Global Economics Biblical?
Buying Junk
Christianity Incompatible with Global Economy
Several authors warned Christians about this 5 years ago. Christianity is not compatible with a global economic system which strives to transfer American wealth and jobs to 3rd. world countries.
This is because the global economic system must keep Americans spending their wealth on things, stuff, and junk from Wal-Mart and other outlets for 3rd world country manufacturers. These manufacturers are mostly U.S. corporations who have moved to China and who hire low-paid workers.
We are told Not to Love World System
Christians, however, are told not to “love the world” or to “lust after things” (1 John 2:15-17). As such, an evil, carnal god, Satan, must either conform Christians to his depraved philosophy of excess consumerism, debt, and tawdry values, or he must marginalize true Christians so that they are ineffective and used-up.
Consumer-Clones & Debt-Junkies
Think about it for a minute. 80% of Americans are Christians according to Barna research. Furthermore, we are wealthy. Therefore, we are Satan’s choice-subjects to become conformed to this world. Wealthy people buy things. So, rich Christian consumers often succumb and conform to this world, thus defying 1 John 2:15-17. Satan “kills two birds with one stone.” Bingo! We have become transformed into Satan’s consumer-clones and debt-junkies.
Scary Psychology
Earlier this decade, authors pointed out that Americans (including Christians) are “conditioned to consume, buy, spend, and charge it.” Through hypnotic techniques, for example, T.V. producers use a scary side of psychology to their advantage. They utilize flickering 30-frames-per-second camera film to put watchers into a trance. Then they “fill” our minds with loud, colorful, jerky advertising-clips which change frequently.
This is just one form of mind-control or brainwashing. Watch your children and families sitting glassy-eyed in front of the T.V. set. You’ll see for yourself. Instead, we should be filling our minds and our childrens’ minds with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18).
Consumer Bees support poor Countries
The T.V. producers’ advertising objective is clear. Global elitists including the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the United Nations, and the Earth Charter drafting committee & commissioner, want Americans to support the emergence of 3rd world countries such as China and India. We are the world’s “consumer-bees.”
The New “Chindia”
China is fast becoming the manufacturing base of the world. India is quickly becoming the think-tank of the world. China produces clothing, electronics, and other gadgets. India provides financial services, call centers, software development, and legal services. (You will see these descriptions of job roles and their definitions expand in the years ahead). Our job as consumer-clones and debt-junkies is to support this new “Chindia.”
Herding all Americans
Americans must be “herded” into buying goods that China manufactures, and using the financial services and software products which India provides. In the process, American corporations transfer our jobs to China and India, thus providing China’s and India’s poorest with economic benefits we once had, without the governmental restrictions imposed on U.S. manufacturers. We are cooperating nicely, thank you. Earth Charter Resolution 10a has as its goal to,
Earth Charter Resolution 10A
“Promote the equitable distribution of wealth within nations and among nations” (World Net Daily).
A Consumer Workforce
We Americans are the “consumer worker-bees,” the financial underpinnings, of the world. For over 50 years we have been conditioned to buy unnecessary gadgets, tools, furniture, cars, homes, fashions, and tickets to sporting events.
In fact, most Americans do not feel “normal” unless they partake in these activities. These shopping, consuming, and entertainment types of activity seem as wholesome as “apple pie” to us.
As you can see, however, the true Christian mindset or worldview,is a direct threat to the globalist agenda for Americans to continue as the “consumer worker-bees” of the world.
Threat to Global Economy
Consider this: How cooperative to this evil world system are American Christians who refuse to participate in holiday shopping “rites?” How do they cooperate if they refuse to go into debt by purchasing million-dollar homes? What if they cut back on credit card spending?
Our Debt Comprises Their Riches
This type of debt is packaged and sold overseas as “junk bonds” of sorts. Credit card debt, car debt, housing debt, and consumer debt provide foreigners with nice interest or yields in these funds. Our understanding is that these bond “funds” of American debt are bundled together by global firms such as Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, Chase-Manhatten, and other international financiers who operate in foreign markets.
This may be one reason why financiers convinced Congress to make it extremely difficult for U.S. citizens to declare bankruptcy. They also made sure that our minimum credit card payments were substantially raised. These measures give greater security to firms who sell our debt worldwide.
