Economic Recession

Edward V. Hill,pastor, Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Los Angeles

We need congressmen to return to their district jobs and fulfill their campaign promises. They campaigned on platforms that addressed themselves to bread-and-butter issues such as more employment, better housing, and curbing crime. After getting into office, in recent years, they have become preoccupied with international policies and White House behavior at the expense of their local district needs. An example is a congressman in my area, which has 31 per cent unemployment: weekly he speaks only of national policies.

Steve Monsma,state representative, 93rd District, Michigan House of Representatives

A Christian approach to economic problems will seek to pursue justice—to give all persons and groups in society their due. This is in contrast to the normal approach I have observed time and again of seeking what is good for one’s own self or groups regardless of the effects on others.

We must also move in the direction of either greater freedom and competitiveness in the economic marketplace, breaking up both big business and big labor, or greater government regulation aimed at controlling big business and big labor for the greater good of society. Now we have socialism for the rich and capitalism for the poor. The rich and powerful—whether one is thinking of the wealthy individual with his tax loopholes, Lockheed with its guaranteed loans, or longshoremen with their union fighting against more efficient handling of cargo—are protected from the cold world of uncertainty and financial reverses; the poor and powerless are left to take their chances in a world over which they can exert little influence. In such a situation Christian concepts of justice and of human worth—concepts eloquently testified to by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ—suggest that either the rich and powerful should be required to compete in the free market as the poor and powerless now do, or the poor and powerless should be given through government action the protection now enjoyed by the rich and powerful.

William J. McFadden,international economist, Washington, D.C.

As followers of Christ we ought to explore biblical responses to the current economic situation. Although we may not have a significant impact on the policymakers or lobbyists, we ought to attempt to do so through our vote, our letters, and most importantly our example.

Unless we are in positions of authority whereby we can ask or demand that others sacrifice with us, we will have to set the example on our own. This will mean an even greater sacrifice to us individually. But sacrifice ought not be something unknown to us as Christians.

In the current socio-economic milieu, job rather than price is the variable that must adjust in an economic downturn. What better example can we establish than to share some portion of our income with those most directly affected by a recession? There are numerous household heads whose income stream was terminated because his employer could not afford to meet the high salary demanded by a union contract. The aged and others on fixed income continue to be adversely affected by the still high rate of inflation. Missionaries in the field have been forced to tighten their belts even further because their support is drying up.

Christians have a responsibility to be what we are called to be and thereby set a living example of Christ. In addition to the more obvious ways of sharing our income, i.e., giving to established organizations, we could have love feasts with Christian families whose income has been terminated; we could support an aged couple by doing some work for them that would ordinarily mean a cash outflow for them. In situations when there is more than one source of income in a family and something less than the current level of income is sufficient, perhaps temporary voluntary unemployment by a household member would free that income-producing position for someone who is currently involuntarily unemployed.

There are numerous ways each of us can share what he has. Some will think of and act upon bolder measures than I have proposed. But the last thing we ought to do is be anxious for ourselves with respect to tomorrow.

Whatever you do, don’t expect a reward for your sacrifice. But if you get bundles of joy in return, don’t be surprised.

Jaroy Weber,president, Southern Baptist Convention

Giving is a spiritual and not an economic response of the Christian life. During days of depression and stress people have turned to God, and their increased commitment brings a comparable increase in giving. The Christian Church has no need to fear financial inadequacies. The Church has always done better in a time of adversity.

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