雙城記作者查爾斯．狄更斯有一句經典名言說：『這是最好的時代，也是最壞的時代。』這無疑是美國現在基督教所面臨挑戰的寫照，但我稍微修改為：『最壞的時代將引至最好的時代。』我們可以確信每一件發生的事，主都將引領我們進入祂的得勝；然而，我們需要知道我們在哪裡，好知道如何到達我們要去之地。讓我們簡短複習此將如何在我們國家進行，我認為正在讀這篇文章的外國人也可以應用相同的原則。

一年前開始的經濟震動，搖動了每一個美國的教會與事工，當捐獻急遽下降，許多教會與事工必須關門。有一些不關門的為了生存而加入其他的教會與事工，這反而帶來彼此的堅固。倘若我們沒有自願進入神所渴望的合一，祂通常會興起環境強迫我們合一。當祂推動時，我們不是倒在磐石上破碎，就是磐石落在我們身上使我們粉碎。其實有一個簡單方法，但我們若沒有回應，為著我們的緣故，祂會強加環境在我們身上，我們在整本聖經中都看見此。

經濟震動的結果，在財務方面帶來了冷靜與智慧，決心減少債務、最終要清除債務。刪減過度花費，進而幫助教會與事工立下更堅固的財務根基，經濟議題的戰役雖離結束還很遠，但我們若勤勞一點，基督肢體很快會脫離許多最衰弱的束縛。

財務獨立應該成為基督徒的生活景況，這並非表示我們應該很富裕，因為這與我們有多少錢沒關，而是與我們的自由有關。一個財務獨立的人不需要依據是否有足夠金錢來做決定，而可以依據是否出於神的旨意來做決定。這應該成為基督徒主要的財務目標，現在已有許多基督徒以此為目標，在未來的日子這會更加重要。

去年臨到世界的經濟震動與持續的微震就像神給埃及的震動，為要釋放祂的子民得自由。埃及所有的神都被審判，這就是神目前在做的─審判世界的眾神。一個神不單是你跪拜的偶像，而是我們將其視為我們信靠的對象，而不去信靠神。金錢是我們這世代人類心中的第一名偶像─甚至是在許多基督徒當中。我們越快停止崇拜瑪門這神，震動就越快結束。金錢並不邪惡，但我們若不當使用就會變得很邪惡。金錢必須成為我們的僕人，而不是我們的神。 

盼望基督徒也有足夠智慧不去相信現在一切都很好，經濟低迷似乎已消除，股市又回到先前光景。正如我幾個月前所分享的，我們可以預期此發生，這是從神來的減緩，以協助我們重整財務。不要浪費這樣的時間，它不會維持太久。不要被欺騙以為每一件事都會回到震動前的景況，不管『專家』與權威人士怎麼說，全世界的經濟仍在更大的溶解邊緣搖搖欲墜。

經濟穩定可以持續一年左右，但經濟的根基不斷在震動中，一些在2008年所經歷經濟災難的重大錯誤很快會重現，例如次級房貸的捲土重來。格言說『那些不明白歷史的人注定要重蹈覆轍』，在這裡絕對適用。即便如此，很難想像會有任何人可以如此快忘記這樣痛苦的歷史，但這真的發生了，顯露出被蒙蔽的深度。我們自己絕不要落入這樣的蒙蔽中。

時間一週週過去，我們擁有更多的證據顯明目前的政府不真的瞭解經濟或商業，他們持續陳述並實施一些會嚴重損害長期經濟復原的政策。另一種可能是，倘若他們確實瞭解經濟，還實施目前的政策，他們便是故意試圖要摧毀我們的經濟與國家力量。我個人不相信後者；然而，我承認目前有一些證據指出他們其實知道他們在做什麼。我認為目前還有懷疑的空間；無論如何，倘若政策沒有很快劇烈地改變，結果將是毀壞。

正如我們先前曾簡短討論過，美國經濟是建造在許多因素上，但成長引擎主要是小型企業，特別是與工作有關。幾乎每一個人都同意工作是基本的經濟引擎與刺激，小型企業提供百分之七十到八十的新工作機會，但歐巴馬刺激經濟的計畫卻沒有一分錢放在小型企業上。反之，政策顯示出對整體企業相當冷淡的態度，更不要提政府允諾你事業越成功，你就會成為政府課稅的更大目標。 

此政策的到來是當公司稅已經是全世界第二高之時，再加上民主黨所提議的健保法案，美國將成為全世界公司所得稅最高的國家。不僅如此，還有健保費用的額外重擔，這些都需要企業來負擔，使得許多企業不是要解雇勞工，就是關閉。此新啟動所帶來的寒意也極具毀滅性。 

