Strawberry Fields Forever

As I mentioned last Monday, I plan to blog less about politics and economics, and more about things that might be helpful. Why did I decide this? Reading a blog post by Charles Smith called "What's Real? What's Fake?" solidified it for me. 

What is real in the political sphere? Not much. There were two kinds of prophets in ancient Israel just as there are two kinds of politicians today. If you don't say what the people want, you do not get reelected, or no one pays attention to your "prophecy." It is the same in economics. If you don't say what you are supposed to say, you do not get tenure. 

Hear is what God said to Israel about such people: 

The Lord told me to write down his message for his people, so that it would be there for ever. They have turned against the Lord and can't be trusted. They have refused his teaching and have said to his messengers and prophets: Don't tell us what God has shown you and don't preach the truth. Just say what we want to hear, even if it's false. Stop telling us what God has said! We don't want to hear any more about the holy God of Israel. (Isaiah 30:8-11 CEVUK00)

It is the same mindset today. The politician who knows better, yet says what will get himself elected. The economist that thinks the answer to everything is to print more money. The preacher knows that if he says what the congregation needs, they will find someone else. It's just a job, not a calling. 

Yes, the economic numbers (the point of Smith's blog post) are not real. The political speeches you hear are not real either. They are lies. Am I telling you anything you don't already know? What happens if you live in that world of liars?  The apostle Paul, talking about those that think there is no resurrection from the dead, reminds us that “Bad company ruins good manners.” (1 Corinthians 15:30-33 MSG). Politics will ruin you. As my mentor, Ron Dart, was told by his mentor, Charles Dorothy, "If Satan can't get at you any other way, he will waste your time." That is the best you can expect from politics. Economics is not much better. Are you willing to be corrupted by these things? Are you willing to waste your time? 

In the words of John Lennon:

Let me take you down
Cause I'm going to Strawberry Fields
Nothing is real
And nothing to get hung about
Strawberry Fields forever

Living is easy with eyes closed
Misunderstanding all you see
It's getting hard to be someone
But it all works out
It doesn't matter much to me

The political/economic world you are living in is not real. Open your eyes. 

Comments

[Bill Lussenheide]

Dennis:

I read your post "backwards" and it said "Paul is Dead!" over and over!

Your Friend,
Bill Lussenheide