UK economy in Recession and more from Galatians 5

23/01/2009

It is likely today the the British government will announce that the economy is in recession. There will be a feeding frenzy by the press. News headlines will be dominated by it. People will be concerned. It will disproportionately affect the stock and currency markets. What people are less likely to hear is that whilst the report will be public today, it will also say that we have been in recession for the last 6 months. In other words, we have been living in this for half a year but reporting and spin will most likely cost jobs, affect pensions and generally depress the population. In reality the economic situation today will be no different than it was yesterday but because of the way we deal with news today the economy will model our perception.

Times of economic hardship are a wonderful opportunity for the church.

There is a funny bit in the BBC series "I'm Alan Partridge" where as things seem to be spiraling out of control for him (again!) his PA Lynn tries to offer some comfort.

I loved his response: "Lynn I'm not coming to your baptist church! They always get people when they're down." I am not just talking about the church been the last refuge of the desperate, although they must receive a welcome. Rather I mean that been invested into God's economy should mean that there is no drop off in generosity and charity. Indeed there are many that believe this economic unsettling is a brilliant opportunity to explore a biblical system of sowing and reaping of trusting totally in God for all our needs. This is a great opportunity for mission. It is interesting to note that although the apostles are told that on receiving the Holy Spirit they would

"be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8) they stayed in Jerusalem until life got tough.

"That day a severe persecution began against the church and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria" (Acts 8:1) In other words it took a crisis to focus the church. So it could well be that this so called crisis in=s an opportunity for the church to reach out to people who are seeing that all the things they have built their life upon such as property, wealth, shares and job security are sinking sand and that the only solid rock is Jesus Christ.

Returning, as I have been doing daily, to Galatians 5. Paul has kindly pointed out some of the outworking of our sinful nature ie

"idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like"

He then moves onto the fruit of the spirit.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

When we focus our relationship on God. When we love Him, take joy in Him, are at peace with Him etc. then the natural outworking is that we will display this to other people. Sometimes I think we assume it's the other way around! Also it should be noted that this fruit is not the based on feelings but is based on truth and faith. For instance the joy in and of the Lord is not some random giddy happiness rather it is the joyful security of knowing you are a child of God and that you have a heavenly father that loves you. All that to say it wouldn't do some Christians any harm to tell their faces that there is joy in their heart!

Paul is aware of the battle that is going on for the human soul. He reminds of the promise that our sinful nature were crucified with Christ on the cross. However, we have a habit of giving the enemy ground. We should remember that our natural state is one of light and we let the darkness in, not the other way around! Indeed one of the definitions of darkness is the absence of light. It is like darkness does not exist unless the light is removed. How true!

Finally, the Spirit of God is moving. Experiencing the Holy Spirit is not a one off event. Rather an ongoing process. He ushers us further into the presence of God. Our challenge is to keep up with His pace.

Tonight we meet to pray for marriages and family. There seems to be under great attack at this time. Today is time to draw a line in the sand!

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