為要持續與世界金融市場競爭，許多美國公司沒有任何選擇，只能尋求更便宜的勞工，將工廠遷到國外。政府不但不鼓勵公司將工作機會帶回美國，還對這樣做的人課更重的稅。許多這樣的公司毫無選擇的考慮將總公司也遷到國外，有許多公司正在這樣做。不到一年的時間，昔日世界最大的金融市場變成對企業最具敵意的地方。 

許多國家歡迎這些企業，並且願意給他們極大的利多來遷移公司。要選擇這些利多，還是一個對企業懷有敵意的干涉政府，觀看著快速國有化的銀行和大型工業，這是社會主義者接管的第一步，這些企業許多正在出走，還有更多計畫跟進。

我們或許認為他們不可能離開美國這世界最大的市場，但這市場正在改變。現在事情變得太過扭曲，反而外來企業比本土企業得著更有利的對待。然而，我們必須瞭解，要用另一個重大的長期因素來長期強化經濟幾乎是不可能的事。

我們有接近百分之五十的人，不是受雇於政府，就是靠社會福利過活。政府無法生產任何可以銷售的東西，所以有一半的人必須靠另一半從事生產之人的供養，沒有國家可以在如此高的供養比率中存活太久，它根本就撐不住。這比率在美國越來越嚴重，當政府在新行政體系下快速成長，他們所有的基本經濟策略只會讓政府成長更多，甚至從事生產者都將替許多原本不必繳稅的人繳稅。只要瞭解的人都知道我們正在臨界點，內部的爆炸將無法避免。

倘若政府的健保計畫開始執行，政府雇用或供養的美國人將接近百分之六十，這些人必須倚靠剩下百分之四十從事生產者的援助。健保目前是我們主要的支出，佔了整體經濟的百分之十五，很快就必須從支出表中除去，因為我們必須平均分配才能照顧我們自己的市民─健保系統將增加大約二千到四千萬人。

這是守不住的，可能也無法撐住。那麼我們目前的經濟為何反彈呢？
我們的經濟本身就很有彈性，而且美國人向來非常樂觀。然而，一當真實清況明朗後，極端與不切實際的預期反而容易過度反應。下一個震動會讓股票跌到三千到四千點附近，失業人數會更高向上攀升。

在此非常時期我們的基本自由受到攻擊，我們經濟力量的根基可能也是美國歷史上最受威脅的時候。即便如此，倘若美國人從所發生之事中甦醒過來，我們的國家與美國的基督徒，可以從當中出來，變得更強壯。雖然需要有前瞻性的決心與決定，這卻是主在祂子民中尋求興起的人；讓我們一起來擁抱此最佳機會。 

(摘自 喬納 word for the week,Week 41, 2009)


Discerning the Times, Part 51
Week 41, 2009

One of the most quoted lines Charles Dickens wrote has to be: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” That could certainly be attributed to the challenges of Christianity in America right now, but I would rephrase it a bit to the following: “The worst of times will lead to the best of times.” We can be confident that the Lord is going to lead us into His triumph in everything that happens. However, we need to know where we are to know how to get where we’re going. Let’s briefly review how this is playing out in our country at this time. I think those reading this from other countries can apply the same principles.

The economic shaking that began over a year ago rocked just about every church and ministry in America. Many had to close their doors as contributions plummeted. Instead of closing, others joined with additional churches and ministries in order to survive, which can result in a great strengthening of both. If we do not come into the unity God desires voluntarily, He will often cause situations that force us to. As He put it, we can either fall on the rock and be broken or have it fall on us and crush us into powder. There is an easy way, but if we don’t respond to it, for our sakes, He will force the conditions. We see this throughout Scripture.

The result of this economic shaking has brought a soberness and wisdom in financial matters, a resolve to reduce and eventually eliminate debt. The cutting back of extravagant expenditures is helping churches and ministries lay a stronger foundation financially than many have ever had. This battle with economic issues is far from over, but if we are diligent, the body of Christ can be free from many of the most debilitating shackles soon.

Financial independence should be the condition that we all live in as Christians. This does not necessarily mean that we all should be wealthy, since this has nothing to do with how much we have, but instead it is about our freedom. One who is financially independent should never have to make a decision based on whether they have enough money, but rather on whether it is God’s will. This should be our primary financial goal as Christians, and many are making it theirs now. This will be increasingly critical in the days to come.

The economic shaking that came upon the world last year and the continuing tremors are like the shaking that God sent upon Egypt to set His people free. All of the gods of Egypt were judged, which is what God is doing now—judging all of the gods of this world. A god is not just an idol that you bow down to, but it is anything that we put our trust in instead of God. Money is the number one idol of the human heart in our times—even among many Christians. The faster we quit worshiping that god, the sooner the shaking may be over. Money is not evil, but can be if we use it incorrectly. Money must be our servant, not our god.

