The G20 summit has dominated the news this week and its implications may affect all our lives in years to come. We saw the great men of the earth, those who wield power and influence, trying to address the problems which have overwhelmed the financial systems of the world and affected every country on earth. We must respect their earnestness and endeavour and pray that good may come out of their deliberations.
The Credit Crunch is the way we have learnt to describe the situation. We are told that it is all due to greed. Bankers are the chief culprits; they were over zealous in trying to make money and looked for more and more dubious ways of increasing their wealth. And, of course, they paid themselves high bonuses and pensions! Added to that was the failure of the regulatory systems to control the excesses of the market. Finally there were the tax havens which provided opportunities for dangerous financial practices. This is where all the problems started and so to solve the problem we have to put these things right and simply enable the banks to start lending again.
But surely that is an unfair analysis. What is happening in this approach is a classic example of a very serious problem affecting our society - a failure to take real responsibility. The problem always lies with someone else. The real problem is much deeper and much more dangerous. It is greed, but greed in our cultures; greed in all of us.
Greed has permeated our society and culture. The fact is that many people have huge debts. It is not just mortgages but credit card debts and unnecessary loans. Many of us have been living beyond our means. Some debts cannot be avoided - for instance students are forced to build up debts while at University and College which will affect them for years afterwards. People want what they cannot afford, so they go into debt. But for the rest a spirit of discontentment and avarice rules people’s lives. It has become so easy to go into debt. Rampant materialism dominates the thinking of people, and much of our commercial life depends on people living beyond their means. Voices that have been raised against this trend have been heavily criticised. Pastors who peach biblical prudence have found themselves being resented within their own congregations for challenging the prevailing mindset.
In explaining what had been achieved by the G20 summit Gordon Brown spoke about a “more moral system.” There is in that phrase a tacit acknowledgement of a moral failure. But when interviewed on the radio about the summit, the Chancellor of the Exchequer engaged in the most devious arguments to avoid having to acknowledge that the previous structures were immoral. In the end it was all an international problem. Of course, that is true. But what is so serious is the refusal to face the moral dimension within our own culture.
Barak Obama was asked directly whether the USA was not ultimately responsible. His reply was to quote his law professor who apparently argued that “one person must take the blame but many are responsible.” So once again we see this classic post-modern reaction - a refusal to take personal accountability seriously.
This avoidance of responsibility even happens in ordinary life. Someone does something, wrong that upsets you, and they become aware of it. They come with a strange sort of apology, “I’m sorry that you were upset by what I did.” It is regretting your reaction not their action. It is equivalent to saying, “I’m sorry you were in some way not quite adequate enough to cope with what I did.” In other words the perpetrator of the wrong becomes a victim, while the victim becomes the transgressor. Greed has had terrible consequences in our world and those who lead us have failed to say sorry and acknowledge their errors. Instead they find others to blame. They were responsible, but so are the leaders, and so are all us who have forgotten what God expects of us.
The problem which the world faces is a very ancient one - covetousness. God was very clear about that - “You shall not covet!” The Apostle Paul explains why that is so serious - “greed which is idolatry” (greed and covetousness are the same Greek word). There is the problem!
That is why the New Testament says, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.”
Money is not a cause of trouble; it is the improper affection for it. Covetousness and greed are the problems and they are problems of the human heart, not just the international financial system. The Bible is very interesting on financial affairs. It does not condemn trade or private property and personal ownership. It allows borrowing and lending, but teaches fair interest and speaks against exploitation of others. But it condemns in the strongest terms greed and covetousness.
There is then a real moral problem and a real need for a “more moral system”. But Mr Brown is wrong if he sees the solution in terms of fiscal arrangements and regulation. The problem is in the heart, and Governments, no matter how well-meaning and hard working, cannot deal with that. They and we all need to come to God in true repentance and faith.
We are accountable to God. Greed is a sin against Him and His holy Law. So the first thing we must do is to see the reality of our sin. How sad that the leaders of the world did not set an example and do that first of all. But their failure should not hinder us. We cannot shift the blame for our own greed and materialism onto others - we all stand condemned!
It is the glory of the Christian message that it offers forgiveness to those who repent and trust in Christ. He has born the punishment from God that our sins deserve - that is the meaning of the Cross. If we acknowledge our sin and ask Christ for pardon He will forgive us.
Can there be a truly “more moral system” - undoubtedly so. The blueprint lies within the pages of God’s Word. Let us apply our minds to what God has said and adjust our lives accordingly.