Israeli Politics; The Ripples from the Coronavirus Increase
As I begin this morning I want to give you an update on what is happening politically in Israel. (By the way, today I should have been taking a boat cruise on the Sea of Galilee, visiting Capernaum and the Mount of Beatitudes and sharing a message at the Primacy of Peter. All that was changed because of the coronavirus. Those things will have to wait until next year.) If you will remember, Israel held national elections in early March - the third national election within the past year. Each election produced gridlock as no one party was able to secure a majority of seats within the Knesset, Israel's Parliament. There are two major parties in Israel and dozens of lesser parties. The Likud Party, that of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been in power for the past decade. The second major party is the Blue and White Party, under the leadership of former IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz. Following the March elections, neither Netanyahu nor Gantz were able to form a coalition government to govern the State of Israel. It looked as if the nation was headed for its fourth national election in just over a year's time - hardly the stability that a nation needed in the light of the coronavirus.
Over the weekend, Netanyahu and Gantz forged a deal to create what they called "an emergency government" that will be ongoing for the next three years. As part of this deal, Netanyahu will continue in the office of Prime Minister for the next 18 months, then Gantz will serve in that role for the final 18 months of the term. There will be a dividing of the national portfolios of government - in America we call them cabinet positions - among the Likud and Blue and White parties. It will be incredibly interesting to see how long this "emergency government" will be maintained. Will it last for three years? Will another crisis arise that will fracture this coalition? Will the animosity that exists between Netanyahu and Gantz be shoved into the background for three years? All of these are very interesting questions that will be answered in a nation known for its often political instability.
Now for the ongoing saga of the coronavirus. We are now seeing the ripples that have been created because of the measures taken to reduce the spread of the virus. And, let me be clear, I am supportive of those early measures to limit its spread. I was in favor of the 14 days shelter-at-home directives. But those 14 days became an additional 30 days. And, depending upon the decision of the local governors, those 30 days can become extended - to who knows how long. However, the length of those measures has now created deeper impacts upon our society. Let me just enumerate a few. First, these past few days we have seen the bottom drop out of the oil market. Who would have ever guessed that oil companies would actually pay others to take their product - oil. And why is there is glut of oil on the market right now? Well, there are two factors. First, there was a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia that dropped the price of oil. That has now been resolved with an agreement among OPEC nations to cut the production of oil for the next two to three years. But, I believe there is a greater reason for the glut of oil right now. No one is traveling because everyone has been ordered to stay at home. Airlines, one of the largest users of oil for jet fuel, have been virtually shut down. The demand for gasoline is nearing an all-time low. Refineries are closing because there is no demand. Production field workers are being laid off. This is a consequence of the prolonged emphasis on stopping the spread of the coronavirus.
Let's look at the area of food production. I read an article last week where a dairy farmer in Wisconsin was dumping 20,000 gallons of milk a day because he had no place to take it. He explained that with schools and universities closed along with restaurants, there was less demand for milk. Schools are one of the greatest buyers of milk, but with schools being shut, there was a decreased demand for milk. Then I read yesterday that a farmer in Iowa was thinking of euthanizing his hogs because there was no buyer for them. Packing houses are being closed because of the virus. I read something similar with regard to those producing eggs. Farmers are finding it difficult. Many will be forced to sell. And, if hogs and chickens are destroyed, food prices will escalate within months because of the lack of supply. This is another consequence of the prolonged emphasis on stopping the spread of the coronavirus.
Then I read the following headline in the "Minneapolis Star-Tribune" this morning: "Cities are scrambling as tax revenues shrinks." Really, seriously, how did city leaders expect anything differently? Shopping has virtually stopped. Retail has been effectively closed. With no one making purchases of clothing, shoes, furniture, and haircuts - just to name a few - the collection of sales taxes has dried up. Less sales tax means city leaders have less revenue. Less revenue means that budgets will need to be tightened. Less revenues mean that some city-services may be curtailed. Less revenue means the city leaders will come demanding the federal government to bail them out. This is another consequence of the prolonged emphasis on stopping the spread of the coronavirus.
Friends, I believe that every life is precious in God's sight - from the moment of conception to that final breath which is taken. But, to be honest with you, I am struggling with the lack of common sense these days. We shut down our nation's economy to save some from the coronavirus, yet, at the same time, we continue the daily slaughter of tens of thousands of innocent babies to abortion. Should those innocent babies receive the same concern that we have for those who might contract the coronavirus? We are seeing an explosion in cases of depression and an escalation in the number of suicides since this pandemic started. And those numbers will only continue to increase the longer the shut-down continues. People's mental health is at stake, not just their physical health. The well-being of families is at stake. It is time that our leaders begin to look at the broader picture and not just the little piece they have been looking at for the past weeks and months.
I have been asked what will the Church look like when we are allowed to gather once again. There will be a new "normal" at least for awhile. Social distancing will be something that we will have to navigate. This will force churches to re-examine space utilization. We will no longer be able to pack people into rooms. This will force churches to re-examine programming. How can a church do, let's say AWANA, in an age of social distancing? This will force churches to look at alternatives to passing the offering plate - perhaps we will revert to the Joash Chest that King Joash created for offerings for the Temple. I firmly believe that churches will re-examine and re-prioritize the need for a more dynamic small group ministry. The church scattered may become the more focal point than the church gathered. We will still want to heed those words of the writer of Hebrews that we are not to forsake the assembly of ourselves together - corporate worship is still a vital component of our Christian experience. But, we will need to look at everything else. I believe the Church can become even stronger for having gone through this time. And I believe that as we have modeled confidence and not fear before the world around us, others are beginning to interact with Truth. Praise the Lord!
