Believers May Be Losing Saltiness

The post modern age has brought many advances to our lives and many of these can be used as great tools to serve our Lord. Whether its media, technology, entertainment or our continual grasp at higher levels of academic education, we are surrounded by a growing preoccupation with the external. Spirituality is often talked about by even the unsaved but rarely from a truly Scriptural position.

I am often reminded of my own frailties as a professing believer when I observe those Christian brothers and sisters who have a zeal for the things of God. It seems the common thread in their testimonies is a life set apart. The Word of God has a theme of separation throughout the old and new testaments to “be ye separate”. Clearly the Lord calls us to stand out from the world around us so how can we obey that if we are muddled knee deep in the things of earth?

While I understand we are under grace and no longer under the law, the growing sentiment in the modern Church is that grace has become a justification to fill our minds and bodies with every deplorable thing the world offers. Further, even things that are not necessarily evil can be a distraction without self discipline. If we do not set limits for ourselves and practice self denial in all areas, how can we be the shining example to the lost we profess to care about?

Of many in my Christian circle of friends, there are some who openly drink alcohol, use off-color language or do things most mainstream Christians would be uncomfortable with but we are often unfazed by allegiance to television shows, music, movies and other cultural trends that are clearly in opposition to God’s Holy Word. Living a separated life sounds good coming from a pastor’s pulpit but has little effect on our personal choices in how we allocate our time and resources. All of these “choices” are being watched by the unsaved around us so how do we think they see us. Regardless of someone’s defense of drinking alcohol, what good comes from going to a bar for a drink and more importantly, why does someone feel the desire to go in the first place? Why is it acceptable to listen to music or watch movies that convey vile lifestyles? Questioning our own motives is a good place to start but if we are not communing with God through prayer and Scripture, we will never have an impact on the dying world around us.

I suspect we have been dumbed-down by the saturation of sensory appeals but ultimately we are accountable for what we partake of. The culture is not itself a bad thing but it has an ever-increasing grasp on the Church and the negative aspects of culture are readily apparent in it. Christians need to be vigilant and on guard against pernicious influences in their own personal lives. It will not only be an obstacle for our personal growth but a detriment to evangelization. No longer can we excuse sin by saying “Jesus went to where the sinners were”. Our Savior did indeed go to where the sinners were but he did not partake of the sins. He stood out in fact because of His vehement opposition to their sin. The image of Jesus “hanging out” as if He were condoning sin is misleading and should be rejected.

The Church clearly needs revival today both Spiritually and culturally. Please pray consistently for it.

City Has Choices to Save Money

Official word came down from Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman this week that the City budget is millions in the red and that cuts were going to be forthcoming. One of first suggestions to reduce spending was a proposal to ask the police and firefighter’s unions to forego any raises in the coming year within their contract negotiations. This was met with staunch resistance from the police union and a similar response is expected from the firefighters as well. If the raises are not withdrawn, the City has stated it will have to lay off some of these essential services employees.

Every time a government agency has an income issue, it threatens to take something away from the taxpayers they serve without making inside cuts first. School districts have commonly used this ploy that utilizes cuts in bus transportation, scheduling and other services that affect parents the most so they feel forced to vote in support of the next levy or bond increase.

What the current Columbus City administration might consider is trying a private sector strategy. Though a freeze in wage raises is plausible in a recessionary period, job cuts are seldom the best place to begin. In the case of Columbus’ essential services like police, fire and infrastructure divisions such as refuse collection all have partial to fully funded benefits programs so why not make these more like corporate plans that are more self-funded. For instance, a plan that asked City workers to pay part of or more toward their health care plan like the majority of non-government workers would not require layoffs and would save exponentially more money in the long run.

Why is government compelled to provide these superior benefits when its private sector counterparts consistently attract top talent with lesser packages and less job security? With the current economic woes that face many State and local agencies, it’s about time that they consider adapting to a more efficient business model than the bloated one they have embraced for so many decades.