troubled by talk

As a preacher, I know that words are powerful. They can shape a conversation and perception to the point they can end up actually defining reality.

I think this is why I am so troubled by the “news” coverage regarding the economy. Facts are reported amidst editorial comment, not separating opinion/analysis from actual happenings. It is certainly more sensational to rant about a recession than report a simple slowdown in growth. As Dave Ramsey pointed out on Larry King Live, a recession has a specific definition. A recession is a decline in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for two or more successive quarters. In other words, we don’t experience a recession until we experience economic decline for over 6 months in a row.

We haven’t even had a month of decline – in fact, as Ramsey pointed out, we haven’t experienced a loss yet, just a slow down in growth!

There are certainly major problems facing our country and our economy. It is just frustrating to see reporting that seems to be intentionally scaring people simply because it makes for better television.

If there is a silver lining in all of this, it is Christian financial ministries getting national airtime. Folks like Dave Ramsey, leaders of Crown Ministries and others are able to speak about effective Christian financial management to a country lost in get rich quick schemes and raw materialism. Biblical principles on Christian finance are extremely effective (after all, they are given by God!) for the promotion of healthy family finance.

Here is some good advice from John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Movement. 1) Earn all you can (by a cheerful, hard worker); 2) Save all you can (not in the bank, but rather: be frugal, avoiding excess expenses); 3) Give all you can (for the work of Christ with the least, the last, and the lost).

If you want to read Wesley’s sermon #50 on finances in its entirety, it can be found at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/50/