The G20: If I Ruled the World
So let's just say you happened to have been head honcho of the G20 for a few minutes yesterday. In those moments, when the leaders of the most powerful countries in the world were hanging on your every word, what judgements would you have pronounced? On what points of action would you have insisted?
Perhaps, like America and Britain, you'd have urged those countries whose borrowing was more cautious than their own before the crisis, to stump up more cash for economic stimulus. Or maybe, along with Germany and France, you'd have highlighted the need for more international regulations, the curbing of the big bank bonus culture and greater global surveillance of our financial organisations.
Instead, you could have been the voice of the protestor on the street, railing against the poor stewardship of our futures in terms of economy and ecology. Or you could have added your voice to those insisting more money be diverted to the International Monetary Fund in order to help those emerging market economies that simply don't have the reserves for stimulus packages.
But what would God have had to say to a gathered huddle of the world's elite?
Psalm 82 depicts such a scene, it imagines God pronouncing his verdict upon a heavenly court comprised of other 'gods': 'God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the "gods"' (v 1). By 'gods', the psalmist might mean supernatural principalities and powers, or the human rulers of the day who often referred to themselves as deities.
What is sure, though, is that the psalmist intends his human readers to understand God's sovereignty over any power, and his heart for those unable to speak up themselves:
'How long will you defend the unjust
and show partiality to the wicked?
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed' (v 2-3).
The nature of the psalm makes it clear that this is not a one-off pronouncement but an ongoing concern that will have severe consequences if the divine directives are unheeded.
Whether or not the G20 nations' trillion-dollar deal constitutes God's will for resolving the current financial crisis, we cannot yet be sure. We can, however, be certain that God's desire to defend those who cannot defend themselves remains as passionate as when the psalmist first penned these words.
Jason Gardner
Links
Oxfam is insisting that the G20 help Africa. Read why here
You can read a Tearfund report on the G20 rally, and get access to prayers for the summit here
Some American evangelicals, passionate about living according to gospel values have taken to calling themselves 'Red Letter Christians'. Find out why here
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