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Biblical Theology, economics, Jason, Minor Prophets, poor, rich
As election season approaches one common (and maybe the most common) political issue for Christians is abortion. It is as if this one issue is the deciding factor for every elected official. I get the sense with some people if abortion were outlawed involvement in politics would cease. Abortion is sin. Killing people and placing it under the banner of “human rights” is calling “dark” “light”.
Yet the levels of injustice seen in other areas of government are cause for GREAT concern. Currently the US continues to print money on demand. The effect of our continuous printing drives the value of the dollar down. Why are gas prices higher today than five years ago? Many of you will blame Obama and his lack of ordering drilling in some secret field, only Fox News knows about, that would produce enough oil for us to give to our grand-kids’ kids. But the main reason is the value of the dollar. Gas is traded internationally with the dollar. As inflation rises and the dollar devalues gas prices go up. For the rich man this hits the pocket book, but does not hurt the pocket book. For the poor family, on a tight budget, this devastates the penny purse.
Another case where our government and banks put poor people in a bad position exists when laws allowing banks and investors to take advantage of people. Currently, people who may owe as little as $400 on back taxes are losing their homes because, “Outdated state laws allow big banks and other investors to reap windfall profits by buying the houses for a pittance and reselling them, the National Consumer Law Center said.”
Our money policies and continuous inflation are evil. They are wicked as defined by Scripture.
America is not Israel. God doesn’t view America as the chosen nation. If America changes (i.e. repents) it does not restore us as God’s nation. The Bible is not specifically written to America. The sections quoted below address Israel. However, we learn from the following texts how to better define righteousness and unrighteousness. God analyzes His nation and their treatment of the poor indicts them!
Therefore because you impose heavy rent on the poor and exact a tribute of grain from them, Though you have built houses of well-hewn stone, yet you will not live in them; You have planted pleasant vineyards, yet you will not drink their wine. For I know your transgressions are many and your sins are great, you who distress the righteous and accept bribes and turn aside the poor in the gate.” (Amos 5:11-12)
God indicts Israel for imposing heavy rent on the poor. He defines them as those who turn aside the poor in the gate! Their treatment of the poor was not isolated enough to consider a mistake. Rather their treatment of the poor defined them as unrighteous and left them in the path of God’s judgment.
Amos addresses Israel, “Hear this, you who trample on the needy and bring the poor of the land to an end.” (Amos 8:4). Again he defines them as those who trample on the needy and bring the poor. How did Israel trample the poor? They took advantage of them, “deal deceitfully with false balances, that we (Israel) may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals.” (Amos 8:5-6).
Poor people were not given a fair trade for their products. False balances were used to determine their wages. Israel handled money in such a way it devalued and therefore hurt the poor. By altering the balances, Israel was able to pay less for more product. The poor did the same amount of work, received less money. This was a tactic employed by the rich!
The Lord says, “Can I justify wicked scales and a bag of deceptive weights? For the rich men of the city are full of violence.” (Micah 6:11-12) Every indication exists to claim false balances helped the rich and hurt the poor.
“A merchant, in whose hands are false balances, He loves to oppress.” (Hos 12:7) False balances and oppression go hand in hand. They serve in the same family of sin united like husband and wife. Setting up a financial system devaluing cash hurts the poor and helps the rich. Those in power have a great responsibility to maintain and advocate fair balances. Inflating the dollar so it has no value leaves the poor at the mercy of the Lord! It is sin and unrighteous. We must demand from our government fair, righteous policies from them!
Now the answer to the question. Is inflation a worse sin than abortion? It depends on how you define and analyze “worse”? Both are sin before the Lord. Those who practice them stand condemned before the Lord. If “worse”, in this context, gets defined by what hurts more people then YES inflation is a worse sin. Abortion affects millions every year. But an abortion does not necessarily effect the neighborhood. However, inflation effects everyone! The entire neighborhood suffers due to the declining value of the dollar. America’s treatment of the dollar needs to be regulated. Printing on demand, devaluing it, though beneficial for the rich, hurts the poor!
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Please read carefully 🙂 I am not saying abortion is less of a crime. I am really advocating both sins are heinous and wicked!
Shepherd The Sheep 
Shawn,
First, I’m not trying to belittle anything. Abortion is a serious sin! My challenge to many Christians is stop favoring one while ignoring others! Hopefully this article has at least drawn attention to the need for us to take serious and stand against ALL unrighteousness!
Second, are you asking if there is a wider affect of abortion on the nation than I am considering? If so? Yes, that could be the case. I think apathy could be developing by many and therefore due to apathy or familiarity, our standard of righteousness could be decreasing. Therefore abortions are so common I might be losing my fight and not accepting it as sin.
However, I’m still hard pressed to relent on which one has a great net. Abortion is still frowned upon and fought against! AND rightfully so!!! You have two friends who want to stand against monetary sin at the government level. . . I wonder if this makes you unique 🙂
Because abortion is still stood against and fought how does it affect all of society? I’m not sure you can separate Manasseh’s killing from the fact that he was king and as king he was worshiping another God. The worship was the problem. I think leaders will be judged for allowing abortions to exist. But I’m still not sure abortion affects EVERY person in America. Whereas the inflation caused by greedy men who use it for sin DOES affect every person! You are affected by it every day! As is the rest of the world! Even China, Africa, Australia, and Europe hurt when the dollar drops. It has global consequences!
But, in the end I can’t say one is worse than the other because both are SIN! I would not want to pit one against the other and agree both are indicative of a culture that is spiraling downward.
And I think you touched on something that I am actually considering writing about. The many current issues culture accepts that add to our demise: homosexuality, rights, money, abortion, Texas, and the Lakers . . .
So far, there has been some private push back from friends. I appreciate the push back and desire to think biblically about EVERY issue. Thank you for your emails and concerns.
First. You’ll note Abortion is a sin. Do not leave this discussion thinking Abortion is less of an evil.
Second, I punt on if one is a worse sin then another. I’m not sure we can grade sins. BOTH are HEINOUS!!!! Both have devastating impact on people. It really does matter how you define “worse” and if you have a biblical case for why you define it?
Third, whether or not men who wield financial policies intend to suppress the poor or not, their actions are sinful! If they inflate the dollar for personal gain, their selfishness has consequences. There are sins of omission and commission; both are sin!
Finally, the men behind the financial problems in Israel were not the only ones condemned. All Israel was condemned for their role in the oppression!! My challenge to each of us is broaden your understanding of social sins and stand for righteousness!
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