Read the linked blog post below.  Really.  You need to.  It is not easy to read or hear, but the Church must become aware of what we are allowing to exist.

http://talkissheep.blogspot.com/2010/07/korah-day-i-have-given-up-on-numbering.html

This unfortunately ties in to discussions I’ve had recently with several well-intentioned, serious Christian brothers and sisters who have heard “prophecies” of impending financial collapse.  First, let’s clarify what biblical prophets were (are).  Biblical prophets had a direct, shattering experience with God.  An experience that often compelled things like smearing themselves with excrement, marrying a prostitute to illustrate God’s faithfulness to an unfaithful nation, accepting the death of a wife (described by God as “the light of your eyes” when He told the prophet she would die so He could illustrate the message with more power)...  False prophets were stoned.  You had to be absolutely certain of your experience with God to speak as a prophet or you did so at risk of your life.  Biblical prophets spoke directly for God, passing on a specific message He gave them.  They were never scholars who, through their own diligence, insight, education, and research, figured out the timing and details of the future.  In fact, the future was never their primary concern at all.  Their primary concern was confronting God’s people with their unfaithfulness, and calling for repentance and a return to devotion to God as their Lord and Master.  They did not pull any punches, and were never widely accepted by God’s people - Amos referred to the wealthy women of Samaria as “cows of Bashan” (that particular breed was a show cow, overfed, useless for any practical purpose, and fat even for the bovine species).  These were not popular guys, and they did not give hollow predictions.  The future predictions were only a means to that end - a description of what would come to pass if the repentance was not forthcoming.

Did you link through to that blog post above?  Please do.  Really.

Then consider this.  Even if the “prophecies” I’m talking about are accurate, what should they motivate us to do?  Does this sound right?  We should worry.  Then we should spend our time, effort, and emotional focus on figuring out how to best invest/hide/use our wealth so that our standard of living is impacted as little as possible.  Then we should worry some more.  Then we should spend most of our prayer time seeking specifics about how to keep our standard of living where it is “if” things get bad.  Then probably some more worry.  Because, after all, it is all about us. 

In case the post I linked didn’t get the message across, things are already bad.  Things are, in fact, desperate for billions of people, many of whom have never heard the Gospel.  If our time is short, where should our focus be?  If we have only a short time before the wealth of this nation collapses, what should we do with that wealth before it disappears?  Really.  What does the bible say about how we should use our excess.  That’s the prophecy this nation needs to hear.  The only problem?  Throughout history, true prophecy is harsh, raw, and requires that the hearer turn from selfish indulgences.  No one has ever wanted to hear that, and the Church does not want to hear it now.

I apologize for the tone.  Really.  I don’t want to offend anyone, but did you read that link?  My kids grew up in that city.  This is personal to me.  I’ll kiss two kids goodnight tonight who once faced that future.  I love them dearly, and I now see the kids who suffer and die every day due to hunger.  I know them now.  And I love them.  I will fight for them, and I will call things the way I see them on their behalf.  Please read this with the understanding that I am a father to two (soon to be five) of these kids, understand my sense of urgency in that light, and forgive my passion for them if it has offended.