A Christian Response to the Economic Crisis?

[Josh]

So, folks, thoughts on what a Christian response to the economic crisis might look like? In other words, what should Christians be doing in these times of economic woe and what attitude should they adopt toward the crisis?

I realize there's no monolithic answer here, but I'm curious if you've had some thoughts on this.

[steve]

Hi Josh,
I just wrote an email to my grandma regarding the economic "crisis". Have a read.

"No. Europe isn’t doing as badly. We are usually six months behind the US with economic fluctuations. I don’t so much view these sorts of undulations as doom and gloom, but rather as natural stages in our somewhat contrived economic system. Let’s face it. In a supply and demand market, at some point, certain things will no longer be demanded. Woe to them who continually try to supply them. And as far as the stock market is concerned, it is an imaginary crises. I say that because the stock market itself is imaginary. Who would ever have thought that people would be buying and selling perception. We’ve built an abstract market on top of the real one and it is going through a mood swing. Is this real a surprise? It seems like the cure is obvious; Everybody just cheer up! I was mortified by our news media who started using the word “Crisis” long before this phenomenon really got underway. Before you knew it, the word was on everybody’s lips. I was dumbfounded. We have talked ourselves into an economic downturn. The fact that the stock market actually determines the value of a company is absolutely ridiculous. "

I think the Christian response is to stubbornly refuse to not get sucked into the fear mentality or doomsday predictions or interpret every personal financial difficulty as a result of the economic "crisis". Even in the Depression, certain markets grew and prospered.

[Margot]

Mar 8, 2009 8:37:52 GMT -8 steve said:

I don’t so much view these sorts of undulations as doom and gloom, but rather as natural stages in our somewhat contrived economic system... I think the Christian response is to stubbornly refuse to not get sucked into the fear mentality or doomsday predictions or interpret every personal financial difficulty as a result of the economic "crisis".

Definitely, Steve.

I can't help thinking the biggest villain here is not the "economic downturn" as much as where we are in our relationship to materialism. Of course, as people, we've leaned too much on "things" from the moment they were invented. But, what we have and how much we have of it seems to be our entire identity now. (Certainly in this country, I am not speaking for Europe.) In history, a "crisis" was something like the Great Potato Famine. Today, I think most of my peers would label it a "crisis" if they had to sell off their second car or cash out a 401K. (And, yes, I'm sure I will soon have to include myself with the car thing!!)

Years ago I remember a successful friend who had been out of work for quite a while, sitting at our kitchen table.
"I have run through all my money. I have nothing left!" he said, totally distraught.
I nodded because we had been through some difficult times and I was trying to commiserate.
"Really!" He continued. "I don't know what to do! I'm going to have to dip into my savings!"

Uh-huh.

Perspective is still everything.

In this economy, I keep praying that inspite of my "runaway thoughts" God will be the "decider" of what is really crisis and what is not. It is difficult because those thoughts are so contagious.

[Josh]

In many ways I agree, but I still think we're going to see some pretty hard times for folks- especially people who were already on the financial margins.

And for realtors like Rosemary

One thought I had was that American Christians can take a nod from other cultures by inviting others to live with them for periods of time. For instance, Rose and I have had a single guy live with us three times during our marriage- i.e., rent a room out for substantially cheaper than your average rental. Both sides benefit- the family with a little extra cash and the single renter gets to have more company around (for good or for ill, depending on the day I'm sure).

That's just one thing that I think has the kingdom of God written all over it- gets us outside of our neat little American bubbles, etc. and experiencing the family of God- by helping each other out financially and by living in closer proximity to each other.

Steve and Jeremy were two of our renters/ honorary family members, ask them. Justus grew up convinced that Jeremy was his brother I think.

(I'm hoping Steve and Jeremy can give a good report )

I know Marcus and Erin have something like this as well.

[christopher]

Sounds great. So when can we move in? (Can I have that big "man room" upstairs??? That's room rocks.)

[moritz]

Mar 8, 2009 8:37:52 GMT -8 steve said:

Hi Josh,
I just wrote an email to my grandma regarding the economic "crisis". Have a read.

