What kind of stimulation is needed?

One can get different views of the effects of the government's "stimulus " initiatives, depending on which party is spinning the evidence. Whether any new jobs have really been created, or existing jobs saved due wholly or in part to the infusion of cash into the economy is uncertain. The "cash for clunkers" program seemed to have some immediate effect among auto dealers, but it's not clear this effect will be broad-based throughout the marketplace.

But, at the very least, you could give our government some credit for trying to do something to "kick start" an economic recovery. Not all such ideas are effective, but sometimes a poor idea is better than none, since, at least, a poor idea can be tweaked; which is more than you can do with the absence of ideas.

But, as we see illustrated often in the Bible, an economic stimulus often works against the long-term and greater interests of humankind. The love of money, says Paul, is "a root of all kinds of evil." There are worse things that happen to people than a lack of money. A lack of love, a lack of compassion, a lack of sensitivity to the voice of God, all these are far worse than a cash shortfall. And, when God works to stimulate the heart toward greater spiritual and moral vigor, He seems to do so more often through a lack of certain things, than through a sudden abundance of the same.

More people, for example, have searched for spiritual harmony with God because of a lack of peace or joy, than because they have all the peace and joy their heart desires. Many have sought the Lord when their lives "hit bottom" in some respect, rather than when they felt they were "on top", enjoying the view. More have been open to the Gospel of Christ by feeling a hunger for meaning and satisfaction in life, than those who feel already full and in need of nothing (such as the Laodicean church of Revelation ch. 3).

The saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" pretty much applies to people's motivation for spiritual renewal. But God's stimulus package for a broken heart, a crushed spirit, an empty and unfulfilling life, is not to give things that would make most humans feel less need of Him. This is, I believe, the meaning behind Jesus's pithy statements like, "Blessed are the poor", "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst," and "Blessed are you when men persecute you." We are more likely to seek the Lord when we feel something missing from our lives, than when we add up our abundance and say, "Soul, you are well off."

Eternal health insurance

Who would have thought 20 years ago that the subject of health insurance could get such widespread national attention? Town hall meetings, TEA parties, Congressional debates, endless arguments on cable TV, just to name a few of the forums for airing our opinions on the questions of how best to insure everyone's health needs. It's amazing how many people can take such disparate views on a subject, each one being convinced he/she has taken the correct position.

Sounds a lot like the age-old debate over religious truth doesn't it? Some say there is no absolute truth (and they're absolutely certain of that), while some say all truths are equal and lead to the same place, while others claim only their truth is the right one.

Of course, in the area of "eternal health insurance", I don't think anyone would want their government to be making the key decisions, not even those who favor the "public option" in health insurance. And certainly we wouldn't want to leave to our legislators the responsibility of deciding which eternal plan fits best.

Fortunately, the Author of life has already passed a Law of eternal welfare, though in a most un-democratic way. God is the ultimate Autocrat (the power resides solely in Himself) when it comes to declaring how spiritually sick mankind may be healed. No debate, no pundits' opinions, no stumping to get everyone on board, just a simple declaration: All have sinned, all may be saved through faith in the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Not Blue Cross, but Calvary's Cross is what we need.

Anyone interested in their eternal health needs to think very seriously before they take any other "policy", or before they decide "I'm fine, I'm sure I won't need coverage." Whatever are the implications for the current health care debate, the implications for eternal health are far greater, and worthy of at least as much interest as people are giving to what's going on in Washington.