Bedrock

I have a friend who has been a successful businessman for most of his life. Is he rich? Well, compared to me, he is extremely prosperous. I discovered while teaching a Sunday School class that some of the folk thought that he was dishonest; I was actually warned about mentioning our friendship. After some checking, I came to the conclusion that people, including many of our Christian brethren, easily assume that any successful business person is probably a crook. I'm nowhere near the top 1% of American income earners, but I don't resent them either. I do not assume they are dishonest or corrupt. Furthermore, I don't see the point of “occupying.” I certainly reject the worst comments I've heard—violent overthrow, canceling all loans, anti-Jewish rhetoric, killing. Some things occupiers have said are just stupid. Print your own money? Really! One of the things that distresses me most is the class warfare rhetoric. I have no doubt that we have our share of el

These are troubling times for Americans, no less so for Christians. Both the United States and the American Church seem to in decline. Some might say that both are suffering from the economic situation, but it’s more complicated. The people have lost their bearings in so many ways. Prosperity has not led to happiness or to peace. Relationships at every level are contentious and adversarial; individuals are selfish, hedonistic, and narcissistic. Many no longer worship God, but they do worship celebrities, who literally give them nothing in return. Technology provides so much, but it cannot make a better human; some might even argue it’s making for an inferior kind of person. Coarseness and vulgarity seem ever more the norm, and sex without much constraint is prevalent. According to Jesus himself, believers are citizens of two realms—one that is God’s, another that is “Caesar’s.” God’s kingdom has priority; his is our first allegiance. Yet, he commands us to submit to the au