I doubt many Americans are unaware of the New Testament story where Jesus tells a rich man that it would be easier to pass a camel through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven. He then went on to warn that a man cannot serve two masters. That he would either love one and despise the other, or vice versa. So how is it that in a country that claims to be founded on Christian principles, the ability to accumulate wealth has become the highest measure of a person's worth?
Another question that comes to mind is how in the world did one political party emerge as the champion of both? And that's the Republican Party. With a straight face Republicans will advocate monetary ambition and Christian values as if they were one in the same. There's even a school of thought prevalent in many of today's more affluent Christian Churches that the wealthy are wealthy because God favors them. Well I'm sorry folks but that just doesn't square with the book upon which Christianity is based. I even once saw a so-called Christian TV preacher selling God like he was a Wall Street investment. He actually said that if a person would send him one thousand dollars, God would reward them (with cash) 10 fold. He even guaranteed they would receive their reward within 90 days. What I always find to be tell tale about these guys is that when they pray, they slam their eyes shut with their brows furrowed like a toddler that just got soap in their eyes. I guess they want us to know how intense they are.
The problem is that the accumulation and hording of wealth is rarely compatible with Christian values. Christian values that are supposed to include things like love and compassion for your fellow man. Values received from the one called the son of God, Jesus Christ. Who said what you do to the least of you, you do to me. Who said the only true religion was caring for the poor and infirmed. I'm paraphrasing, but I'm sure you get the point.
Right now I want to point out that Jesus did say it's very difficult for a rich man to get into Heaven, but he didn't say it was impossible. I think what he was saying to us was that seeking financial security and a better life is not a bad thing. But like all human desires, it's easy to go too far.
It's one thing to desire a nice house to live in. A new car every few years. The financial ability to pursue your interests and engage in a little recreation. But I have to seriously wonder about folks who think they have to live in a 20 or 50 room mansion. Or need to own multiple houses, not for rental income, but for their exclusive use that sit empty 95% of the time. How can a person call them selves a Christian when they do things like spend obscene amounts of money on things like art collections or antique car collections that remain locked up, unavailable to anyone except a few select friends and the occasional visit by the media. And this in the face of human suffering that boggles the mind.
I hear a lot about the decline of America due to moral decay. They cite things like sex and violence in the media and the acceptance of non-Christian life styles as the cause of this decline. I think if our country is in decline, it's more likely due to our self indulgent obsession with wealth while ignoring the suffering of our fellow human beings that will bring our downfall.
I found this graphic and thought it was the perfect example of how bizarre the combining of Christianity with the symbols of wealth is. Do the wealthy think if they can put their brand on faith, they'll be saved?
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Devin Barber, Politics Correspondent
Devin's column, "Left Of The Right" published weekly or more to Gather Essentials: Politics is a Blue Collar Democrats take on current political news.
Devin was raised by proud Roosevelt Democrats. Being the son of parents counted among the throng of Americans displaced by the Great Depression has given Devin a deep rooted passion for causes dealing with the poor and the working class.
You can find all of Devin's columns at http://gather.com/leftoftheright
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Comments: 56
The Bible is right, you know. The nature of the money we use is evil. It is actually the source, the root cause, and the means by which great evil is done. So it is obvious that we need to change the nature of our money to something which is good, which cannot motivate bad behavior, which leads people to be good to each other, a money that is a root of good.
I know you have never heard of a money which motivates only good behavior, which cannot be used to do evil. But such a money is possible. Read the novel Invisible Hand to see how we could change the nature of our money to make it good.
This novel shows how to eliminate poverty, inflation, taxes, government controls, organized crime, war, most polution, almost all discrimination, and those annoying political ads. This book is the most important book ever written IF YOU READ IT. If you ignore it then the pearl is trod underfoot.
With a better money the best people would have the most money. Greedy people would do good things to satisfy their greed.
If you could provide an analytical report on the mechanics of the economic system described in your book, I would be glad to read it.
I know the answer! They brainwashed good little Christian soldiers.
The Bible also tells us, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38
All politicians today have a hard time understanding what happens in the average American home. Across the board, the average politician is worth $2.7 million. They get superb medical care. They have huge salaries...and if it's not enough, they can raise their own pay.
Personally, I don't know a lot of people who are obsessed with wealth. Most folks with whom I socialize are happy with what they have, do not buy "things" just to buy them, drive older cars, still live in their "starter homes" - but are comfortable, attend church, and give to the church and charities.
I know there are folks who think they have to acquire things. I've seen them standing in line at Target and Walmart to be the first to buy some stupid video game system. Or buying a HUGE screen TV only to discover that if it needs repair it costs too much. I've seen the ads in the paper of people trying to sell those "toys" they had to have. On credit. I've heard about the college kids coming out and thinking they have to have everything their parents have - NOW - without "paying their dues." But these folks are not in my social circle.
If people would remember that everything we have came from God and belongs to God, perhaps they would be better stewards.
It's a very dangerous thing to threaten the status of the wealthy.
You have a good point there. Since the wealthy control the public discourse trying to draw the distinction between the criminal abuse and misuse of wealth, and the constructive investment and productive use of wealth is the stumbling block in the way of reforming our country.
Rich people should not have to fear American government or citizens, but they also should not through inaction be rewarded by those among them who prosper by repressing American citizens and attacking or disrespecting their inalienable rights.
Giving away one's income is not indicative of the depth of one's faith, or the level of one's Christianity. Sometimes, giving what might appear to be 25% of one's income on paper is really just a tax break in disguise.
