On Friday, Standard & Poor’s downgraded the United States government credit rating from AAA rating to AA+. This judgement sent shock-waves though both political parties with a variety of reactions, and with most choosing to blame their neighbors across the isle.
What I find most interesting is not the animistic habits of politics; rather the reaction of the Church. As far as I know, no single denomination of Christianity has taken an official stance on the debt crisis, and now the government downgrade. Nonetheless, editorials, blogs, and social media provide avenues for some say this is God’s judgement on the liberalization of America; while others attempt to pray our way out of the “crisis” (Gov. Rick Perry and the AFA prayer meeting in Houston). Both of these follow a false narrative that says God’s blessing is wrapped up in our wealth and/or reputation as a nation.
With our new rating, the US government joins Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan (among others) with the second to highest rating possible, and we would be so short sighted to forget that the S&P did not begin rating sovereign nations until 1911. I would imagine that the US government rating during the Civil War would have been much lower than AA+. While the effects of this downgrade will be widespread, and devastating to some, it will not change the mission of the Church.
Karl Barth said, “The Church is a place of fruitful and hopeful repentance.” With the downgrade the Church’s repentance may take place in a less elaborate sanctuary, or maybe it will take place in a line at the unemployment office. So what? Christ still plays in ten thousand places (to barrow a phrase from Eugene Peterson), and I suspect the Church is fulfilling its mission of fruitful and hopeful repentance in Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan. Are we to think we are more or less blessed than Argentina or Ghana with their B and B+ ratings respectfully?
Who knows, maybe our prayers have been answered; maybe the US government downgrade is a blessing from God.
What I find most interesting is not the animistic habits of politics; rather the reaction of the Church. As far as I know, no single denomination of Christianity has taken an official stance on the debt crisis, and now the government downgrade. Nonetheless, editorials, blogs, and social media provide avenues for some say this is God’s judgement on the liberalization of America; while others attempt to pray our way out of the “crisis” (Gov. Rick Perry and the AFA prayer meeting in Houston). Both of these follow a false narrative that says God’s blessing is wrapped up in our wealth and/or reputation as a nation.
With our new rating, the US government joins Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan (among others) with the second to highest rating possible, and we would be so short sighted to forget that the S&P did not begin rating sovereign nations until 1911. I would imagine that the US government rating during the Civil War would have been much lower than AA+. While the effects of this downgrade will be widespread, and devastating to some, it will not change the mission of the Church.
Karl Barth said, “The Church is a place of fruitful and hopeful repentance.” With the downgrade the Church’s repentance may take place in a less elaborate sanctuary, or maybe it will take place in a line at the unemployment office. So what? Christ still plays in ten thousand places (to barrow a phrase from Eugene Peterson), and I suspect the Church is fulfilling its mission of fruitful and hopeful repentance in Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan. Are we to think we are more or less blessed than Argentina or Ghana with their B and B+ ratings respectfully?
Who knows, maybe our prayers have been answered; maybe the US government downgrade is a blessing from God.
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