Do We Really Need the Government?

Acts 20:35 - I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive.'' 

I watched the Glen Beck the other night. My blog the other day was called Do You Believe in Miracles? That could have been what this program could have been called if it had not been called a Glenn Beck Christmas special!

Beck was in the small town of Wilmington, Ohio. Their major business concern three years ago was DHL, an international delivery company whose national hub was in Wilmington. The company shut down their domestic delivery service and pulled out of town bringing hardship to this community of 11,000 people. Why?...8,000 lost their jobs! But the people of Wilmington were not about to give up hope. The town experienced miracles. They pulled up their bootstraps and did some amazing things, enough to cause Beck to take notice. They chose not to ask for government assistance. Instead, the town rallied together and helped each other out. Now that makes a person smile and gives that warm and fuzzy feeling.

There was a woman who took it upon herself to start a prayer ministry. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week this town of many people from the 32 churches gather where  chalkboards are displayed with various prayer requests. It could very well be the town's success has come from this ministry, from the dedicated people who have humbled themselves before God and made these requests known to Him. Although there's a part of this country that is not seen God's blessings, this town is. Glory goes to God and God alone. Who needs the government when God is in control!?

Think what could happen if more people in more towns would shake the victim mentality of just wanting government to take care of them and begin to seriously consider helping each other out or applying themselves. The Bible tells us For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat (2Thessalonians 3:10). God worked...He created this world and everything in it...and when He was done He proclaimed it was good. Shouldn't that be example enough? 

Glenn talked to several people he'd come across after speaking with some of them. Some were from town, some came to Wilmington to be part of this celebration. Story after incredible story were shared of how people have begun to listen to Beck, have heeded not only his warnings but his suggestions, have even begun to seek God, and have seen wonderful changes in their lives.

A woman saw a hotel for sale. It had been for sale for a long time. She inquired about it but wasn't so sure she and her husband could afford it. It would take a lot to fix it up. But she met with the seller and he trusted she could do what needed to be done and they shook hands on an agreement. The hotel is up and running today.

One man and his family lost their business in a fire. They never felt so alone. Through his church he was introduced to a man in Wilmington who had a building he could relocate to and rebuild his business...on nothing more than a handshake...because the same thing had happened to him twenty years prior and he knew what this man was going through.

In the two cases I mentioned it was not just a handout. They were miracles. Miracles of a human nature done out of selflessness of heart. They were examples of people choosing to do something to help someone get a new start. They were able to move forward...on a handshake. People helping people. Not people whining about government assistance. 

There's a lot to be said for giving out of the very pure motives of one's heart. This is what Jesus would want us to do. 

This is a season of giving. It is more blessed to give than to receive, Jesus has told us.. Can we ever get a full understanding of this? Can we shake off the life we've become used to if this is not our nature? Can we step out of our comfort zone and get off the couch and away from the television and do something for someone else? Can we give without expecting anything in return but perhaps a warm, fuzzy feeling knowing we have given something to someone who needs it?

Another man runs the local food pantry. He prays over all the shelves and trusts God for the results. He has enough food to last six months. We need more of this. We need to begin to believe that God can do what He tells us...that He is our provider. He used people, but it was He who urged them to give. 

Beck explained how his good Jewish friend, Rabbi Daniel Lapin, broke down the meaning of the Hebrew word for love. The Hebrew language is so filled with meaning. Within the four Jewish symbols of the word are the center two. The center...the center...and they mean to give. Isn't that what love is supposed to be? You give, not take. To give of ourselves, not to ourselves. I sometimes feel I have failed in this area. Maybe it's because I did not receive as a child. So what about this thing I've been saying about my relationship with Jesus? Shouldn't that have healed that part of me? Perhaps it's in the works. I know there's a stirring going on...

Wilmington is an excellent example of what this country needs to be. This is what we used to be as a nation. Always giving. Now we are a country in debt. We need a country of people like those of Wilmington. I have heard, and Glenn says the same thing, there is going to be a spiritual awakening in this country. It's just a matter of time. The things that Wilmington can represent I think can be just the beginning of that revival. One town, then two and little by little a movement that cannot be mistaken or overlooked.

As we enter into the Christmas season where love--and giving--is to predominate, let us keep this all in mind. Let us give....not necessarily stuff, but let's give of ourselves. Let us push aside our own wants and needs and reach out to others. Let us go beyond what we have always done and let us communicate our love in our actions. Let us step beyond what we would consider "our job." 

Our families may not be needy and we don't have to give physical gifts, but we can give of ourselves... Remember what Jesus did for us. He gave His life. Can we not give just a moment of our life, putting aside our own desires for just a moment of time in our lives, for the family? Can we not turn off the television for a time and listen to each other and join in the conversations? I guarantee we will be blessed if we do that. Let's shake the crabbiness and desire to control and just let things fall where they may. Let us not shush the children or grouse at a spouse!

