Is this inappropriate?

[Notthemama1984]

Japan Recovery Effort Could, Eventually, Create Economic Spark - FoxBusiness.com

Would you find this inappropriate?

I did. The idea that we get excited over a tragedy because we are going to make a bunch of money just screams wrong to me.

Thoughts?

 

[O'GodHowGreatThouArt]

World War II brought the U.S. out of the biggest depression it had ever experienced at the time.

Sixty million were killed over the 8 year span of World War II though.

It may be a reason to be optimistic, but it's not worth celebrating over. The Lord can use the bad things in life in order to guide His people into a time of prosperity with Him.

 

[Notthemama1984]

Sure the article may be true, but do we really need to write about it mere hours after hundreds maybe thousands have died?

 

[Peairtach]

Our thoughts should be on other things when such awful acts of Providence occur.

We are just like sinful worms before God's power. We need to be right with God for when He comes for us.

Luke 13:1-9.

 

[Scott1]

Westminster Larger Catechism

Question 145: What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment?

Answer: The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbors, as well as our own, especially in public judicature; giving false evidence, suborning false witnesses, wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, outfacing and overbearing the truth; passing unjust sentence, calling evil good, and good evil; rewarding the wicked according to the work of the righteous, and the righteous according to the work of the wicked; forgery, concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause, and holding our peace when iniquity calls for either a reproof from ourselves, or complaint to others; speaking the truth unseasonably, or maliciously to a wrong end, or perverting it to a wrong meaning, or in doubtful and equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of truth or justice;speaking untruth, lying, slandering, backbiting, detracting, tale bearing, whispering, scoffing, reviling, rash, harsh, and partial censuring; misconstructing intentions, words, and actions; flattering, vainglorious boasting, thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others; denying the gifts and graces of God; aggravating smaller faults;hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession;unnecessary discovering of infirmities; raising false rumors, receiving and countenancing evil reports, and stopping our ears against just defense; evil suspicion; envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any, endeavoring or desiring to impair it, rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy; scornful contempt, fond admiration; breach of lawful promises; neglecting such things as are of good report, and practicing, or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering: What we can in others, such things as procure an ill name.

Perhaps this is something of what is bothersome in the timing and context of this.

 

[AThornquist]

The world only has the things of this earth to happily anticipate, so I am not surprised that this potential economic spark would be celebrated as the foundation for having something to be glad about. I'm much more concerned about how the body of Christ will use this opportunity to proclaim Christ to hurting souls that need salvation and satisfaction that this world can by no means offer.

 

[Theoretical]

This is a classic broken window fallacy.

 

[Notthemama1984]

This is a classic broken window fallacy.

I don't understand the reference. Can you explain?

 

[Skyler]

This is a classic broken window fallacy.

I don't understand the reference. Can you explain?

I think that's where you throw a rock through a window to distract the people who are chasing you so you can escape their notice.

I might be wrong though.

---------- Post added at 04:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:55 PM ----------

Yep, I was wrong. =)

Parable of the broken window - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Theoretical]

To those who don't want to read the wiki: in a nutshell, broken window fallacy says that even though some businessmen might prove to make big gains in repairing the damage, many other businesses are harmed by the damage.

The original idea was of a little boy throwing a rock through a bunch of windows and the economy "improving" because the town's windowmaker now had to build replacement windows. The fallacy part is that folks like the author of the linked article neglect to include the critical fact that many other businesses got harmed by having to pay for repairs instead of otherwise spending their money.

And I might add this article is not merely in bad taste, but borders on gloating at the economic prospects of others' misery.

 

[Skyler]

The fallacy part is that folks like the author of the linked article neglect to include the critical fact that many other businesses got harmed by having to pay for repairs instead of otherwise spending their money.

And all the other potential recipients of the money get short-changed as well.

 

[SolaScriptura]

I haven't read the article (nor do I intend to) so I admit upfront that I don't know what it says.