"No. Europe isn’t doing as badly. We are usually six months behind the US with economic fluctuations. I don’t so much view these sorts of undulations as doom and gloom, but rather as natural stages in our somewhat contrived economic system. Let’s face it. In a supply and demand market, at some point, certain things will no longer be demanded. Woe to them who continually try to supply them. And as far as the stock market is concerned, it is an imaginary crises. I say that because the stock market itself is imaginary. Who would ever have thought that people would be buying and selling perception. We’ve built an abstract market on top of the real one and it is going through a mood swing. Is this real a surprise? It seems like the cure is obvious; Everybody just cheer up! I was mortified by our news media who started using the word “Crisis” long before this phenomenon really got underway. Before you knew it, the word was on everybody’s lips. I was dumbfounded. We have talked ourselves into an economic downturn. The fact that the stock market actually determines the value of a company is absolutely ridiculous. "

I think the Christian response is to stubbornly refuse to not get sucked into the fear mentality or doomsday predictions or interpret every personal financial difficulty as a result of the economic "crisis". Even in the Depression, certain markets grew and prospered.

This reminds me of those classic "no rain" scenes at Woodstock '69. ;D
If we all just chant "no crisis, no crisis" then the crisis isn't there, right? Unfortunately what is happening now isn't just market psychology. You are overlooking very important aspects of the situation. I've elaborated some of them here (reply #11). Simply cheering up and pretending there was no subprime-chapter will probably be just as effictive as the "no-rain" chants at Woodstock (which actually didn't stop the rain from falling as we all know).

On a different note I'm with Margot when she says that the crisis can't do us much harm if we detach ourselves from our exaggerated materialism* (my paraphrase). Though I'm quite sure her alternative to materialism* looks slightly different than mine

Last but not least I'm wondering why Josh is searching a particularly Christian answer to the situation. Nobody is interested in having a crisis. Helping others, doing all sorts of good deeds and focussing more on immaterial possesion (like interpersonal relations, knowledge, philosophy, arts, etc...) isn't a Christian patent. Everybody should be inclined to lend a hand now.


*In the sense of economic materialism.

[robin]

We should pray that Obama is somehow unable to implement his radical agenda. Just look at how much damage he's done in 7 short weeks. Lord save us!

[Josh]

Mo wrote:

Last but not least I'm wondering why Josh is searching a particularly Christian answer to the situation

Well, the question was in the spirit of a few passages in Scripture where it is stated that the deeds of Christians reflect the nature of God to the world at large. Also, according to the sermon on the mount and other passages, Christians should stand out from the larger culture in their self-sacrifice and good deeds.

Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

1 Peter 2:12
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

This of course isn't to say that pagans (or atheists ) are incapable of good deeds in the least. In this sense, the question could have just been "what is a loving response to the economic crisis"?

But, I think there are ways in which Christians can live out aspects of what Jesus taught specifically that might look a little more like a particularly "Christian response". For instance, taking on a "last shall be first" and "servant of all" attitude does tend to go against the common grain.

So far, though, on this thread I'm seeing a bunch of blame shifting, ostrich head dunking, and excuses ;D

Any other practical, positive, proactive ideas, folks?

Oh, and, Chris: I'm getting the office room ready for you guys right now. Now, how much is half of your current mortgage?

[Margot]

Mar 8, 2009 16:02:36 GMT -8 Josh said:

In many ways I agree, but I still think we're going to see some pretty hard times for folks- especially people who were already on the financial margins.
.

Speaking as someone who has spent an inordinate amount of time parking on the margins.... I agree with much of what you said. Interesting that the one thing you suggested---inviting people to live with you--might be one of the hardest thing for me to do. Conviction? Nah! I don't believe it....probably just a wild coincidence.

[Margot]

Mar 7, 2009 18:42:40 GMT -8 Josh said:

In other words, what should Christians be doing in these times of economic woe and what attitude should they adopt toward the crisis?

So, going back to your original question, Josh, I am thinking: Grace. There has been a tremendous amount of blaming in this whole thing. I for one, would like to approach Christians and non-Christians with grace instead of blame. That is the way God deals with me when I screw up and that is the way I like to be treated.

