Paul's Passing Thoughts

My brother and I ran a business together in the early 80’s. We saw firsthand what Jimmy Carter’s policies did to the lifeblood of the American economy—small business. Carter only won one state against Ronald Reagan in the election, and Reagan’s economic policies won him a second landslide victory four years later.

It would be immediately apparent to anybody my age that the Obama administration is Jimmy Carter 2. Why do Americans keep voting for policies that have a proven failure rate? Well, obviously, the results aren’t the issue, something else is.

And like Carter, Obama promises free stuff that can make life easier in the here and now. But what about the future of our children who will have to pay for it? Answer: it doesn’t matter, think, “Eat and drink for tomorrow we die.” This we can be certain of; coldhearted selfishness will increase with time:

Matthew 24:

11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

If I am a small business owner, or a big one, the immediate financial boon resulting from having no healthcare costs (because the government is paying for it) is very attractive. What about the collapse of the American economy and death panels? Answer: “That won’t happen immediately, and by the time the stuff hits the fan, I will be dead or retired.” Look, in my vocation, I service some fairly large companies of which owners voted for Obama. It’s about the free stuff; it’s about the here and now. They won’t have to deal with the death panels, the average Joe who works for them will.

This is why “conservative” business owners vote for the likes of Obama. Undoubtedly, he got elected on the free healthcare angle. It was, and still is, hugely attractive to both business owners and the working class. “If I don’t have to pay for health care, I can get that man-cave I have always wanted in the basement—complete with a big screen TV and free beer for my friends.”

And the key to why Christians embrace this same mentality can be found in Matthew 24:11,12 as well. Christ said that “BECAUSE” of “lawlessness” that the hearts of many would become cold. The actual word for “lawlessness” in this passage is “anomia.” The “a” is a prefix that means, “anti” and the word “nomia” has to do with a moral standard. In Scripture, it is most often used to refer to God’s instruction concerning life and godliness. Unless you have been on vacation on another planet, you know that antinomianism has been chipping away at the American church since 1950.

Christ made it plain that this loveless mentality would increase with time. And as Christians continue to devalue the law, they will follow suit:

Psalm 119:70

their heart is unfeeling like fat,

but I delight in your law.

paul