The Dow is falling! The Dow is falling!

Like Chicken Licken come to life, we have heard the confusion this week as talking heads on TV and radio proclaim, “The Dow is falling! The Dow is falling!” In the folktale, an acorn falls on the head of a chicken who becomes convinced this is the beginning of the end.

In the classic version of this folktale, the sly fox profits from the chicken’s mistaken fears of disaster by eating many of the frightened animals. I hope that cooler heads prevail in the current crisis, which does seem to be more panic driven than one would hope.

            Wall Street is in an uproar created by the economic meltdown surrounding mortgage backed securities, as so many of those securities were backed with risky loans. This is no longer just a problem for the people who bought a home through a sub-prime loan. It is a major financial readjustment whose ripples are being felt in Camden County from builders, banks and real estate agents to retirees wondering how far their funds will go.

            The news of the collapse of financial giants like Bear Sterns and Lehman Brothers sent out initial shock waves. Next came the problems at industry mainstays Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. And when Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson took up the cry of Chicken Licken, the Dow trembled and then House failed to pass a bailout plan earlier this week and the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell hard, losing 777.68 points for its largest single day drop.

            You’ve indulged a pastor this far by reading a religion column that seems to be a financial report. I need to warn you that while I have an opinion on this issue, I am neither qualified to give nor do I care to offer opinions political or economical. But I am trained to give and have read and prayed about an opinion theological on the current financial crisis.

            You see theology is not reserved for seminary professors or trained specialists. In fact, nearly every aspect of how we live our lives says something about our theology, our beliefs about God. Reactions to the mayhem on Wall Street are no exception, and are a prime example of how our thoughts and actions speak to our beliefs about God.

            The Psalmist wrote, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7) referring to the major weapons of war of their time. We find today that some put their faith in military might, but many others trust in the economy.

This is not to ask if military might is needed, of course it is. Nor is it to say financial systems are evil. The point is asking, “Where do I put my trust?” In what do you place your hope for the future? Do you trust in the stock market? Or your job? Or even your marriage or children or friends? We are to put our faith in God.

I don't know how to solve the national and international problems of the economy. But, I do know how to govern the economy of my household following Jesus' teachings. Placing God first, and giving of my first fruits to Him, meaning my wife and I give when the money comes in, not when we see what is left. We give ten percent of our gross income to our church. I find this supported by scripture.

Then, we live simply enough on what remains, so as to not be living beyond our means. We have yet to find our bank accounts running over, but we also have yet to find them empty. We trust God with our financial future as with our whole lives and we find that God is faithful.

I don’t have the plan to save the financial markets. If I was in charge of things, I might accidentally let the fox in the chicken house before I sorted out the best course of action. Those problems are for the political and economic experts to hash out. But I work from the theological conviction that there is a God and God loves me. God has asked me to trust my whole life to Him. There is no better way to do this than in the area of finance.

I don’t tithe for the sake of my church or any other place. I don’t even tithe so that God will bless me and my family financially. I give money in thanks to God for all that God has done for me. I don’t give based on the needs of the church budget, but based on the finances entrusted to me. I give in response to the love God has shown me. That is good theology. And in doing so, I show that I trust in God.

Stock prices will fall as well as rise, sometimes with devastating results. We may need to tighten our belts or change our expectations. But we do not need to fear. The markets give and the markets take away, but my essential hope is not set on the stock prices. My hope is set on God and so the security of my future never wavers.

As I said in this past Sunday’s sermon, the new economic crisis creates fresh problems even here in Camden County. I can tell you from our experience at King of Peace and in talking to other pastors; the problem is large and growing. The economic crisis is showing up on our church doorsteps.

I don’t know what all we can do to help. I do know that there will always be limits to the financial assistance any church can offer. But there are no limits to the love, the care and the encouragement we can show. As Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, we should look not only to our own needs, but also to the needs of others.

What we can do constructively is to listen to those in crisis. We can help in the small ways we are able. We can make sure that people do not have to walk this road alone. While the stock market fluctuations are temporary, the love we show is of eternal significance.

            (The Rev. Frank Logue is pastor of King of Peace Episcopal Church in Kingsland.)