“ABS” Debt Sold Worldwide
This kind of debt is called “ABS” or Asset Backed Securities. “They are packages of the lowest debt, like auto loans, sub-prime home loans, and credit card debt ‘syndicated’ for a handsome fee by Wall Street’s leading investment bankers.
These have higher risk/higher interest and so become perfect high yield ‘paper’ to own and leverage for profit by hedge funds.” (The McAlvany Intelligence Advisor, September 2005, 12).
Debtor Slaves
American Christians have become enslaved to the world system. The Bible tells us that “the rich rules over the poor and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave” (Proverbs 22:7, NASB). Let us repeat: Americans have become a nation of “slaves” to the global economic system.
Worry-Free Obedience
However, please note carefully: If Christians obeyed Proverbs 22:7, 1 John 2:15-17, 1 Tim. 6:8, Heb. 13:5, and 1 Tim. 6:9-10, we wouldn’t need to worry about evil forces brainwashing us into becoming consumer-clones and world-debtors. Sadly, however, we do not obey God’s Word.
Automatic Protection
Think of it. If Christians obeyed 2 John 2:15-16 and the other verses listed under “Worry Free Obedience” above, they would not be snared by worldly traps in the first place!
Christians would limit television, and they would refrain from worldly spending-sprees. Christians would not need to worry about brainwashing or the evil subterfuge of worldly and spiritual powers. They would be automatically protected.
No Thinking Allowed in America
However, world forces of evil do not want anyone to think through the futility of activities such as perpetual shopping, costly sports events, and television watching.
Their worldly refrain is “Buy, buy, buy! Don’t think. Don’t concentrate on anything. Just buy! Keep your T.V. on 18 hours a day. Watch our commercials. Allow us to programme your kids with worldy values and selfish attitudes.
Global Hedonistic Religion
Frankly, this should upset Christians terribly. In fact, Joseph Farah of World Net Daily warns that “later this year, the Earth Charter containing Resolution 10A will be ceremoniously carted into the U.N. in a pantheistic, 21st-century replica of the Ark of the Covenant” (see end notes).
Christian friends, we are in the process of losing this war, and it can’t be very pleasing to our heavenly Father. We see a global hedonistic-religion emerging. Yet, few know and few care. If this does not upset us, why? After all, Christians are directly told to,
“Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you.” For the world offers only the:
1. Lust for physical Pleasure.
2. Lust for everything we see.
3. Pride in our possessions.
(1 John 2:15-16, NLT)
Part 2 – A Bible Study
Theology of 1 John 2:15-17:
Although Christians must remain in the world for awhile, we are clearly told not to be “of the world” (John 17:14-16). There is a difference. A favorite theologian, John MacArthur, offers an excellent exposition of 1 John 2:15-17. We offer this to you as a starting point for further study.
1 John 2:15 – Do Not Love the World
MacArthur notes that “God hates a certain type of love: love of the world (John 15:18-20). Positively, the Christian loves God and fellow Christians. Negatively, an absence of love for the world must habitually characterize the love life of those to be considered genuinely born again. …God, not the world, must have the first place in the Christian’s life” (Matt. 10:37-39 Phil. 3:20).
The World
1 John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world.” MacArthur notes that “The world is…the invisible spiritual system of evil dominated by Satan and all that it offers in opposition to God, His Word, and His people” (cf. 5:19 John 12:31 1 Cor. 1:21 2 Cor. 4:4 James 4:4 2 Pet. 1:4).
The Love of the Father is not in him
1 John 2:15b states, “If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” MacArthur strongly notes that “Either one is a genuine Christian marked by love and obedience to God, or one is a non-Christian in rebellion against God, i.e., in love with and enslaved by the satanically controlled world system (Eph. 2:1-3 Col. 1:13 James 4:4). No middle ground between these two alternatives exists for someone claiming to be born again. (cf. Matt. 6:24 Luke 16:13 1 Tim. 6:20 2 Pet. 2:12-22).
The Pride of Life
Here Scripture plainly divulges three entry points for evil: “For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.”
MacArthur explains that “the phrase has the idea of arrogance over one’s circumstances, which produced haughtiness or exaggerated parading what one possessed to impress other people” (James 4:16).
