Teddy James

AFA Journal staff writer

December 2012 – In poll after poll, the number one issue Americans say they understand least is the economy. Most have a hard enough time balancing their family budgets. When they try to wrap their heads around the federal economy – with its multi-trillion dollar debt, tax burdens for the middle class and loopholes for anyone who speaks proficient taxalese – it becomes an exercise in futility, and they get fed up.

That sad state of affairs motivated financial counselor Dan Celia to produce Fed Up, a new 35-minute DVD from American Family Studios. 

A moral dilemma
Celia said, “We created this project to give people a greater understanding of why we are where we are, which is not a good place; how we got where we are, which was not overnight; and how to fix the problems.”

Celia interviewed some of the brightest and most knowledgeable minds in economics and theology, two disciplines that would seem completely unrelated. He said, “If we only had economists, viewers could believe that the economy is a stand-alone issue. But that’s an erroneous view.

“As we look at every empire that has ever existed and collapsed, there is a turning point in their cultures before they explode. That turning point is when the culture decides to turn its back on God, thus losing the fear of the Lord. This loss ultimately leads to the fall of the economy. 

“Then the military strength crumbles, and nations simply cease to exist. We cannot separate our nation’s fear of God from our economic struggles. The loss of the first will inevitably lead to the destruction of the second.”

Celia interviewed Dr. Michael Youssef, pastor of Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, and Dr. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas. They explained the connection between a nation’s morality and economic strength.

A government failure
From the economic side, Celia interviewed Ben Stein, John A. Allison, Steve Forbes and others. Almost every expert agreed that a large problem in the American economy is the federal government.

“Anytime a government undermines a currency, it has a moral impact,” Forbes said. “It severs the link between effort and reward. It has disastrous consequences.”

Allison said, “One of the problems we have is a failure of leadership in business and in government. People got too enamored with regulation and with what’s legal versus what’s ethical, and I think that is very destructive for our economy.”

A private fix
“There is a chance of fixing the economy,” Celia said, “but it is in the hands of the voters. We have to have the will to do it. 

“The truth is, most American people know very little about the economy. Politicians and pundits know this and take full advantage of it. They have distorted facts and flat out lied, knowing they will never be challenged on what they say because people don’t even know enough about the economy to know what questions need to be asked. And that’s not an insult to the public; that is a failure of our culture at large.”

Celia said we can blame Wall Street, the free market or anything else, but it always comes back to failed government policy. He concluded, “It is now time for the American people to learn what questions to ask, who to ask them to, and what to do with the answers.”  

Financial Issues with host Dan Celia is heard daily on American Family Radio. He covers money issues from a Christian worldview and discusses how they affect the U.S. economy. He also fields calls from listeners and gives insight on retirement, financial planning and investing. 

Fed Up is available at or 877-927-4917.