hindered in God’s service because of debt? For instance, say there is a young couple who believes they are being led to go to the mission field, but they owe so much money they can’t afford to go. Here is a middle aged couple who know they should be tithing and giving to the Lord’s work, and yet they owe so much and the financial strain is so great that their giving is paltry.

Let us be wise stewards of the money God has permitted us to have. Then let us demand such stewardship from our elected officials. When fundamental financial principles are violated, no amount of money manipulation by the Federal Reserve or political programs from the President will solve the economic misery that results. The only answer is to return to sound fiscal policies.

The Jews of Nehemiah’s day were suffering a monetary malady brought on by unbridled greed and unlimited credit. There was also the problem of UNUSED RESOURCES

“Some were saying, ‘We, our sons, and our daughters are numerous. Let us get grain so that we can eat and live.’ Others were saying, ‘We are mortgaging our fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine.’ Still others were saying, ‘We have borrowed money to pay the king's tax on our fields and vineyards.

We and our children are [just] like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless because our fields and vineyards belong to others.’” (Neh.5:2-5)

People were having to borrow to eat because others owned the land. Today foreign investors are gobbling up chunks of America. They are buying industry and property. One day we are going to wake up and find that we have signed the title deed to America over to foreign domination.

This chapter speaks of how the children were in bondage because of the economic conditions. We are shackling our children with such massive debt so as to enslave an entire generation to come. What we are doing to our children and grandchildren is criminal!

There was famine in the land, but it was because of violation of God’s principles—not because of “global warming.” Thus, the people had come under judgment. If you read your Bible carefully, you will discover that drought and famine indicate God’s judgment on a nation. Last summer, America’s heartland baked under the heat. Food prices are bound to reflect this come winter. Just another year like that—and famine could come to America.

As we look around the world and television brings us horrific pictures of starving multitudes, and we ask ourselves, “Why?” The so-called experts today warn us of the population bomb, that unchecked control of the population is the reason for poverty and starvation. These famines are but harbingers of worse to come if we don’t control the population, they say. The world’s resources are running out, we are told.

This is nonsense. The problem is not overpopulation. You should go on YouTube and search for the clip, “Demographic Winter” and you will see that declining birthrates in the West threaten civilization.

The real problem is a rejection of God’s truth. For example, we are often confronted with the starving masses in India as a need for population control and redistribution of wealth. Yet India grows enough grain to feed its people. The problem is a false religion that believes mice should not be killed, for it could be the reincarnation of your mother-in-law, so the mice eat enough grain to feed the people. Sacred cows wander the streets. Those cows could be slaughtered to feed the hungry, except the heifer might be grandma. Sin is the reason that people starve.

Then, another folly was UNFAIR TAXES.

“Still others were saying, ‘We have borrowed money to pay the king's tax on our fields and vineyards.’” (Neh.5:4)

Taxation is not a new problem. When Israel decided they no longer wanted to be a theocracy, with God as King, but desired to be a monarchy like other nations, they were warned of the heavy burden of taxation the king would place upon them. We see such monetary misery in Nehemiah’s time.

Their burden of taxation was so great they were having to mortgage their property just to pay their taxes. That is unfair, and that is what we can say about the tax system of the United States. We are taxed at ridiculous levels. If an individual did what the government does they would be arrested. We call it stealing—taking that which doesn’t belong to you. Each year the local, state and federal governments confiscate the hard-earned dollars of the American worker at excessive levels and give it to many who will not get off their back-sides and work, as well as fund a bloated, inefficient bureaucracy, where we hear of news reports about extravagance and waste funded by tax dollars.

Our Declaration of Independence relates the causes of the colonists’ decision to separate from England. It states how King George (and here’s a direct quote), “has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent swarms of officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.”

How ironic that this is what the federal government is doing today. It seems King George now sits in the White House.

Can you imagine our Founding Fathers tolerating such? Don’t you remember the Boston Tea Party? A number of people have decided they will form a modern, “Tea Party” and I am part of that. I love my kids and grandchildren too much, and I appreciate this nation too much, to just go quietly in the night.

If America is going to survive, wasteful spending must be checked and tax rates cut so that the productive members of society have the money to keep the economy moving. We hear a lot of talk about taxing millionaires and billionaires, when the tax hikes planned will cripple small business, and bring down the economy.

From the peril we turn to THE PROVISION. There is a provision from God to meet our economic peril. Scripture tells us here how Nehemiah was able to lead his people out of their monetary miseries.

His solution, first of all, involved ANGER.

