Financial crisis: A time for caution but not fear
Pure market capitalism values people according to their material wealth; which means it makes them feel devalued when 'things' are hard to come by. But there are higher measures of value and higher sources of security than the markets can offer.
by Mal Fletcher, Next Wave International
Posted: Monday, October 13, 2008, 10:23 (BST)
Mal Fletcher
This is undoubtedly a time for caution and reassessment; but it is not a time for crippling fear.
The cover of this week's European edition of Time screams 'London's Sinking', with a warning that the global economic crisis threatens to 'overwhelm' Europe's financial capital.
Meanwhile, trillions (yes, trillions) of dollars have been wiped off the value of stocks and shares worldwide in the past week or so.
One TV financial advisor says that we've seen two big emotions in all of this market turmoil, greed and fear. 'We've seen the greed over the past five years,' he adds, 'now we're seeing the fear - and the fear is much worse.'
Caution is always healthy - it encourages wariness even in the good times and reappraisal during the tough times. Being cautious allows us to keep a watchful eye not only on the external environment of our lives, but on the inner world of our own priorities and attitudes. These attitudes in turn shape so much of the external reality we see and touch.
Fear, on the other hand, cripples us; it blinds us to opportunities that might exist to improve our situation. Fear paralyses us, so that even if there is light at the end of the tunnel, we're unable to press forward to reach it.
At a time when some of us are facing major financial loss, we have every right to be concerned and probably even perplexed as to how the situation arose in the first place.
Yet we shouldn't let fear overtake our ability to look for a better tomorrow, or to search for the solution to problems.
In a social sense, there are some positive sides to our collective fears. A certain amount of fear makes us more alert in the face of trouble. New strains of flu virus, for example, push us to find new cures.
Yet any benefits are usually short-lived and some have a dangerous flip side. Fear of sickness can become a contributor to more sickness, for example. And fear of financial calamity can prevent us from being generous toward others; discovering the pure joy that comes with investing in something beyond our own self interest.
Most of us will never see the worst-case scenarios that some commentators are speaking of at the moment. Yet many still live against a backdrop of persistent, unspoken fear.
Living in fear means living with constant tension; it wears us down. Sustained fear causes our adrenal glands to secrete more than the normal dose of certain chemicals, which exhausts our nervous and immune systems. We get sick faster - both physically and mentally.
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The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Thursday, November 27, 2008, 17:33 (GMT)
"Still others will find courage in a religious faith. At times like these, many people turn to religion for strength and for hope."
We certainly live in interesting times. While the gods of this age are in their death throes and there is increasing despair, fear and hopelessness in the nation, believers are assured that our God is sovereign and in control. It could be anticipated that there will be growing opportunities for harvesting these searching souls; but the question is ... is the church in it's present state really ready?
Knowing that indeed this country is reaping what it has been sowing over the decades especially since the Festival of Light then Gods judgment is evident.
Surely in line with our belief that Judgment begins within the household of God (1.Peter4:17) then we need to unite in contrite and repentant hearts before His throne of Grace and plead for God to withhold and 'hear our prayers and heal the land' (2Chron7-14)
A growing number of committed believers recognising this trumpet call for repentance and are joining with the saints in a planned National March next year Sat.11thJuly in Central London. It will not be a procession of an outward exhibition of any kind of extroversion but more a solemn gathering of sincere saints representing the wide body of Christ showing unity in repentance before God. Just imagine, 1000's of silent folk, walking together and following a large wooden Cross, no fanfare. A representative delegation ( especially youth) will present a statement of repentance to No.10 Downing St... and the March will culminate a rally at the end. (possibly with a representative from the Festival of Light handing a baton over.)
So ' if my people who are called by my name...' (2Chron7:14) will heed the call for repentance, we on the planning committee of the March would welcome your comments,support and participation in this significant movement of Gods people in such a time as this.
Blessed to be a blessing,
Steve McCreery
smccreery@hotmail.co.uk
M.O.R.Organiser
Steve McCreery, Cardiff U.K
