於2010-07-15發佈
目前西方文明所面臨的一個終極問題,就是把政府推向破產邊緣的補助津貼。倘若他們刪除補助津貼,人們將會暴動。他們若不刪除,事實上每一個西方政府最後只能拖欠債務,這很可能會帶來全球經濟崩盤。隨著每一個新危機的來到,我們就更接近沒有任何解藥可以解決問題的時候,而我們正走向的懸崖,離我們也越來越近了。

想一想:事實上每一個經濟學家都承認,以目前的赤字來看,通貨膨脹是不可避免的,還要滿足政府補助弱勢津貼的責任,我們的赤字將不斷增加。倘若我們債務的利息只要上升百分之二,光是付這些債務的利息就需要百分之八十二的所得稅。利息若再上升百分之零點五,百分之百的所得稅也無法償還。幾乎每一位經濟學家都預測通貨膨脹和利息會上升,一些人認為會超過百分之二或三。

政府對這些事的計畫,如最近的健保改革大部分是依據最佳案例情境來揣摩,幾乎是不可能真正發生的。許多市民仍認為,我們所選出來的傑出人才會解決此問題,解救我們脫離一切危機。我個人也禱告如此的恩典,但現實是我們所信靠要救我們脫離此的傑出人才,正是把我們帶進去的人。截至目前為止,我們還沒有任何真實證據顯示他們已經改變,或是從所發生的事情學到功課。

希臘最近一直上新聞,是因為它在破產邊緣,極需要緊急財政救援。然而,其他歐洲國家比希臘的狀況更糟,他們的債務很快就要陸續到期。義大利、西班牙與葡萄牙很快就會有帳務危機,還不只這些國家─美國許多州的狀況都比這些國家還糟。美國大概有三十個州都快要債務拖欠,已經開始關閉一些政府服務。這早在最近的健保改革法案之前,此法案將幾十億美元的健保增加花費丟給各州,以承接醫療保險與其他義務。一些州已經完成研究,發現從健保改革法案新增加的責任會使他們的虧損加倍,而原來的虧損早已大到難以招架了。

政府行政單位如何回應此呢?『我們將會從中成長。』我對此的第一個疑問應該是:要如何使這種東西成長?其所需要的成長等級比歷史上任何擴展還快上好幾倍。我們的政府不是沒有告訴我們事實,就是不知道事實;不管是哪一個都不好。

『你若不改變方向,最後你會抵達你所朝向的地方,』我們正朝向經濟崩潰,可能是歷史上最糟的。那是可以避免的;然而,我們並沒有改變方向,反而加快速度,在我們目前預算中所積欠的債務超過所有其他先前政府的總和。我們可否倖免於難呢?可以,但毫無疑問的,不管股市如何、或每月經濟預測怎麼說,都沒有指出目前最根本迫切的危機。那就像鐵達尼號已經撞上冰山,但現在先讓派對持續進行著。

那麼我們應該怎麼做呢?首先,我們個人的情況和政府一樣嗎?我們的花費是否超過我們的財產呢?倘若是,我們必須開始悔改,意思是:

1
)真誠地為我們的不負責任道歉,瞭解是什麼樣的貪心或其他的罪使我們這樣做,並且改變,
2祈求神的饒恕與恩典,使我們脫離目前的困境,
3改變我們的生活方式,以致於祂若要使我們脫離,我們不會又掉入流沙裡,
4)試圖協助他人。

我們也需要開始迫切來為我們的領袖禱告;我們政府的瘋狂程度已達到前所未有的層級,看起來沒有任何改變的跡象。因著共和與民主兩黨,我們已經來到目前的地步,但還有一個團體更需要負責任─基督徒。我們沒能成為所蒙召的光和鹽,我們本應與世界的靈成為強烈的對比,像是座落在山丘上的城市,好成為所有人的指引。

倘若我們用這世界的方法來建造我們的生命,我們就會與世界一同沈淪。倘若我們將房子建造在磐石上,我們就不需要害怕任何即將臨到的暴風。我們將生命建造在磐石上是藉由聽主的話並順服之;倘若我們活出健全的聖經管家原則,我們應該沒有懼怕的事。我們若沒有活出,我們仍可以藉由悔改來達成,但我們已經沒有時間可以浪費了。

我會在未來幾週用更實際的方式來談要如何做,但我們需要銘記在心:真正的事實是神的國即將來到,神的旨意將行在地上如同行在天上。當我們為主預備道路的工作被描述為『建造大道』(building a highway),那是神『更高的道路』(higher way),我們先從建造自己生命在祂的國開始,而不是建造在這世界的國。