“I became extremely angry when I heard their outcry and these complaints. After seriously considering the matter, I accused the nobles and officials, saying to them, ‘Each of you is charging his countrymen interest.’ So I called a large assembly against them and said, ‘We have done our best to buy back our Jewish countrymen who were sold to foreigners, but now you sell your own countrymen, and we have to buy them back.’ They remained silent and could not say a word.” (Neh.5:6-8)

Nehemiah got hot! There is a proper time for anger, channeled in a productive way. Listen friend, this country we love is about to drown in red ink. You have a government that is bleeding us to death. Our leaders are enslaving our children and grandchildren. They are causing America to be sold off piece by piece to foreigners.

The Bible says, “Be angry and do not sin.” Anger can be sinful. It is sinful, when it is selfish. But anger towards injustice and iniquity is needful.

There came a day when Jesus Christ came into the Temple. There He saw the greedy leaders had turned His Father’s House into a house of merchandise. He saw this as an affront to God. The Lord also saw how this was an impediment for those who wanted to know God, so he turned over the moneychangers’ tables and took a whip and drove them out. Jesus was angry, but without sin.

Nehemiah called a great assembly against the leaders. I am calling for such an uprising--not with bullets but ballots. We have that privilege and responsibility. It is our patriotic duty to have a government of the people, by the people and for the people. As long as we are apathetic, we will do nothing.

Nehemiah was just one man, but he made a difference. You can too, if you are willing to take a courageous stand. Nehemiah was a government leader as a man of God. That’s the kind of folks we need in office.

Nehemiah not only got angry, but he made an APPEAL.

“Then I said, "What you are doing isn't right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God [and not invite] the reproach of our foreign enemies?” (Neh.5:9)

Nehemiah appealed to them, by reminding them, that they must one day answer to God. That is a reminder the politicians need. There is a higher court than their constituents that they will stand before. The way of opinion polls may make for re-election, but principles make for sound governance. It is the difference between a democracy, where the majority rules and a republic, where principles rule. We are in danger of becoming the former, when we were established to be the latter.

Nehemiah also appealed to them to get their act together because of their enemies. There were enemies then--there are enemies today. As long as America exists, she will have enemies. There will always be those waiting and ready to prey upon us in a time of weakness.

If the economy of a nation deteriorates, its ability to defend itself will weaken, likewise. Bullets and bombs won’t save us. Should an economic disaster befall America today, on the scale of the Great Depression, can you imagine the civil strife and chaos in our cities? In the 1920’s, we had a populace that by and large was industrious and ethical. They were able to help each other and get through those desperate days. Those used to living off the government today would rise in armed rebellion, loot and burn and pillage and plunder if their entitlements were shut off. This nightmare scenario is on the verge of unfolding.

Anarchy would spread like a plague. The chaos would be so great there would be a call for military intervention, and likely out of that climate a dictator would arise with a desperate people subjugating themselves willingly under his iron grip. In fact, executive orders have been recently signed by the President to seize power in such a crisis. Our military has recently had training exercises in some of our cities. Preparations have been made for this.

That’s what happened in Germany. I have been reading about it in Churchill’s, “Memoirs of the Second World War.” It sounds like reading today’s newspapers as we head toward World War III.

After the first World War, Germany was bankrupt and the currency worthless. Enter Hitler, a charismatic leader who promises Germany will be reborn. You know how that worked out. Don’t say it couldn’t happen here. Those Germans were educated, sophisticated and yet in their plight were willing to believe the lie.

Nehemiah called upon the people to ADOPT sound economic principles.

“’Even I, as well as my brothers and my servants, have been lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop charging this interest.

Return their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and houses to them immediately, along with the percentage of the money, grain, new wine, and olive oil that you have been assessing them.’

They responded: ‘We will return [these things] and require nothing more from them. We will do as you say.’

So I summoned the priests and made everyone take an oath to do this.

I also shook the folds of my robe and said, ‘May God likewise shake from his house and property everyone who doesn't keep this promise. May he be shaken out and have nothing!’

The whole assembly said, ‘Amen,’ and they praised the Lord. Then the people did as they had promised.” (Neh.5:10-13)

Nehemiah was going to hold the feet of the politicians to the fire. He said, ‘You do the right thing or you’re out of here!’

Nehemiah not only demanded statesmanship, he demonstrated it. He set an example of sacrifice:

“Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah—from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, 12 years—I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor.” (Neh.5:14)

Nehemiah was an example of service. We need such a spirit in our day. What we don’t need are leaders living as princes, while they make the people into paupers.