On a more practical level, I think I want to continue to do small things to show my love to those that are struggling through this. Example: Because I have very little money, I always lament that I can't do more for a womens/children's shelter that I support. Recently I realized I can buy beautiful, hardly used baby clothes at yard sales for a song. So, I am buying them, washing them and donating them along with baby quilts I am making from these great scraps I have been saving forever. Neither thing is going to save the country--but there seems to be wisdom in everyone just taking a small step.

[meghan]

One of the things I've been thinking about is the number of jobs that have been lost because the jobs are selling something people don't need.

What's the Christian response to THAT!? I don't think that's a popular subject.

[Margot]

Meghan--you've got me interested--can you give us some examples?

[Josh]

Me too. You got the courage to name one?

[Margot]

Josh: Oooh! Talk about throwing down the gauntlet!

[meghan]

Well, I don't want to make anybody angry...

But we're a consumer society. We have expendable income to spend on things we don't need. Therefore, when that extra money is taken away, by a bad economy and lost jobs, we suddenly don't have that money for the things we don't need. We didn't need them all along, but our mindset has always been "buy buy buy". So we do.

When that money is gone, we don't buy, therefore people lose their jobs because the companies make less money. It can apply to anything from renting movies to eating out to going to concerts. I enjoy all of those things, but could definitely do without. When I do without, that's less money for companies, less money for jobs.

There's just a lot of people saying "go out and buy something and help the economy!" Really? I mean, that's great if your number one goal is to boost the economy. I'm not so sure our beliefs tell us to do that.

[robin]

Mar 10, 2009 13:04:19 GMT -8 meghan said:

Well, I don't want to make anybody angry...

But we're a consumer society. We have expendable income to spend on things we don't need. Therefore, when that extra money is taken away, by a bad economy and lost jobs, we suddenly don't have that money for the things we don't need. We didn't need them all along, but our mindset has always been "buy buy buy". So we do.

When that money is gone, we don't buy, therefore people lose their jobs because the companies make less money. It can apply to anything from renting movies to eating out to going to concerts. I enjoy all of those things, but could definitely do without. When I do without, that's less money for companies, less money for jobs.

There's just a lot of people saying "go out and buy something and help the economy!" Really? I mean, that's great if your number one goal is to boost the economy. I'm not so sure our beliefs tell us to do that.

I'm trying to understand you here. Are you making the point that there is something wrong or sinful in purchasing items, or entertaining yourself with discretionary income? If so, can you support this notion with scripture?

If so, let me tell you why I disagree by giving you an example. I may not need my house painted, but if I have the extra money and my house could use a fresh coat of paint, why not pay someone who is in need of income to paint my house? I get something I want (not need) and someone in need gets helped out. This could go for anything the people (who need help) can provide that are not a necessity to live for those who can purchase. I believe it would be somewhat selfish and unjust to simply hoard my money due to guilt.

I think what you're trying to get at is that we should be more charitable with our money, and simply give more of it away rather than spoil ourselves with unnecessary items, or entertainment. However, in my experience most people don't simply want a free handout. They would rather have an opportunity to earn some money through providing a service or some kind of material good. Therefore, I agree with the notion that if you have some money to spend, go spend it, and perhaps you will be saving someone's job, and in turn they will not be looking for a free handout.

Man I love capitalism!

[Margot]

Mar 10, 2009 13:04:19 GMT -8 meghan said:

.

There's just a lot of people saying "go out and buy something and help the economy!" Really? I mean, that's great if your number one goal is to boost the economy. I'm not so sure our beliefs tell us to do that.

You go, girl! Now I see what you meant.
(And see Josh? I'll bet you were worried she was gonna say pastors ...) I agree with you Meghan. I wonder if the issue isn't so much that there are businesses that are not "really necessary," but that there are so many businesses that are not "really necessary?" It seems we should have more of a balance, rather than being choked out with nail salons and tanning booths. (NO I didn't say there was anything wrong with them---I am, however entertaining the idea that I am TIRED of seeing two on every block!!)

Interesting thoughts.

And, Robin, the next time my son comes home and starts rooting around in the refrigerator, I'm gonna say I didn't buy groceries because it looked like that the shoe salesman at Nordy's needed to have his job saved.....Woo-hoo!