Hopefully, Christians have also become wise enough not to be lulled into believing that all is well now that it seems the economic downturn has leveled out and the stock market has come back like it has. As I shared months ago, we can expect this to happen, and this is a reprieve from the Lord to help many of us get our houses in order. Do not waste this time. It will not last long. And do not be lulled into thinking that everything is going to return to how it was before the shaking. The whole world’s economy is still tottering on the edge of an even bigger meltdown regardless of what the “experts” and pundits say.

This plateau could last for a year or so, but the fundamentals of the economy are as shaky as ever, and there is even a fast return to some of the major mistakes, which caused the catastrophe we experienced in 2008, such as a renewal of sub-prime lending. The proverb that “those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it” definitely applies here. Even so, it is hard to imagine that anyone could forget such a painful recent history so fast, but this is happening, revealing the depth of the delusion. We must not fall to this delusion ourselves.

With each week that goes by, we have increasing evidence that the present Administration does not actually understand the economy or business, and continues to implement policies and make statements that are severely damaging to the long-term recovery prospects of the economy. The alternative is that if they do understand the economy, and are implementing the policies that they are, then they are purposely trying to destroy our economy and our national strength. I personally do not believe this. However, I confess there is quite a bit of evidence that seems to indicate they know what they’re doing. I think there is still room to give them the benefit of the doubt. Regardless, the results are going to be devastating if the policies are not radically changed soon.

As we have briefly discussed, the American economy is built on many factors, but the growth engine, especially in relation to jobs, is primarily small business. Almost everyone agrees that jobs are the basic economic engine and stimulus, and that small business provides between 70–80 percent of all new jobs created, yet the Obama stimulus plan did not have one cent or one policy incentive for small business. Instead, it has demonstrated a very cold attitude toward business in general, not to mention the promise that the more successful you are, the bigger the target you will be for the government to take your winnings with increased taxes.

This comes when the corporate rate of taxes is already the second highest in the world. With the proposed Democratic health care bill, America would be the highest business taxing country in the world to business. Not only that, the extra burden of the health care costs, which would have to be borne by businesses, would cause many to either lay off workers or even shut down. The chill that this will put on new startups will be devastating as well.

To continue to compete in the world market, many American companies had no choice but to seek cheaper labor and move factories overseas. Instead of the Administration offering incentives to bring these jobs back to America, it issued a threat of taxing them more for doing it. Now many of these businesses have no choice but to consider moving their headquarters overseas as well, as many are doing. Just a year ago, what was the greatest market in the world has become one of the most hostile for businesses.

Many nations would love to have these businesses and are willing to give them huge incentives to relocate. Given the choice of these incentives, or an interventionist government that is hostile toward businesses and watching the fast nationalization of the banks and large industries, which is the first step for a socialist takeover, many of these businesses are leaving, and many more are planning to follow.

We may think they could not possibly leave the biggest market in the world, but that market is changing. Things have become so twisted now that you can receive more favorable treatment as a foreign business than a domestic one. However, another major long-term factor makes long-term economic strengthening nearly impossible, which we must understand.

We have been approaching 50 percent of the population being either employed by government or living on entitlements. Government does not produce anything marketable, so this percentage of the population must be supported by the 50 percent who are producing something marketable. No nation has survived long with this high of a ratio. It simply is not sustainable. This ratio is getting much worse in the U.S. as government growth has exploded under the new Administration and all of their basic economic strategies call for more government growth. Even more people who do not pay taxes will be paid by those who are productive and pay taxes. Those who understand know that we are at the breaking point, and an implosion is inevitable.

If the government health care plan is implemented, the percentage of Americans who are employed or supported by the government will actually approach 60 percent, which will have to be supported by the productivity of the remaining 40 percent. Health care, presently one of our major exports and 15 percent of our economy, will instantly be taken off of the exports list since we will almost certainly have to go to rationing even to take care of our own citizens—because we will be adding an estimated 20-40 million people to the system.

This is untenable and cannot possibly be sustained. So why do we have the bounce that we are experiencing now in the economy? Our economy is very resilient, and Americans tend to be very optimistic. However, extreme and unrealistic expectations tend to become extreme overreactions when the real conditions become clear. The next jolt could send the stock market down to the 3,000–4,000 range and unemployment soaring even higher.

At the very time that our most basic liberties are under assault, the foundations of our economic strength are under the worst threat possibly in our history. Even so, if the American people wake up to what is happening and respond quickly enough as it seems they are beginning to do, we can come out of this stronger as a nation and as Christians. It will take proactive determination and resolve, but that is what the Lord is seeking to raise in His people. Embrace this great opportunity.