In God we don’t trust.
Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. NLT
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. NIV Col. 3:5,6
Capitalism is a system that rewards greed and materialism and we are exporting this system of idolatry to as many countries as we can—whether they like it or not—by military and economic force, and they, like us, will suffer for it.
They followed worthless idols and they themselves became worthless. 2 Kings 17:15
Israel was destroyed for being idolaters so why do we think we safe from His wrath? The Israelites rationalized it away because they figured God would never destroy his holy city of Jerusalem and the great temple they had built to Him in the city. We AMERICANS RATIONALIZE IT AWAY SAYING WERE A Christian nation and because we support Israel. SUPPORTING Israel will save us no more than the temple saved Israel from destruction.
“‘Don’t be fooled into thinking that you will never suffer because the Temple is here. It’s a lie! Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours, and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, “We are safe!”—only to go right back to all those evils again? Jeremiah 7:8-10
THE Israelites said they were God’s chosen people and we say were a Christian nation —these are deceptive labels and don’t reflect the condition of the heart of the people. We have no more trust in God than the Israelites did before they fell. The Israelites were threatened by the Assyrians and turned to Egypt for help instead of God. Egypt is a symbol for the world and worldly ways. We place our trust in worldly systems (e.g. capitalism and military might) and when things go wrong we look to the stock market and macroeconomic formulas instead of answers from God. Sure there are other countries whose wicked ways are just as bad or even worse than the USA but they haven’t heard the gospel and turned away from it. And should we not be punished just the same as the Israelites were for turning away from God?
Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. For we know the one who said,
“I will take revenge.
I will pay them back.”
He also said,
“The Lord will judge his own people.”
Hebrews 10:26-30
The following passage explains Israel’s sins that caused her destruction:
They forsook all the commands of the LORD their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal. They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sorcery and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, provoking him to anger. 2 Kings 17:16,17
And this is exactly what is happening today in the USA:
Made for themselves cast idols in the shape of calves = the bull stock market. (see related blog here)
Asherah and Baal = false god worship. (see detailed blog here)
Bowed down to the starry host = evolution. (see detailed blog here and here)
Sacrificed their sons and daughters = abortion and the pill. (see detailed blog here)
Practiced divination - the art or practice that seeks to foresee or foretell future events = macroeconomics. (see related blog here)
Practiced sorcery - the power gained from the assistance or control of evil spirits = psychology. (see psychology is the occult blog and others on personality type here and here)
AND BECAUSE OF THESE, THE WRATH OF God is coming. Col. 3:6
August 11th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Capitalism to me is rewarding someone for the work they do and allowing them the option to share at will with another; communism is forcing someone to give to others and taking away their incentive to produce by refusing to allow them to enjoy the fruits of their labors.
Yes, there are greedy capitalists, but there are greedy communists too. I believe that God meant for man to share his talents, his material substance, whatever he is blessed with, but only if he makes such a choice himself through his own free will.
August 12th, 2010 at 8:03 am
Thanks for your comment Elysa.
The dictionary defines capitalism as: an economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.
The opposite of capitalism is control by the state, which is socialism, not communism. I’m not advocating communism but probably something closer to socialism.
The dictionary defines socialism as: a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
The dictionary also states: The term “socialism” has been used to describe positions as far apart as anarchism, Soviet state communism, and social democracy; however, it necessarily implies an opposition to the untrammeled workings of the economic market. The socialist parties that have arisen in most European countries from the late 19th century have generally tended toward social democracy.
The problem is the “untrammeled workings of the economic market”. However, the solution isn’t changing the economic/political system—the solution is our country, as a whole, turning to the Lord.
Blessings,
Brent