(MacArthur Study Bible 1997, 1966).
The World Passes Away
We are told in 1 John 2:17 not to succumb to this worldview by loving the world because the world is clearly passing away. It is temporal. “The world is passing away, and also its lusts” (1 John 2:17, NASB).
All of our striving for things and prestige and degrees and worldly goods are temporary, friends. Once you die, it’s over as far as worldly things are concerned. The only things that will count to you then are what you did for Christ.
Judgment Seat of Christ
At that time, once you are in front of Christ at the judgment seat, you may desperately wish that you had tried harder to live as Christ wanted you to live. For example, your poor, devout neighbors might be given the prestigious task of ruling over ten cities while you are barely scraping by with one. (See Luke 19:17 Matthew 25:21, 23). Therefore, we must learn to live for God’s heavenly promises, not for earth’s temporal rewards.
Crowns & Victories
We don’t say this because we want to deprive you of things or because we don’t want you to have fun or to be happy. We talk about these things because Scripture is clear that the Christian is not to be conformed to this world.
We want to watch you stand before Christ at the Judgment Seat while we cheer for your well-earned victories and crowns before the God of the Universe! The Apostle Paul says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2 NKJV).
Biblical Worldview
We must return to a Christian worldview under the loving care of the God of our Universe. We must return to studying His magnificent Word. We must live in faith and love for one another. We need to practice discipline and self-control and learn to be content with what we have (1 Tim. 6:8, Heb. 13:5). We must return to practicing the things we know our Heavenly Father wants for us. And we must look forward to His heavenly promises.
3 Important Memory-Verses for Christians:
Be Content with what you Have
1. “But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Timothy 6:8, ESV).
2. “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have…” (Hebrews 13:5, ESV).
Entrapment of Riches
3. “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a SNARE, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:9-10, ESV).
The World Passes Away
The world and the world’s system will pass away. It will pass away whether or not we want it to end (2 Peter 3:10). So we may as well focus upon God now. As a friend in a Bible Study group recently pointed-out:
“How many people will remember us after we die? …Maybe two or three if we are lucky. But, after they are gone, we are forgotten, too. Gone. Finished. History. So we may as well devote our lives to God right here and now. What we do for Him counts forever. He will never forget us!”
(“Right on,” Roger).
“One life to live twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Isn’t that the truth?
_______________________
References:
Farah, Joseph. 2002. Rockefeller-sponsored socialism. 24 September. Available from: WorldNetDaily.com.
Graaf, Wann, Naylor. 2005. Affluenza: The all consuming epidemic. PBS television programs. From: Affluenza and Escape from Affuenza. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
Loeffler, John. 2005. You gotta hear this.Steel on Steel Productions. (tape 05-050). 10 Dec. Available from: www.steelonsteel.com.
MacArthur Study Bible, NKJV. 1997. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.
Schaeffer, Francis. 2005 ed. How should we then live? Wheaton, ILL: Crossway Books.
How to Stop becoming Consumer-Clones & Debt Junkies:
Limit television for young children.
Screen all T.V. programs.
Invest in good educational and entertainment videos.
Do not use television as a baby-sitter.
Be critical of television programs in front of young children.
Teach critical thinking.
Support good Christian Television and Radio programs.
Teach children how to find alternate news sources.
Invest in your children’s reading skills.
Invest in supplementary education or home schooling.
Teach computer skills and research tools.
Teach children to enjoy tapes, CDs, music, lectures, and discussions.
“Model” listening to tapes yourself in front of your children.
Do not shop as entertainment.
Shop for real needs. Shop for value & bargains.
Teach children to shop only for real needs.
Develop fascinating hobbies for yourself and your children: astronomy, stamp/coin or other collections, Bible study, gardening, music, history, writing, hiking, moderate sports-related activities, volunteering, etc.
Obey Hebrews 13:5 and 1 Timothy 6:8.
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Note: This article was posted in early 2006 before America’s economic crisis and housing downturn. The advice still holds. Our Bible is always current. That’s because we have a smart Father!
The authors believe they are just a “vapor” that appears for a little while and they must make the most of days remaining (James 4:14; Eph 5:15).