既然我們蒙召成為光和鹽,我們也必須投入神將我們所擺在的國家中。在未來幾週我會更實際談到要如何做。 

(摘自 喬納 word for the week, Week 27, 2010)

预备时候-之27(雷克乔纳)
目前西方文明所面临的一个终极问题,就是把政府推向破产边缘的补助津贴。倘若他们删除补助津贴,人们将会暴动。他们若不删除,事实上每一个西方政府最后只能拖欠债务,这很可能会带来全球经济崩盘。随着每一个新危机的来到,我们就更接近没有任何解药可以解决问题的时候,而我们正走向的悬崖,离我们也越来越近了。

想一想:事实上每一个经济学家都承认,以目前的赤字来看,通货膨胀是不可避免的,还要满足政府补助弱势津贴的责任,我们的赤字将不断增加。倘若我们债务的利息只要上升百分之二,光是付这些债务的利息就需要百分之八十二的所得税。利息若再上升百分之零点五,百分之百的所得税也无法偿还。几乎每一位经济学家都预测通货膨胀和利息会上升,一些人认为会超过百分之二或三。

政府对这些事的计划,如最近的健保改革大部分是依据最佳案例情境来揣摩,几乎是不可能真正发生的。许多市民仍认为,我们所选出来的杰出人才会解决此问题,解救我们脱离一切危机。我个人也祷告如此的恩典,但现实是我们所信靠要救我们脱离此的杰出人才,正是把我们带进去的人。截至目前为止,我们还没有任何真实证据显示他们已经改变,或是从所发生的事情学到功课。

希腊最近一直上新闻,是因为它在破产边缘,极需要紧急财政救援。然而,其它欧洲国家比希腊的状况更糟,他们的债务很快就要陆续到期。意大利、西班牙与葡萄牙很快就会有帐务危机,还不只这些国家─美国许多州的状况都比这些国家还糟。美国大概有三十个州都快要债务拖欠,已经开始关闭一些政府服务。这早在最近的健保改革法案之前,此法案将几十亿美元的健保增加花费丢给各州,以承接医疗保险与其它义务。一些州已经完成研究,发现从健保改革法案新增加的责任会使他们的亏损加倍,而原来的亏损早已大到难以招架了。

政府行政单位如何响应此呢?『我们将会从中成长。』我对此的第一个疑问应该是:要如何使这种东西成长?其所需要的成长等级比历史上任何扩展还快上好几倍。我们的政府不是没有告诉我们事实,就是不知道事实;不管是哪一个都不好。

『你若不改变方向,最后你会抵达你所朝向的地方,』我们正朝向经济崩溃,可能是历史上最糟的。那是可以避免的;然而,我们并没有改变方向,反而加快速度,在我们目前预算中所积欠的债务超过所有其它先前政府的总和。我们可否幸免于难呢?可以,但毫无疑问的,不管股市如何、或每月经济预测怎么说,都没有指出目前最根本迫切的危机。那就像铁达尼号已经撞上冰山,但现在先让派对持续进行着。

那么我们应该怎么做呢?首先,我们个人的情况和政府一样吗?我们的花费是否超过我们的财产呢?倘若是,我们必须开始悔改,意思是:

1)真诚地为我们的不负责任道歉,了解是什么样的贪心或其它的罪使我们这样做,并且改变,
2)祈求神的饶恕与恩典,使我们脱离目前的困境,
3)改变我们的生活方式,以致于祂若要使我们脱离,我们不会又掉入流沙里,
4)试图协助他人。

我们也需要开始迫切来为我们的领袖祷告;我们政府的疯狂程度已达到前所未有的层级,看起来没有任何改变的迹象。因着共和与民主两党,我们已经来到目前的地步,但还有一个团体更需要负责任─基督徒。我们没能成为所蒙召的光和盐,我们本应与世界的灵成为强烈的对比,像是座落在山丘上的城市,好成为所有人的指引。

倘若我们用这世界的方法来建造我们的生命,我们就会与世界一同沈沦。倘若我们将房子建造在盘石上,我们就不需要害怕任何即将临到的暴风。我们将生命建造在盘石上是藉由听主的话并顺服之;倘若我们活出健全的圣经管家原则,我们应该没有惧怕的事。我们若没有活出,我们仍可以藉由悔改来达成,但我们已经没有时间可以浪费了。

我会在未来几周用更实际的方式来谈要如何做,但我们需要铭记在心:
真正的事实是神的国即将来到,神的旨意将行在地上如同行在天上。当我们为主预备道路的工作被描述为『建造大道』(building a highway),那是神『更高的道路』(higher way),我们先从建造自己生命在祂的国开始,而不是建造在这世界的国。

