Together We Stand

By: Steve Becker

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Looking at the 2008 crash of our economy from a Christian worldview, we can clearly see the impact of the above verse, as well as the world and the flesh.

Firms and individuals were driven by huge bonuses and profits without understanding or responsibility. Mortgages were sold to unqualified buyers, borrowers put themselves into debt and the poor were preyed upon. These mortgages had low teaser rates which ballooned in a couple of years, putting the payment out of reach.

Mortgages with no hope of surviving were bundled into bonds and sold to unsuspecting investors. Bond traders manipulated rating firms to inaccurately rate the bonds. These firms seemed clueless as to what the bonds contained. Managers looked after their own interests instead of their investors’.

A few people realized the impending crisis and used this knowledge to make more money by betting that the bonds would fail. They weren’t concerned about the economy or what appeared to be its certain demise. Insurance companies seemed blind to the situation and “took the bet.”

It wasn’t until the loans began defaulting that some firms and traders realized what was happening. They tried to short the bonds they themselves had created.

When things began to implode, everyone on both sides of the bet found themselves in the same sinking boat. Satan was certainly having a chuckle.

There is plenty of blame to go around. As Christians we have more empirical evidence of the forces at work in the marketplace: the world, the flesh and the devil. Eyes were blinded by greed and the evil one.

Now, more than ever, the call we’ve been given as Christians in commerce is needed. Most of us work on a small scale to live out our vision and mission. We have experienced the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We have joined together to walk into battle filled with the Holy Spirit and wearing the armor of God. We call others to join with us and live the life of Christ to turn the tide and expand the Kingdom of God by being Christ in the workplace.

Since we’ve been called together we support one another in this work with our time, talents and money. It is a noble work we do for the glory of God and the realization of his kingdom here and now.

As a CIC brother once said, “I’m a philanthropist. I don’t have much money as most, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be one.”

TAKE THE CHALLENGE: Let us renew our commitment to the work we’ve been given. Let us dig deeper in our love, prayer and support for one another. Let us financially support the work we’ve been given. We do this work knowing the victory is ours in Jesus Christ.