Thanksgiving Day and the Redistribution of Wealth

A few days ago, I received an email that was forwarded with a message from a pastor. I do not remember his name, so we will call him Pastor Salvation Only. His message was he never gets involved in political issues because his mission is the gospel of Jesus Christ. According to him, the people sent a message loud and clear in this 2008 election, they are looking for Jesus Christ. He gave two examples, one was we have abused credit and now the people voted for Obama in repentance for their financial excesses. The other example I do not remember. He then went on to rebuff pastors that get off the track of preaching salvation through Jesus Christ and that now, because the people are truly looking for Jesus Christ, that is our only mission.

Pastor Salvation Only is very wrong. In fact, he is part of the problem. The Bible tells us clearly that man is not looking for God, as Pastor Salvation Only claims (Isa 64:7, Rom 3:11). While there are several admonitions to seek after God, the Bible tells us man may tip his hat to God while seeking his own way (Isa 58, Jer 7). Pastor Salvation Only is wrong, in that this election was not a declaration that man is looking for Jesus Christ, or looking for repentance. This election was a declaration that man is looking for a messiah, a rock star, a leader who will make them feel good about themselves, a leader who will bring change, without requiring them to change their lifestyles – or repentance.

People talk about how we live in a post-Christian era. They are wrong, in that the perception is flawed. Never in the history of America has the majority of the people been truly Christian. The difference between the founding of this nation and now is the Christian influence. Early pastors were not afraid to stand up for God’s law. In that sense, they became political. By standing up for what God requires; by standing up for a clear definition of a repentant, changed life; by standing up for a faithful walk with Jesus Christ, they became political. When Christians did not compromise Biblical principles they were influential.

In his effort to silence the Christian opposition, Lynden Johnson orchestrated the 501(C)(3) status for the churches. The churches bought into it, surrendered the Christian walk to the civil branch of government and began building more churches – now with mortgages. With mortgages, they had people to please for payment to meet and the contract with the government dictated their parameters of free speech. Slowly, and painfully, the church lost its way and lost influence in the culture. You may properly say, “we live in a post-Christian influence culture,” even while the founding documents remain Christian.

There are a group of professing Christians that call themselves “progressive,” which means liberal. They have published a book called “The Commands of Men.” The authors are anonymous, as if that lends to credibility. Currently, I am on page 88 and so far, it has been a whine against Republicans and conservatives and they have not yet presented one Bible verse in proof of their premise that the redistribution of wealth (ROW) is the responsibility of the civil government, or that ROW is a command of Christ, although this is their premise. Look for a review of this book in a future blog.

This group of progressive Christians misuse Colossians 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends upon human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” Their premise, in using this verse, is the non-ROW view is selfish, which is a violation of Christ’s commands.

Obama won the vote of more than eighty percent of the professing Christians and about sixty percent of Evangelical Christians. This was with the help of Pastor Salvation Only. He never taught them the proper interpretation of Colossians 2:8. He never taught them proper repentance leads to a changed life; that repentance mandates following Christ; that Christ instructed charity to be the role of the individual; that the early church demonstrated corporate charity and the church throughout history has upheld this example until the establishment of the 501(C)(3).

In fact, a recent poll claims 46 percent of the American voters believe it is the civil government’s responsibility to redistribute wealth. Only 42 percent believe ROW is wrong.

Pastor Salvation Only never taught his people that stealing from one person to help another is still stealing. He never taught his people it is wrong to expect from civil government to perform the role of the believing church body. Pastor Salvation Only never taught his people to study the Scriptures and transform their thinking (Rom 12:1-2, Col 2:6-10). Instead, in the name of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, he allowed them to maintain their old covetous desires, as long as their intent was to accomplish good.

The public school system is entrenched in the doctrine of ROW, from the top of the union, down through the levels of administration and teachers, down through the curriculum. And we wonder why students no longer believe in the American dream, that if you work hard, you will succeed and have a prosperous life. In masses, the student vote was overwhelmingly for the election of Obama, on his promise of “Change,” “Hope” and the redistribution of wealth.

Working hard to succeed may sound selfish by today’s mantras, but Paul warned us, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” [2Th 3:10]. Notice the word “shall,” it is a legal term meaning imperative or mandatory. Therefore, what Paul means is if a man will not work, he is not to beg off others and others are not to feed him. No, the Christian code is not heartless, there is ample text to support the role of charity to the helpless and less fortunate. But we do not steal.

If a man works hard and is successful, he can bless others. If he will not give, he is selfish and that is between him and God to judge. It is not the responsibility of the civil government, bureaucrats and the covetous to make it otherwise. Furthermore, whom a man chooses to bless is also between himself and God. It is not the responsibility of the civil government, bureaucrats and the covetous to determine what a legitimate charity is, or to redefine legitimate charity. Regardless, the fact remains, if a man is stripped of his wealth, his ability to bless others, in obedience to God, is limited.

Today is Thanksgiving Day 2008. Regardless the economic chaos and the moral turpitude that seems to overwhelm us, we still have much to be thankful for. Christ still reigns; He has given us salvation and while we are on this world, He provides for our every need. He gives us good laws to live by and He teaches us to love our brothers and sisters. God has blessed us with much.

However, for the covetous, there can be no Thanksgiving Day – because they can only see what they do not have. The majority of the people voting for Obama had the vision he will take from the undeserving and selfish rich and give relief to the needy (the voter is needy). As that lady said in the popular YouTube video, “Now I don’t have to worry about gas; I don’t have to worry about my mortgage.” So, the covetous may at least be thankful today that Obama is going to solve their worries. But they have no grounds to be thankful to God, because their hope is not in Him.

You have failed, Pastor Salvation Only, you did not teach your sheep that salvation by faith in Jesus Christ means to live in obedience to Him and that repentance involves a transformation of the mind and mandates turning away from covetousness and allegiance to the state. True repentance will lead to Thanksgiving. Not thankfulness to a false messiah but thankfulness to God Almighty.

This Thanksgiving Day 2008, I am thankful to God.