What's in Your Wallet?

My wonderful wife alerted me to a recent issue of Hungry Hearts, a PCUSA journal of spiritual formation.  The issue, as you can see to the right was entitled, "What's in Your Wallet?" - taking a cue from the credit card ad campaign of the same slogan.  The issue came out last fall as the economic situation in the US and worldwide began to worsen.  I strongly encourage your reading of the articles in the issue and especially the following article referenced in the Reader's Guide for the Fall 2008 issue.

A Christian View of the Economic Crisis by Albert Mohler (president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary).

While I agree with what the HH article says, "that there are a number of theological and political issues over which Presbyterians and Southern Baptists tend to differ", I also echo their feelings that Dr. Mohler raises some excellent points in this article about our Christian response to the economic situation.  Personally, I think the most significant thing he raises is the importance of refocusing our prioirities, demanding accontibility and honesty in the dealings of our leaders, and in the recognition that all we have and all that we are belongs to God.  Dr. Mohler writes:

This current crisis should also remind Christians that we are not called to be mere economic actors, but stewards. Everything we are, everything we do, and everything we own truly belongs to God and is to be at the disposal of Kingdom purposes. This world is not our home and our treasure is not found here. We are to do all, invest all, own all, purchase all to the glory of God.

I strongly commend reading the article and also reflecting upon the questions in the readers' guide.

As we all have ways that this economic situation has affected us personally, we also have ways that it is affecting us as a local congregation and the larger church we are a part of.  As we prayerfully move together forward in this time, may we heed the call that Dr. Mohler raises about our own responses - responses of fear and panic or responses of trust and faith in the God who has promised to provide for us.