On Repentance and Responsibility

 As I write, the Congress of the United States is debating the debt ceiling and the variety of proposals on the table to respond to what is a growing matter of concern.  While thoughts about this might seem misplaced in this article, there are two themes that are central matters of our faith and which I believe come to bear on the current situation facing our country.  They are “repentance” and “responsibility”.

Why are we burdened with such a tremendous national debt?  Many will point their fingers at Washington and the politicians serving there and heap all sorts of blame on them.  But, to be truthful, we must look first at ourselves.  Who is it that desires all of those services that our government provides?  And who is it that continually desires to see our taxes lowered even while continuing to receive these services?  The answer is you and me.  We are the ones who continually want to pay lower taxes while being unwilling to see any of the government funding for our favorite projects and programs decreased.  Politicians, finally, follow our lead.  We are responsible for this fiscal crisis that our government faces.  Until we as a people realize that, and repent of our ‘sins’, namely wanting something for nothing and passing the cost on to future generations, we will continue to reap what we sow.

Instead, I would suggest that we need to learn to live with a spirit of gratitude, and yes, responsibility.  Jake worked his whole life running a bull dozer building roads for the logging industry.  “Pastor,” he said, “I cannot understand people who complain about paying taxes.  I’ve had years when I haven’t had to pay any taxes, and years that I’ve paid tens of thousands of dollars in taxes.  You know, those years when I had to pay a lot of taxes were much better years.”  Jake was also thankful for Social Security upon retirement, for Medicare, for roads, for parks (especially boat launches, he was a fisherman), for the schools, and for a free and secure country in which to live.

We have been blessed by God to live in such a great country.  But that same God also said “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”  Our country achieved greatness not because of a few brilliant leaders, or because of ‘getting something for nothing’, but because our citizens took responsibility for the challenges that faced us and sacrificed to overcome them.  It’s time once again for us to rise up to the challenge, to admit our failures, and to take responsibility for our future.

[Bonner County Daily Bee – July 22, 2011]