Why We Need To Hit Bottom

Amen, sister.

I think someone needs to explain to americans (myself included) that we cannot continue to live so grossly beyond our means and rely so heavily on credit to buy things we cant afford and dont need

The bailout monies paid could total to $1 trillion before it's done. That's 1,000,000,000,000 dollars. Just 1% of that could provide clean drinking water to all who don't have it.

I don't think our country has its priorities straight.

As much as I "hear" ya on the need for Americans to get a shot of perspective on materialism and just how good we have it, I don't think the U.S. economy tanking is the best method; b/c unfortunately the rest of the world is too tied into our economy.
So in essence, to not help the Drunk man will end up not helping the family. There's just gotta be a better way for all parties invovled

Excellent article, Melanie!

I do not trust the media.
I do not trust the government.
I do not trust Wall Street.
I do not even trust my own self.
I trust in Yahweh, the Creator of all.
Our national motto is about to be challenged.
After 9/11 I felt cheated because I could do nothing to rise to the challenge (including heeding Bush's advice).
Maybe in some way this new crisis, when it hits me and my family and friends, will give me a challenge to which I can rise and feel alive and complete.

I found your article refreshing. I'm glad I'm not alone as I writhe in disgust as we greedily hoard 25% of the world's resourses, with money we don't even have, while "giving the finger" to the rest of the world. We need to feel the full consequence of this collective lifestyle choice. It may affect the "family" negatively at first, but (to push the analogy further) the short term pain of detoxification that must be endured by the "family" as well as the one detoxifying is still worth the end result. If this tempers our lust for things ... it might leave a little bit more for the rest of the world in the long run. True, our rampant consumerism creates jobs for the rest of the world, but these jobs are useless when we eventually realize we can't pay for them.

I found your article a combination of biblical morality and incredible naivete.

First I want to commend you for seeing and realizing that the huge "elephant in the living room" sin in Western Xty is blatant materialism. It is ubiquitous (everywhere) and we grow up, swim in it, and do not realize it is there. The (true) statements in Proverbs about financial prospering and planning are divorced from the examples and commands in the NT to live simply and sacrificially. Elements of the church such as this website and "left leaning" (sorry, just don't know another way to say it) Christians are needful in this mess. Thank you.

On the other hand, I find the premise to be phenomenally short sighted..., I might even say silly, to "embrace" a catastrophic economic collapse, any more than God called the Israelites to "embrace" the murdering hordes of Babylonians as they raped, pillaged and caused horrific suffering (he did not call them to "embrace" it). Maybe I am hearing a gleeful chuckle where there is none at the thought of the coming plutocrat desolation. If so, I apologize.

Do not forget that the people who ALWAYS suffer disporportionately in severe economic fluctuations are not the wealthy (although they lose a few trinkets). It is the poor who go from depending on the generosity or stinginess of the rich to utter destitution, starvation, and death. No one in their right mind wishes the kind of economic desolation we have seen in Zimbabwe. Although the rich certainly have lost fortunes, the poor are starving to death and fleeing the country just to stay alive.

Surely you do not mean you hope millions of Mexicans go from living on 10 dollars a day to NOTHING so that we can punish drivers of SUVs in big houses?????? This is, in fact, what would happen if the USA collapses.

Please stop and think outside the USA for a minute before advocating something like this.

Nevertheless, I am with you in asking God to help me personally repent of putting my hope in money, and turning from indolence to sacrifice. Thank you again for that emphasis.

I had this same thought at first, that somehow it might be good for American culture to go through a depression, and maybe we would stop putting ourselves in a different category than other countries (in terms of feeling that we "deserve" to have more money). But then I had the thought that you could say the same thing about 9/11, that it taught us that we're not invincible or something. But that doesn't mean it didn't suck.

My point is that I think God can take a really crappy situation and make awesome things come out of it. That's how he works, right? People grow in the midst of suffering. But that doesn't mean you can pretend it's not really suffering. Like Eddie wrote, poor people are going to feel the brunt of this, as usual when it comes to financial crisis. And although I too am sorely tempted, there doesn't seem to really be much cause to celebrate. (I'm just talking here, anyone who sees a hole in this argument, please comment.)

Thank you for this. I live in Mozambique so am surrounded by the poverty you describe. Some American friends and I were just discussing this issue tonight and how a financial crisis is probably a very good thing to wake our country up.

A financial crisis in the USA seems from a certain perspective to have the upside of "waking" us from our comfort. While that is certainly a possibility remember that during our "wake up" most of the people in the poorest countries now will die. Most if not all relief efforts will disappear due to lack of funding. While one percent of our defense budget should do better things than it is doing it is the wealth of America and the generosity of its citizens who fund these relief efforts.

If we despise the blessings of our God, our wealth and ability to help, arent we in effect saying "no thanks" to our creator? As a Christian I try to live simlpy and give as much and help as often as I can. I try to encourage that in others and try to live the talk.

We are blessed to be a blessing not to feel guilty for being blessed

HallelueaH! I am too young to speak about the current affairs and worldly things going on in this Planet. However, GOD created both Good and Bad to test our human kind. However, all these things which we are seeing in our day to day life is just an Illusion created by Satan as he wants to be on top of every thing. I would say people who are suffering from Poverty, Illness and many other problems should thank GOD, as he is more close to them and just testing their patience. I am sure they might not be rich in this world, I am sure they might be living in poverty, but they should thank GOD as they have a very great and bright future in the other world (After death). If we have immense faith, trust and dedication in GOD, then we should not worry or care about Markers, Shares, Stocks, Real Estate or Money, as nothing is above our Soul or GOD. Hope I did not offended any one with my feelings and if I did hope GOD will forgive me. HallelueaH!!! One with GOD.