A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. [So] do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship (Proverbs 22:9, Hebrews 13:16, Romans 12:1).

Count It But Loss

Philippians 3:8 - Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

I think it was Glenn Beck who first made mention this past summer of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book The Cost of Discipleship. I just know that a very good friend suggested I read it. I had already considered it, so her suggestion pushed me to get out and buy it. One cost might be summed up in the phrase count it but loss. But let me tell you, if we choose to be determined to do that, we will have help.

I think of Pentecost and the disciples turned apostles. Jesus had ascended to heaven then returned to appear one last time before the disciples. He explained what all that had happened meant and told them to wait in Jerusalem until where they would be endued with the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49). Then they would be ready to be loosed into the world, to preach and teach Christ Jesus through the power of God, not in their own strength.

And then I recall Paul who could not contain himself in his witness of Jesus Christ whom he had seen with his own eyes and listened and learned from Him. There are several books in the Bible called the Prison Epistles written by Paul during his times in prison to document this. He did not complain about his ordeals. Nothing was more important than his determination to share Christ...which he did. He was prepared to give his life for the sake of the Gospel and in time became a martyr.

I wonder where I stand? We've been so far removed from those days it's hard to fathom being in that type of circumstance. There could come a day when our faith is put on the line but it's hard to imagine. Yet there are some today who are missionaries in remote parts of the world and who are willing to give their lives. My brother-in-law is one and he has been in some tough circumstances. But he labors in the love of Christ. And when I picture him I picture his great big smile!

Remember, this Paul was once Saul, a Pharisee who would not listen to reports of this Messiah who did not conform to his idea what a messiah would look like. As Saul he persecuted Christians and their way of thinking. His life--and his name--however, was so changed by the power of God, he became dedicated to Christ, so much so that he was willing to count his life as loss. We are told to do this...not necessarily literally, although that can happen, but spiritually: The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life (John 12:25). Our lives should be worth nothing in the worldly sense. The world has little to offer compared to what we can attain through the knowledge of God. We are nothing without Jesus.

What happens if we do count it all but loss? I like what the Word tells us...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). Yes, the Holy Spirit will give us utterance but I believe He will also give us the power to endure whatever might come to us in life. He will help us in that moment of counting it all but loss. We will know, only in part, what Jesus Himself endured for us. However, we first must have a relationship with God to know Him, to understand Him and love Him and understand what we are to sacrifice. Power comes to those who have that relationship. The Word says there comes a day when men's hearts will fail them because of fear (Luke 21:26). Why? Because they haven't known the things of God, were not prepared for the some of the greater troubles of the world and did not have the power of God through the Holy Spirit to help overcome those things.

Boy, this was not anywhere near to what I was going to write! 

Back briefly to the Cost of Discipleship. Bonhoeffer's book describes the cost one might have to pay for holding to Christian views, following Christ, and is something some face today as Christianity is being opened up to those in oppressed countries where the name of Jesus is basically forbidden. Who knows that a day might come when we will be faced with circumstances unthinkable. Those in this country who stand firm in Christ in a country slowly pushing God aside for the sake of tolerance and embracing religious diversity could be faced with difficulties, certainly, as is already seen, offense.  

“I shall have no right,” Bonhoeffer wrote to Niebuhr before leaving America, “to participate in the reconstruction of Christian life in Germany after the war if I do not share the trials of this time with my people."... Bonhoeffer never regretted this decision, not even in prison, where he wrote in later years: “I am sure of God’s hand and guidance... You must never doubt that I am thankful and glad to go the way which I am being led. My past life is abundantly full of God’s mercy, and, above all sin, stands the forgiving love of the Crucified.” (Emphasis is mine.)

This sounds like something Paul might have written. Bonhoeffer counted it all as loss and we are also if we have come to know Jesus. If we do not we don't know Him. That is a difficult thing to write! Bonhoeffer writes about two forms of grace. I can tell you this, one grace counts it all as loss, while the other does not. More on that some other time. These forms of grace fit right in with counting our lives as nothing, sacrificing ourselves...all for the cause of Jesus Christ and His Gospel message...or not.

Glenn Beck has chosen in his own way to count it all as loss being part of the meager crowd not afraid of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Mainstream media wouldn't think to bring up this subject knowing full well they would be charged with criticism by many people. And there are many, even some religious leaders, who think Beck is way off base in his boldness. Should there be a time when Beck is stopped, I guarantee, like Paul, he will find another means to speak! He is adamant about this country turning back to God. I don't look at Beck as a Savior and I don't idolize or worship him. But he has found a need to do this considering the direction our once predominantly godly nation has gone and considering this direction could continue to wander farther away from God. Beck chooses to count it all but loss. Is there anyone out there who will do the same? 

Stay tuned...

Philippians 1:20 - I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.