When “The Great Recession” began in December of 2007, the stock market lost huge amounts of equity and value. The Bush administration made efforts to keep businesses and banks afloat. The word “bailout” became a catch word in our cultural vernacular. Later, the Obama administration put forward more plans and policies to try to improve the economy. Political pundits and financial consultants keep talking about the “cost” of all of these governmental plans and programs. Numerical amounts of millions, billions, and trillions were used to put a price tag on these programs. Terms like “deficit”, “gross national product”, “credit”, and “macro economics” flooded TV and radio.
Before and during this Great Recession, we saw gas prices shoot to unthinkable levels: $3.50, $4.00, and $4.50 per gallon. Prices for milk, food, and even toilet paper increased. Retailers raised prices to keep up with rising manufacturing costs. It seemed that everything was costing more and more money. People were lost (and still are losing) their homes. Now, there is talk of the cost of government offering access to affordable health care. Cost, cost, cost! Everything is about the price or value of something.
If there is a cost or price to everything, is there a price to pay to be a Christian? Continue Reading…
