by Fred R. Coulter
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Accompanying MP3 Audio Sermon - March 25, 2009
It's Not the Economy, Stupid - It's God!
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America is confronted with massive economic and social problems
unparalleled in its history. Yet, the harder our leaders work at solving
our problems-the more trillions they spend attempting to rescue our
economy-the more entangled the problems become! Why? Because they continue to ignore the fundamental principle which
ultimately determines the success or failure of nations. It is simply
this: When humans reject God and refuse to believe and
follow His Word, they are left to their own devices-which eventually
always fail, for "there is a way which seems right to a man, but the end
thereof is the way of death" (Prov. 14:12). At the most basic level, our
problems are not really economic, social or political-they are
spiritual! America has forsaken God-we have rejected His rule both
as individuals and as a nation.Â
Foretelling of our times, the ancient prophet Isaiah was inspired to
write that "none calls for justice, nor does anyone plead for
truth; [instead, your leaders] trust in vanity and speak lies".
They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity" [and] their works are
works of iniquity". Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed
innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and
destruction are in their paths. They have not known the way of peace,
and there is no justice in their ways. They have made
crooked paths for themselves; whoever goes therein them shall not
know peace. Therefore justice is far from us; nor does righteousness
overtake us" (Isa. 59:4-9).
Our national leaders are focused on political expediency; their
decisions are clouded by agendas. They have failed to consider that
political, social and economic issues always reflect the
underlying spiritual health of the nation. Indeed, it is incumbent upon
us to carefully examine the fruits of America's new president,
Barack Obama-from God's perspective. Did not Jesus say, "You shall know
them by their fruits"? Obama campaigned on the promise of "hope"
and "change we can believe in." The rhetoric of his campaign was lofty,
like brightly painted word pictures. The reality, however, is that Obama
is rapidly turning toward Socialism-as evidenced by his blatant
socialistic policies and appointments of radical leftists to his
Cabinet. In fact, by their very actions our leaders mock God as they
reject His ways.
Here are three examples dealing with the Obama administration:
The Economy-The massive government budget supported by Obama will
lead to a staggering $7 trillion in deficit spending over the next two
years-which is more money than all the presidents and congresses have
spent since the founding of this nation! Such debt could possibly lead
to the collapse of the dollar and the crippling of the American way of
life (not to mention the dire consequences for the rest of the world).
The logic of Obama's plan is fundamentally flawed: It is impossible to resolve debt problems-caused by previous over-borrowing-by
borrowing even greater amounts of money (which in reality does not
exist!). Countries such as China that have loaned America money in the
past by buying US bonds and other debt instruments will soon be
unwilling or unable to buy more of our debt. As a result, the economic
situation will only become profoundly worse. The Federal Reserve will be
forced to print the needed money-which means it will have no backing of
real wealth, gold or silver-possibly leading America into
hyper-inflation.
Obama is simultaneously creating the greatest expansion of government in
our history. His mandated restrictions and controls over
businesses-never before seen in America-are creating an overbearing,
intrusive, bureaucratic, socialistic government bent on
controlling the lives of Americans. Even Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister
of Russia, warned Obama not to take this road, noting that the USSR's
70-year experiment with communism was a colossal failure.
And what are the underlying spiritual causes of our vast
financial problems? Greed, materialism, deceit-living beyond our means.
Creating more debt is only a recipe for disaster. Where is the
call for restraint, prudence and frugality?
Gay Rights-As official policy, Obama is promoting the homosexual
agenda at all levels of government and society-exhibiting unabashed
disdain and hostility to God and biblical truth. Open acceptance of this
kind of "life style" always begins with the approval of corrupt
religious leaders. Obama sent a clear message to the world (and to God)
by having Episcopalian Bishop Maurice Robinson-an outspoken homosexual
who is "married" to another man-bring the invocation at his
inauguration. Yet, no civilization has ever survived widespread, blatant
homosexuality. In the case of Sodom and Gomorrah, God served notice that
when nations embrace such perversions as normal, they have signed their
own death warrant (Jude 3-11).
Abortion-Like all feminist organizations, many politicians and
much of the general population, Obama believes in and promotes infanticide. Obama has always supported abortion at any time during
a woman's pregnancy-even partial-birth abortion at full term. Worse yet,
when a live-born infant survives a botched abortion, he supports denying medical care to the baby so it might live. In fact, as an
Illinois senator Obama voted twice not to allow medical care for
babies who survive botched abortions. Recently, in outlining his first
budget, Obama showed his true character by authorizing $400 million for
"Planned Parenthood" abortion clinics.
Indeed, while Obama and his radical leftist administration vigorously
campaign for the protection of the environment-saying they want to
rescue polar bears, whales and even tidal mice from global warming-they
passively participate in the murder and destruction of human beings as
unborn babies! Abortion is government-sanctioned premeditated murder of
the most innocent, helpless human beings-the infant in its mother's
womb, God's special creation made in His image. To date, over 50 million
such murders have occurred in America. And now, under Obama's "change
you can believe in," that number will dramatically swell!