既然我们蒙召成为光和盐,我们也必须投入神将我们所摆在的国家中。在未来几周我会更实际谈到要如何做。

 (摘自 乔纳 word for the week, Week 27, 2010)


Prepared for the Times, Part 27
Week 27, 2010 

One of the ultimate problems facing Western civilization at this time is the entitlements that are pushing governments to the brink of insolvency. If they cut the entitlements, the people will riot. If they don’t cut them, virtually every Western government will eventually have to default on its debt, which will likely bring about a worldwide economic collapse. With almost every new crisis, we come closer to the point where there is not any remedy that can even buy us more time to find a solution. In every way, we are getting beyond human solutions, and the cliff we are heading for is coming at us faster and faster. 

Consider this: Virtually every economist admits that inflation is inevitable with the present deficits, and to meet the obligations for entitlements that we already have will require increasingly large deficits. If interest rates go up just 2 percent on our debt, it would require an 82 percent income tax just to pay the interest on the debt. It if went up just one-half percent more, a 100 percent tax would not cover it. Nearly every economist predicts the rise of inflation and interest rates, and some see them going far beyond 2 or 3 percent.

The government’s projections for such things as the recent Healthcare Reform were based mostly on best-case scenarios, which are almost never what actually happens. Many citizens still think that the brilliant people we have elected will solve how to deal with this and rescue us from whatever happens. I too am praying for such grace, but reality is that the ones we are trusting to get us out of this with their brilliance are the ones who got us into this. To date, we don’t have any realistic evidence that they have changed or even learned anything from what is happening.

Greece has been in the news because it recently dangled over the edge of default and required a bailout. However, other European nations are actually in worse shape than Greece and had their debt come due a little sooner than the others. Italy, Spain, and Portugal will hit soon. This is not all—an increasing number of states in America are in worse shape than these countries. About thirty states are close to default on their debt and have already begun to shut down some government services. This was before the recent Healthcare Reform Bill cast billions in increased costs back on the states for picking up Medicare and other obligations. Some states that have completed studies on their increased responsibilities from the Healthcare Reform Bill have indicated that it doubled their deficits, which were already too big for them to deal with. 

What has been the Administration’s answer to this? “We will grow our way out of this.” Our first question about this should be: What is going to cause this kind of growth, which would require a level of growth many times faster than any expansion in history? Our government either is not telling us the truth or it does not know the truth. Both of these are bad. 

“If you do not change your course, you will end up where you are headed,” and we are headed toward an economic meltdown that will likely be worse than any in history. It could be avoided; however, we are not changing course, but rather picking up speed, running up more in deficits in our present budget than all other previous Administrations combined. Can we survive this? Yes, but without a doubt, regardless of what the stock market is doing, or what other monthly economic indicators are saying, the most basic and pressing crises are not being addressed. It is like the Titanic has hit the iceberg, but for now the party continues. 

So what do we do? First, are we personally in the same shape as our governments? Have we spent beyond our means? If so, we must start by repenting, which means to: 1) be genuinely sorry for our irresponsibility, and seek to understand and change what greed or other sin caused us to do it, 2) ask for God’s forgiveness and grace to get out of the mess we’re in, 3) change our ways so that if He does get us out we won’t just fall right back into the quicksand, and 4) seek to help others.

We also need to start praying for our leaders like never before. The insanity in our government has reached unprecedented levels with no change in sight. We have come to the place we’re in because of both Republicans and Democrats, but there is one group that is even more responsible—Christians. We have failed to be the salt and light we are called to be, which would be such a striking contrast to the spirit of the world that we are like a city set on a hill that all could look to for guidance. 

If we have built our lives on the ways of this world, we will go down with the world. If we have built our houses on the Rock, then we do not have to fear any storm that is coming. We build our lives on the Rock by hearing the words of the Lord and obeying them. If we have lived by sound biblical principles of stewardship, we should have nothing to fear. If we have not, we can still get there by repentance, but we do not have any time to waste. 

I will get a bit more practical about how to do this in coming weeks, but we can keep in mind and heart the absolute fact that the kingdom is coming, and God’s will is going to be done on the earth as it is in heaven. As our job in preparing the way for the Lord is described as “building a highway,” which is God’s “higher way,” we begin this by building our own lives on His kingdom, not the kingdoms of this world.

Since we are called to be salt and light, we must also get engaged in helping the nations we have been placed in. I will also get more practical about how to do this in coming weeks.