By Van Yandell
Psalm 91:1-2 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust.”
We realized several generations ago, if it were not for capitalism, we would still be living in trees and caves and eating grub worms and tree bark.
Capitalism has given us the internal combustion engine, medicines that cure (or mask) our ailments and electronic gadgetry previous generations could not even dream of.
Capitalism has created an incentive in many that has led to the accomplishment of the American dream. Millions of Americans live in nice homes, drive nice cars and have the things that make us happy. Some say money cannot buy happiness, but at times buys the things that make us temporarily happy.
Intensive and continuous work reaps benefits in a capitalistic system that peoples of other economic systems cannot even fathom. Many are taught early in life that in order to reach a state of financial security they are to spend less than what they earn, save and invest the rest and do that for many years. Only in a system powered by capitalism is that possible.
It seems as though the barometer of success in America is the amount of money we earn or accumulate. This, of course, is not a good thing but it has led to inventions, discoveries and innovations that a mere 200 years ago were not even considered by the greatest writers of fiction.
1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” While it would be easy for many of us to allow money to take us in the wrong direction, care must be taken not to let that happen.
While capitalism is considered by many to be the greatest system in the world, it has its disadvantages. Drug dealers are capitalists, so are pimps and the producers of liquor that leads to many deaths on American highways every year.
Pornographic materials, violent video games that corrupt our children, gambling opportunities, and the tobacco products that lead to cancers in millions are works of capitalists. The line drawn between good and bad is clear, but our lawmakers find difficulty in its definition.
Isaiah 5:20 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” The world has without doubt reached the state of degradation described by Isaiah 2,700 years ago.
So, what has capitalism done to trust? When many of us proceed to purchase some products, such as a vehicle, land, a home or any other big-dollar purchase, our “caution” meter moves up a notch.
I’ve learned to watch the check-out screen as the clerks scan products. Many times the price is more than the product is marked on the shelf and a good practice is to count your change as it is taken out of the cash drawer.
“Prepare to be misled!” It’s that simple! Entrepreneurs will tell you everything you ask but will avoid the negative aspects at all costs. To mislead is a form of a lie. I once asked an agent, “Why do you not want the seller and the buyer talking?” His answer, “The seller tells too much.”
So, how does this affect Christianity? The unchurched, godless, non-believers are skeptical of our evangelistic intentions and that is understandable in this environment.
The false prophets are alive and well and hard at work. We find two kinds of people have subscribed to the teachings of those false prophets. First, are those that become convinced and adamant about the lies they tell. Only God can establish the rules/scripture but many have not understood that.
Second, we find some that refuse to consider the evidence. Teachings in the Holy Bible are substantiated by science, prophesy and many concepts taught by God. The Bible gives us information that only a superior, spiritual, eternal being could know but many ignore such evidence.
No other writing of any prophet or holy man can even superficially duplicate the pinpoint accuracy of God in the Bible.
Trust is defined as “firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.” With deceptive practices having become a science and an art, trust may be a thing of the past in a capitalistic system.
The number of prophesies in the Old Testament vary from one source of information to another. Researchers of the subject apparently interpret some verses as prophesies whereas others do not.
One source of information claims there are 1239 prophesies in the Old Testament and 578 in the New Testament for a total of 1817. Of those, it remains a matter of opinions which ones have been fulfilled. It certainly appears to me that many have already happened and continue to happen right before our eyes.
If one reads Isaiah 53, it becomes readily apparent, Jesus fulfilled that chapter completely.
Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” This is the first of prophesies in Genesis of the coming of a Savior.
Jesus crushed the head of Satan when He walked out of the tomb, resurrected and alive. Sin was defeated for all eternity by His sacrificial death on the cross. Jesus’ blood was shed that all mankind might have forgiveness of sin.
According to and in parallel with the Old Testament concept of the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sin, Jesus became that ultimate and final blood sacrifice (Hebrews 9:22).
Considering the concept of trust in today’s world of greed and selfishness, can we expect the unchurched to accept our statement of witness of the Lord Jesus Christ? Can this be a convincing contention?
We must understand the apprehension. Just in the last few years the price-gouging of products, disguised as inflation, has accelerated the mistrust.
Capitalism and free enterprise has without a doubt contributed to these levels of uncertainty. Caution is the word of the day, and likely this entire generation.
What this means is that Christians must double our efforts to evangelize. To share Jesus as a crucified and resurrected savior is as important now as ever. Our world faces a state of chaos as never before seen and failure to promote Jesus is a part of the reason.
Or, we can rejoice that God’s plan is coming together. When the trumpet blows (1 Thessalonians 4:16), will you be ready?
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Van Yandell is a retired Industrial Arts teacher, an ordained gospel evangelist and commissioned missionary, from Fredonia, Kentucky.
