Thursday, April 16, 2009

Here & There Column 4-14-09

Clergy Speak About Economic Discipline

We spent several hours for lunch recently with two members of the tri-county clergy who spoke about the loss of economic discipline and how America today is the largest debtor in the world.
The two prominent members of the clergy said they would speak openly to me but asked that they not be identified because they feared repercussions from some members of their congregations and possibly from the government.
They openly confessed being somewhat conservative fundamentalist pastors with fairly large congregations.
Some history was brought into our conversation with one pastor pointing out that ancient Rome fell because of massive spending and financial difficulty and lessons of history indicate that the loss of economic discipline can lead to the destruction of a nation.
"America is spending itself into national bankruptcy.....we have gone from being the greatest creditor nation to now being the largest debtor in the world," one pastor concluded.
The two pastors were both very adamant that they fear our country has gotten into the mood of free spending and fiscal irresponsibility.
I asked the bold question, could America fall and go the way of powerful nations and both pastors said this nations shocking financial status does not look good and they boldly from a religious standpoint indicated that God gave America its status, its territory and its resources and wealth to make us a powerful nation and that God has that power to remove these things from us.
Both pastors voiced strong opinion regarding Bible prophecy and said that America was founded on Godly principles but that the United States is sliding toward a national debacle and there are many warnings within the Bible that urge us to live our lives according to Godly principles.
These members of the clergy strongly urged our nation to return to economic discipline or face dire consequences.

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