The
majority of Americans do not realize how evil abortion is in the eyes of
God. Few have read of God's virulent anger against the nations of Israel
and Judah for the "birth control" sacrifice of their children as burnt
offerings to the sun-god Baal: "Behold, I will bring evil upon this
place" [because] they have forsaken Me, and have profaned this
place and have burned incense in it to other gods" and have filled
this place with the blood of innocents. They have also built the
high places of Baal to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings
to Baal" (Jer. 19:3-5). Again, God says, "[The] children of Israel
and the children of Judah have only done evil before Me" [and] have
only provoked Me to anger with the work of their hands". [They] set
their abominations in the house [Temple] which is called by My name, to
defile it. And they built the high places of Baal" [upon which] to
sacrifice their sons and daughters" (Jer. 32:30, 34-35).
Again, what are the underlying spiritual causes behind
such social conditions and the Obama administration's stance toward
them? Human greed and self-indulgence; sexual lust and promiscuity;
selfish irresponsibility; total lack of concern and compassion for
others. In other words, basic commandment-breaking-which is sin!
America is under the sway of a
generation that puts sinful pleasures ahead of moral principles.
Starting with the Woodstock era of the late 1960s-with its rock music,
"free" sex, drugs and rebellion-America has today spawned a liberal
generation nurtured in godless state-funded schools. Their "education"
is immersed in evolution and the rejection of God-and blinded by a
permissive philosophy where anything goes and nothing is judged. The
entire educational system has been scrubbed clean of any reference to
God or prayer by mandate of the Supreme Court. Our youth are taught to
accept what is evil and wicked as good-for there are no moral
absolutes, they are told. Is it any wonder the current generation of
young adults has descended further into degenerated sex, satanic hard
rock and rap music, alcohol, drugs and daredevil pleasures? Is it any
wonder they have accepted abortion as a viable means of birth control-or
homosexuality as a legitimate alternate lifestyle? As a generation
obsessed with sexual promiscuity, marriage has been cast off as
unnecessary. The result-nearly 50 percent of American babies are now
born out of wedlock. Living together without marriage and single
motherhood have become the norm. Encouraged by feminist organizations,
single motherhood is in fact upheld as a badge honor. With husbands and
fathers no longer considered vital to the family, they are denigrated
and ridiculed-then cast aside and replaced by the state. Today, welfare
programs provide money, food, housing and healthcare as if the
government was a substitute "father." Single mothers are married,
as it were, to the government-the new "father-nanny" state.
And now, under Obama's socialist policies, these troubling trends and
conditions will only worsen. After all, the government is our
friend-willing and ready to provide America's young people with welfare
and free benefits.
But Americans need to realize that our problems are not the
result of governmental policies alone. Rather, the blame rests squarely
on the people of the nation as a whole. In fact, Obama was
elected precisely because significant segments of our society
wholly embrace his liberal, godless values and beliefs as a way of life.
Sadly, most Americans love their sinful ways-and many now want the
government and courts to endorse and support those
aberrant lifestyles. However, God warns, "Woe to those who call
evil good and good evil; who put darkness for light and light for
darkness; who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isa. 5:20).
Again, there are underlying spiritual causes behind American's
political, social and economic ills. As a nation we have overwhelmingly rejected God-we have "cast away the law of the LORD" (verse 24).
The following passage aptly describes Obama and his administration-as
well as the generation that elected him to office: "And I will give young lads to be their princes, and capricious children shall
rule over them. And the people shall be crushed, every man by
another, and every man by his neighbor; the young shall rise
up against the old, and the base against the honorable". The look of their faces witnesses against them; and they declare their
sin like Sodom. They do not hide it! Woe to their soul! For they
have rewarded evil to themselves". Woe to the wicked! For the evil doing
of his hand will be given [back] to him. As for My people, children
are their oppressors, and women rule over them. Oh, My
people, those who lead you cause you to err and destroy the way of
your paths" (Isa. 3:4-5, 9, 11-12).
God expects nations to keep His laws and precepts in principle-even
if they are not fully aware of the specifics of such laws. Every
nation-Christian or otherwise-knows it is wrong to kill, steal,
commit adultery, practice deceit, covet, etc. (Rom. 1:19-20). And God
judges accordingly. If He speaks against a nation to destroy it,
and that nation repents, God will then hold back His judgment; if
He intends to bless a nation, and that nation becomes evil, He will then
withhold the blessings (Jer. 18:7-10). God sends blessings or curses
upon nations based on their obedience or disobedience to His laws (Deut.
28 and Lev. 26). To the degree a nation and its leaders follow God's
laws, the people are blessed; to the degree a nation and its leaders
spurn those laws, the people are cursed. Since it is God Who gave
this nation its power and wealth, it is God Who is taking it away. As
individuals and nations, God sets before us "life and death,
blessing and cursing"-and commands us to "choose life" (Deut. 30:19).
In
His mercy, God is giving America time to repent-to "put away the
evil" and "learn to do good"-to "seek judgment" and "reprove the
oppressor" (see Isa. 1:16-19). America's problems are indeed spiritual-and spiritual problems cannot be solved by political or
economic means! What will you do? Will you hear and answer
God in heartfelt repentance? The choice is yours!
Remember, it's not the economy, stupid-it's God!
About the author"
With a ministry spanning 44 years, Fred Coulter has authored nine books,
numerous booklets and papers, and produced over two thousand audio and
video sermons (see cbcg.org and biblicaltruthministries.org).
Publications include Occult Holidays or God's Holy Days-Which? and The Holy Bible It Its Original Order. Since 1983 Coulter has
served as president and pastor of the Christian Biblical Church of God,
Hollister, CA.
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