Mark Beeson is Worked Up
Mark Beeson is pretty worked up about the direction of our country. Most recently he wrote about the direction our natinoal leaders are taking us toward imposing government regulation over private companies. Mark says…
Think about regulation before you ask for it. Consider carefully the laws you enact.
You may get more than you bargain for….
Suppose you legislate against high risk/high reward endeavors.
What then?
The brilliant researcher is asked to, “Join our firm. Cancer is destroying thousands of lives and we’re investing everything to find the cure. We need your genius leveraged against this great need. Of course, if we fail – after you’ve invested a decade of your life in our cause – you’ll receive minimal compensation for your effort.”
The courageous physician is asked to, “Come quickly! This patient coded and you are the one we’re counting on to save her life. We need your skill. None of us can do what you can do. Please help us save her! Of course, you should bear in mind that if she dies, you’ll have your salary capped, we’ll publically blame you for the loss and the ensuing lawsuits will take everything you own.”
The remarkable business leader is asked to, “Fix this mess. The company has negotiated some bad deals. Toxic assets are killing us. Not many people could fix this problem; truth is, not many people even understand this problem. Few would even attempt what we’re asking you do to. Of course, you’d do well to remember that if you fail to rescue this industry, fail to deliver seventy-hour-work-weeks for the handsome compensation of $1 per year or fail to make everyone happy, you’ll have your name drug through the mud, your address publicized, your children exposed to angry protestors and your assets taxed into oblivion.”
Do we really want to reduce the reward for risk?
Do we really want to incentivize safety-first, low-level, risk-averse living?
Do we really want to give high-capacity people little reason to produce more and lots of reasons to produce less?
Better pay attention friends. That’s what’s on the table… and it’s about to be served.
Proverbs 28:2 – When a nation sins, it will have one ruler after another. But a nation will be strong and endure when it has intelligent, sensible leaders.
Do you agree with Mark?
Posted by Tim Stevens | 15 comments
jweaks
“Do you agree with Mark?”
Absolutely!
Ron S.
Yes, I agree. I think his quote that got posted a few days ago is real gem too. Short and to the point.
Beeson: “If you elect flaming, depraved sin-balls to government, then you’re going to get some weird decisions.”
mark
The pastor is asked to “Fill our church. Make it more relevant and less boring. Give me practical things I can apply to my day to day life. Make the services more appealing to young people. Not many peole could fix this problem, truth is not many are creative and captivating enough to even attempt it. Of course, you’d do well to remember that if after 20 years of giving people what they want and almost than half of them are completely ignorant of basic Christian doctrine like salvation by grace alone you may get some disapproval for doing a series on how to have a better sex life. ”
Do we really want to risk peoples souls to fill seats?
Do we really want to try to get people to be morally good without giving them the Gospel?
Do we really think God’s word is so trite that we substitute it for the latest fad?
Better pay attention friends. That’s what’s on the table..and it’s already been served.
AJ Thomas
I think with universal health care you would find the second scenario he describes as less likely. In fact doesn’t that describe the way things are now?
Tim Stevens
Wow, and I thought the post was about government regulation.
Stephen Bateman
Beeson is right, I think there is genuine need for serious concern right now. But I also think that the pain we’ll all be feeling in 15 (or 5!) years will set up for some real Spiritual renewal.
Steve Miller
Nice sarcasm – minimal facts. Ah well – blogs are great places to share opinion. You might consider a career with a network news agency.
Terry Ingle
Hey Mark, you may want to check out my blog comparing modern-day Pharisees (you) to liberal politicians. Read it and weep buddy.
http://terry-stuffithinkabout.blogspot.com/2009/03/on-pharisees-and-politicians.html
Bill
I agree with Mark wholeheartedly, but there seems to be such strong public support for the direction our government is taking us. Frankly I am at a loss as how to respond constructively and effectively. Lead us Tim…smartly.
paul
Beeson’s gonna get audited.
Johnny Carr
Replying to marks entry from above. About what’s on the table
I’m with Pastor Beeson 110 percent. He’s a good man. Who has many good people supporting him and backing him up. What’s on the table as far as I see is some people are wise about being smart and some people are stupid about being smart. Pastor Beeson is wise about being smart. He gives God full credit for the gifts he has and he doesn’t boast and brag and insult and critisize, degrade, and shame. He speaks the truth. The truth out of love. You can go to any church any where and find problems. Infact that has been the problem That’s why non church people don’t go to church. Now I’m hearing 46 percent don’t know their save by grace. Yeah, okay, sure I understand… but what about hope. What about the hope if that 46 percent keep coming back that someday they’ll get it. And if they don’t come back there is no hope. The hope is gone. Chances are they are not going to go to another church. After my divorce and years and years of abuse. I pretty much had gave up on everything. I didn’t believe in anything. I had lost all hope. But then God sat me down in the congregation at G.C.C. and gave me my hope back! And the hope that I have now is for you mark. I hope someday you get it. That God is love. The only way you’ll ever bring someone to Jesus is to love them to Jesus…. God I love critical christians.
Jason
I’m with ya Johnny!!
John Meunier
Too late for me to expect a reply, but I was stunned by this post and his more recent jumping on the tea bag bandwagon.
I’m not sure what the extolling of “high capacity” people has to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m pretty sure there were a lot of low capacity losers hanging around with Jesus and the apostles.
Even more to the point, though, I don’t get why politics like this (or the liberal kind from other pastors) is – to reference a previous comment – loving people to Christ.
If I’m a tried and true blue Democrat, Beeson’s posts say I am not his kind of Christian. Apparently, if I’m in favor of the FDA or bank regulation, I’m against the kind of life that GCC is all about.
Maybe that is the message you want to send. It strikes me as odd, though.
Tim Stevens
John — You misread his post and his heart. I would guess 50% of our congregation is “tried and true blue Democrat.” They feel very loved and included.
There is a misunderstanding in our culture that pastors can’t have opinions, can’t have hobbies, can’t have interests outside of their theological teaching. Mark is sharing some of his own ideas on his personal blog. Many of the people of GCC appreciate his thoughts. I’d challenge you to find a time, though, when he’s used the pulpit for the same.
Oh, and regarding high capacity people, Jesus was very interested in them. No more than the poor and downtrodden…but also no less.
John Meunier
Tim,
Thank you for the response. Like I said, I did not anticipate one being so late to the party.
We’re clearly going to disagree on some things here.
From my outsider’s perspective, that blog does not look or present itself as just some guy’s personal thoughts. It is the blog of the senior pastor of GCC. It tells me that right at the top. The church web page links to it as a way to “keep up with” pastor Mark. So, I expect it is read as the words and thoughts of the senior pastor.
Sure, no one is going to get uncomfortable when he shares hunting stories and family photos, but do you really believe political opinions are the same sort of thing?
If we were still in the old-fashioned church newsletter days, would such an opinion run under the senior pastor’s column there?
And, I’d like to offer a bit of push back on the notion that some people value his opinions. I’m sure some do. Indeed, given the demographics of Granger, Indiana, I’m sure a lot of folks do. But is that the point?
You and Rev. Besson are part of a large, vital, and active ministry. I’m sure my thoughts about his blog are not likely to dent your sense of propriety about such things. But you asked for responses to his post, and I gave you mine.
Thank you for taking time to reply.
Grace and peace.