Over the weekend, Netanyahu and Gantz forged a deal to create what they called "an emergency government" that will be ongoing for the next three years. As part of this deal, Netanyahu will continue in the office of Prime Minister for the next 18 months, then Gantz will serve in that role for the final 18 months of the term. There will be a dividing of the national portfolios of government - in America we call them cabinet positions - among the Likud and Blue and White parties. It will be incredibly interesting to see how long this "emergency government" will be maintained. Will it last for three years? Will another crisis arise that will fracture this coalition? Will the animosity that exists between Netanyahu and Gantz be shoved into the background for three years? All of these are very interesting questions that will be answered in a nation known for its often political instability.
Now for the ongoing saga of the coronavirus. We are now seeing the ripples that have been created because of the measures taken to reduce the spread of the virus. And, let me be clear, I am supportive of those early measures to limit its spread. I was in favor of the 14 days shelter-at-home directives. But those 14 days became an additional 30 days. And, depending upon the decision of the local governors, those 30 days can become extended - to who knows how long. However, the length of those measures has now created deeper impacts upon our society. Let me just enumerate a few. First, these past few days we have seen the bottom drop out of the oil market. Who would have ever guessed that oil companies would actually pay others to take their product - oil. And why is there is glut of oil on the market right now? Well, there are two factors. First, there was a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia that dropped the price of oil. That has now been resolved with an agreement among OPEC nations to cut the production of oil for the next two to three years. But, I believe there is a greater reason for the glut of oil right now. No one is traveling because everyone has been ordered to stay at home. Airlines, one of the largest users of oil for jet fuel, have been virtually shut down. The demand for gasoline is nearing an all-time low. Refineries are closing because there is no demand. Production field workers are being laid off. This is a consequence of the prolonged emphasis on stopping the spread of the coronavirus.
Let's look at the area of food production. I read an article last week where a dairy farmer in Wisconsin was dumping 20,000 gallons of milk a day because he had no place to take it. He explained that with schools and universities closed along with restaurants, there was less demand for milk. Schools are one of the greatest buyers of milk, but with schools being shut, there was a decreased demand for milk. Then I read yesterday that a farmer in Iowa was thinking of euthanizing his hogs because there was no buyer for them. Packing houses are being closed because of the virus. I read something similar with regard to those producing eggs. Farmers are finding it difficult. Many will be forced to sell. And, if hogs and chickens are destroyed, food prices will escalate within months because of the lack of supply. This is another consequence of the prolonged emphasis on stopping the spread of the coronavirus.
Then I read the following headline in the "Minneapolis Star-Tribune" this morning: "Cities are scrambling as tax revenues shrinks." Really, seriously, how did city leaders expect anything differently? Shopping has virtually stopped. Retail has been effectively closed. With no one making purchases of clothing, shoes, furniture, and haircuts - just to name a few - the collection of sales taxes has dried up. Less sales tax means city leaders have less revenue. Less revenue means that budgets will need to be tightened. Less revenues mean that some city-services may be curtailed. Less revenue means the city leaders will come demanding the federal government to bail them out. This is another consequence of the prolonged emphasis on stopping the spread of the coronavirus.
Friends, I believe that every life is precious in God's sight - from the moment of conception to that final breath which is taken. But, to be honest with you, I am struggling with the lack of common sense these days. We shut down our nation's economy to save some from the coronavirus, yet, at the same time, we continue the daily slaughter of tens of thousands of innocent babies to abortion. Should those innocent babies receive the same concern that we have for those who might contract the coronavirus? We are seeing an explosion in cases of depression and an escalation in the number of suicides since this pandemic started. And those numbers will only continue to increase the longer the shut-down continues. People's mental health is at stake, not just their physical health. The well-being of families is at stake. It is time that our leaders begin to look at the broader picture and not just the little piece they have been looking at for the past weeks and months.
I have been asked what will the Church look like when we are allowed to gather once again. There will be a new "normal" at least for awhile. Social distancing will be something that we will have to navigate. This will force churches to re-examine space utilization. We will no longer be able to pack people into rooms. This will force churches to re-examine programming. How can a church do, let's say AWANA, in an age of social distancing? This will force churches to look at alternatives to passing the offering plate - perhaps we will revert to the Joash Chest that King Joash created for offerings for the Temple. I firmly believe that churches will re-examine and re-prioritize the need for a more dynamic small group ministry. The church scattered may become the more focal point than the church gathered. We will still want to heed those words of the writer of Hebrews that we are not to forsake the assembly of ourselves together - corporate worship is still a vital component of our Christian experience. But, we will need to look at everything else. I believe the Church can become even stronger for having gone through this time. And I believe that as we have modeled confidence and not fear before the world around us, others are beginning to interact with Truth. Praise the Lord!
Christianity thrives under times of political oppression. It sorts the hangers-on from the fully committed. We learn to show God's love to all people. Fundamentalist doctrines become meaningless.
ReplyDeleteBut when the church and state form a coalition as in the middle ages all of the freedoms cited above will be but a distant memory. A democracy functions when all sides come together to work on a solution. A free and functioning free press is a must. Lose that and remaining rights defined in the Bill of Rights are also lost.
The coronavirus is not going away. There is no guarantee that a vaccine or a cure will ever be developed. Your freedom may be someone else’s death sentence. Do you want that blood on your hands?
You are the government, you send your representatives to Washington on your behalf. (of the people by the people for the people). Now is the time we need leaders who care about people and lead the way.