Is God Still Good?
Michigan Christian Advocate
November 2008
Outside my hotel room, I picked up the USA TODAY dated Wednesday, October 1. 2008. More about the topic of the week screamed at me via the headlines: “Senate moves to rescue bailout.” Since the Stock Market mirrored Humpty-Dumpty, a $700 billion dollar bailout has been touted as the glue that can put this economy together again. Lots of causes were cited such as foreclosures, bankruptcies-public and private, overspending, not saving for a rainy day, widespread job losses and a weak global economy.
In support of this thesis, page 2A mentions disconcerting statistics for Michigan. The unemployment rate and number of foreclosures in Michigan are 8.9% and 13,605 respectively versus 5.8% and 5,475 in the state of New York. Plus, the article labels Detroit “as the poorest big city in America.” This kind of talk and coverage about America going broke not to mention the one billion dollars a day spent in Iraq has fear, dis-ease, anxiety, worry, washing over the American people like the devastation of Katrina. Enough crises abound to make people of all faiths get down on their knees and pray. Yet, I can’t help but wonder how these crises affect Christians and their church in the use and belief in a popular mantra. “God is good all the time; all the time God is good.” Given the state of the American economy, Is God still good?
By their actions, some businesses think so. Banks are loading our mailboxes with credit card offers. Businesses are purchasing ads on radio and television, in newspapers and magazines. Telemarketers are bombarding my phone daily. Buy this or that for six easy payments of $19.99 each. They have not lost faith in this economy. They still believe money can be made. A mantra drives them. “Opportunity is good all the time; all the time opportunity is good.” I’m not suggesting that God’s people have a monopoly on faith. But my observation raises a question. Why do bad times seem to frighten people of faith more than business people? Do we not serve a God who makes a way out of no way? Can we not help the American People we serve face our current present and future dilemmas with hope and faith not FEAR?
The Michigan Area of the United Methodist Church has a long history of mission giving and mission work. Hundreds of you have given your prayers, presence, gifts and service to the least of these all around the world. From Europe to Africa, from the Caribbean to Costa Rica, from the devastation of 911 to the wreckage and destruction of Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav and Ike, from the hungry and homeless to the victims of injustice in Michigan, you have given and sacrificed in exemplary ways to be the neighbor…to be “signs of God’s presence in the world.” Whenever God’s people give and sacrifice for others here and around the world, God does not forsake us in difficult times. Do not fear (Mt. 6:25-33). “Give and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back Luke 6:38).” Let us pray. “Gracious Lord, give us faith to see the daily bread only you can supply. I know the Lord is blessing us, right now. Is God still good? Yep!!!