CRUMBLING ROCK

January 27th, 2009

‘Disgraced bank  Northern Rock share out staff bonuses’.  I realise that I may be swimming out of my depth, but I can’t help thinking that our whole banking system has become corrupt.

Greed, reckless lending and gambling abound.  Inside traders and hedge fund managers seem to me to be little more than parasites, gambling with other people’s money, hedging their bets.  Surely, Government encouragements to borrow more and spend more only make matters worse.

Jesus had a great concern for individuals - taking time to talk to the Samaritan woman at the well is a prime example - but he had harsh words for people in institutions that were in effect enslaving and robbing the ordinary people. Throughout Scripture, God’s prophets cry out against injustice and corrupt systems.
Yet we are in danger of participating  in this ourselves if we borrow and spend what we do not have, if we gamble with, rather than using, our resources, and if we are engrossed in self-indulgence, insisting on the bigger and better.
Gordon Brown was acclaimed as saviour for a few days after announcing a rescue plan for the banks a couple of months ago. The expectations on President Obama are immense, but the only person who claimed to be the saviour was Jesus Christ.
Let us again take time to examine his radical teaching and example.  He calls us to be a content and generous people, looking out for the needs of others, to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God.        
David                                                       
 

Filed under: News, Thought of the Week