That aside, here is my opinion on the subject matter:

It is indeed true that sometimes good comes out of tragedy. And when it does we should be humbly grateful to our merciful God who providentially granted the good to come to pass. But that doesn't mean that we rejoice in the tragedy itself or callously look at those lost in it as grease for the cogs of economic progress.

 

[Pergamum]

Westminster Larger Catechism

Question 145: What are the sins forbidden in the ninth commandment?

Answer: The sins forbidden in the ninth commandment are, all prejudicing the truth, and the good name of our neighbors, as well as our own, especially in public judicature; giving false evidence, suborning false witnesses, wittingly appearing and pleading for an evil cause, outfacing and overbearing the truth; passing unjust sentence, calling evil good, and good evil; rewarding the wicked according to the work of the righteous, and the righteous according to the work of the wicked; forgery, concealing the truth, undue silence in a just cause, and holding our peace when iniquity calls for either a reproof from ourselves, or complaint to others; speaking the truth unseasonably, or maliciously to a wrong end, or perverting it to a wrong meaning, or in doubtful and equivocal expressions, to the prejudice of truth or justice;speaking untruth, lying, slandering, backbiting, detracting, tale bearing, whispering, scoffing, reviling, rash, harsh, and partial censuring; misconstructing intentions, words, and actions; flattering, vainglorious boasting, thinking or speaking too highly or too meanly of ourselves or others; denying the gifts and graces of God; aggravating smaller faults;hiding, excusing, or extenuating of sins, when called to a free confession;unnecessary discovering of infirmities; raising false rumors, receiving and countenancing evil reports, and stopping our ears against just defense; evil suspicion; envying or grieving at the deserved credit of any, endeavoring or desiring to impair it, rejoicing in their disgrace and infamy; scornful contempt, fond admiration; breach of lawful promises; neglecting such things as are of good report, and practicing, or not avoiding ourselves, or not hindering: What we can in others, such things as procure an ill name.

Perhaps this is something of what is bothersome in the timing and context of this.

Thanks Scott;

speaking the truth unseasonably

I think volumes could be written about how we often sin in this way.

 

[Scott1]

We all stand convicted before the broad application of the Ten Commandments.

The Westminster Standards summarize the doctrine of Scripture on this well, so that, we are without hope except for the perfect work of Jesus Christ- His perfect, sinless life and perfect sacrifice for our sins.

May God give us all grace to see that for ourselves, and in others, to the end of the Honor and Glory of our God.

 

[Steve Curtis]

Having read the article, I didn't get that anyone was rejoicing or celebrating. These are business and economic analysts doing what they do: analyze business and economy. It is a tragic event, to be sure, but I don't know that this means that people should cease doing what they are paid to do. Granted, they shouldn't report or analyze the tragedy with glee, but again, I didn't sense that.

 

[ChariotsofFire]

I don't think it will improve the economy. Thanks Scott for posting about the broken window theory.

 

[DMcFadden]

I like the way Lou Dobbs (or was it Stuart Varney?) analyzed it on Fox yesterday. He spoke with evident sadness in his voice about the loss of life and destruction of property even as he allowed that there is a tragic "benefit" in the midst of the catastrophe. There was no gloating or sinful Schadenfreude, merely an expert rendering judgment in response to a question asked while displaying his own very human sorrow. Since he was providing expert analysis in response to a direct question, he could hardly have spoken otherwise. But, showing his humanity was much appreciated by me as I marveled (and still do) at the extent of the disaster.

 

[Kevin]

It is one of the most common misunderstandings of economics. Disasters are are not good for the economy as a moments thought will reveal. If your car breaks down & you fix it, all you have is a running car. That is exactly what you had before it broke down, only now you are out the 2 grand it took to fix it. And you are unable to invest that 2 grand in something productive.

The billions that will be spent to rebuild could have been spent on new factories or innovation. So the disaster actually causes harm to the economy.

And no, WWII did not bring us out of a depression, it slowed the recovery by decades & mis-allocated trillions of $ to destructive uses, and away from productive uses.

 

[PresbyDane]

yes no doubt inapropriat