After church I came home and had a nice cup of coffee and as usual turned on the TV to Fox News Sunday. Much of their content I had heard before until it came to Herman Cain. If I understood them correctly, the 9-9-9 tax plan has now been changed to 9-0-9. Which, of course is good news for the middle class (zero percent is better than nine). So, when I sat down to do today's blog, this picture stood out from the rest because it shows what is really happening in America. Even when I was young, the old adage: "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer" was true, but NOW, ITS REALLY TRUE!!! There is an ever shrinking middle class, with more and more and more and more of the population being either very, very poor or excessively rich. As this progresses, there will be demonstrations and more demonstrations, that will continually become more violent. Bad NEWS!! Dangerous NEWS!! Scary NEWS!!! However, it does raise a question in my mind: Are the rich in America BETTER than the poor? Is the divide becoming bigger because the rich are BETTER PEOPLE?? Then I thought of this passage from the New Testament...
WEB: Acts Chapter 10
[34] Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism; [35] but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. [36] The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all— [37] you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; [38] even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. [39] We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree. [40] God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed, [41] not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. [42] He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead. [43] All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”
The answer to the question if the rich are really better is a resounding NO!!!! In Christ, all are equal, outside Christ, all are in a very, very, great danger! Oh, there will be a great divide, but it will be in the afterlife, but take heart, we all have a choice of where we will be when we die. Make the right one, be with God beginning today. Choose the right side of the great divide and live.
Gary
PS. I will be posting Mark Copeland's executable outlines studies from now on and would appreciate any comments you may wish to make. The first series will be on "Life and Death". Hope you enjoy it.