Giving - in general - is a way of life that should be practiced on a continuous basis.
I don't think wanting a video game or a big screen TV is too much to ask for a lifetime of labor. It's excessive wealth I'm talking about. Chris Rock had a good way of putting it when he was talking about wealthy as opposed to rich. He said Shaque O'Neil is rich, the guy who signs Shaque's pay check is wealthy. Rich is something you could lose in one summer with a drug habbit.
Wilma makes another great point with: "I know some very rich people and they tend to think that hiring people is a form of charity--as if they're not getting as much or more than they're giving." I think providing a job helps more in the long run than handing over a sum of money, but agree that it breaks even for the person offering the job.
I realize my views are extreme, even irrational to many, but I don't think it is about how many dollars or possessions we have as much as it is about how much of what we keep for ourselves is necessary and how much of what we have is given. In my opinion, the poor person who gives his/her last dollar to a hungry person on the street is doing much more than the person who has a vacation home, an extra car, eats out every night, and signs a big check in an amount he/she won't miss and asks for a receipt for taxes.
Thanks Sandy...
The majority support the minority, not vice versa. It is your responsibility if you fall in the wealthy few to ensure the rest of society's survival, otherwise you are liable for the decay or collapse which occurs.
i.e. public education, welfare, poverty, civil rights, etc.
Not hard to understand the correlation.
Why is it okay to tithe to churches, donate money and time for religious social services and allow religious organizations to use government money to educate our children but....
the government is constantly criticized by those same religious conservatives in a particular political party for establishing and maintaining social services such as
Welfare
Medicaid
Medicare
Unemployment
VA benefits
Drug counseling
etc.
?????
Most of us give to charities because it makes us feel good, or because of the tax break, or because some religious type said we had to. But we'd rather donate to a food bank than treat a person to a meal. By and large, we give to organizations, not to people; we'd rather not have to look in the faces of the individuals we're "helping". We also like the fact that, with charity, we can stop giving whenever we want. This wouldn't be the case if the same funds were taken via the government, aka taxes.
I'm still absolutely amazed by the reluctance of the affluent to reconcile themselves to the idea that those in need are in need regardless of their religion, status, or life history. We're all way too into the "blame the victim" mindset, thinking "that person has that problem because of [insert dysfunction here]." The same execs who just signed 1000 pink slips will later look at the increased Welfare rolls and think "Why don't the lazy so-and-sos get jobs?"
The other reason why conservatives want faith-based solutions to these kinds of problems is that faith-based solutions absolve the wealthy of both responsibility for solving the problems you list and accountability for their role in causing them. They emerge scot-free, having given only the amount they can "take off" their taxes, or their tithe, whichever is less. For a lot of affluent people, they are on the governing boards of their church and figure that's enough of a gift - no money or just enough to "set an example" will do them just fine!
Of all the people who qualify for housing assistance, only about 25% actually receive it. There are American children who go to bed hungry on a regular basis. Why don't those facts sicken us? Why don't we make it a priority to solve this? "Because the wealthy might have to pay a few dollars more in taxes" isn't a good enough answer for me. Why is it good enough for them?
1. Why do you believe in a book that was written by ''man'' about things that supposedly happened long after this ''Jesus'' died. Isn't ''man'' flawed. Wasn't the Council of Nicaea just a bunch of ''men''.
2. Why does ''man'' want things that they don't even use, while ''man'' in their employ, need things that they can't even get.
4. Who determines the value of a worker, the worker, or the employer. And who ''should'' determine that value?
5. Didn't many ''men'' before Jesus make the same claims of virgin birth in Dec., followed by 12 ''men'', died and resurrected. What about Horus, Attis, Krishna, Dionysus, Mithra, and the many others that made the same claims before and after Jesus. What makes Jesus different. Could it be ''marketing''.
You all have put your ''faith'' in a book, that in it's design, it's purpose is to repress ''man'' and keep them in line. And to address Jeannie's question about children going to bed hungry, not sicken us, those of us (me) with a conscience, it does. Which brings me to my next point.
People in America bash Islam, but to the best of my knowledge, interest on money has been illegal in the Islamic world throughout history. It has been, until bu$h established the Central Bank of Iraq, and the Central Bank of Afghanistan in the model of the Federal Reserve. This is the main contributor to poverty, interest. Most people believe that the insurgency in Iraq started because of dissatisfaction in the US invasion. It actually began because of Americas insistence in these banks and opening up the sale of state owned businesses to foreign entities. Hey if we're going to talk religion and money, lets tell it all.
Here's one of my favorite quotes, that I have used many times here on Gather.
“Banking was conceived in iniquity and was born in sin. The bankers own the earth. Take it away from them, but leave them the power to create money, and with the flick of the pen they will create enough deposits to buy it back again. However, take it away from them, and all the great fortunes like mine will disappear and they ought to disappear, for this would be a happier and better world to live in. But, if you wish to remain the slaves of bankers and pay the cost of your own slavery, let them continue to create money.”
Sir Josiah Stamp
You see, it's not just ''Christians'' that are greedy and hoard money. It's not as much about money, as it is about economic slavery and power. The New World Order is real and thriving. Now I have to go and put on my tin foil hat.
Why is it that the most heavily taxed countries on earth, have the happiest people with cradle to grave health care?
Havin' a lot of money in
Your moneybag is
Proof positive that you are far from bein' an
Odious person and that in fact you are a great
Chrtistian who will shine on your day of
Reckoning. And you would never never be
Inclined to profess beliefs and virtues that are
So not your own, although what the hell does it matter if
You're a lyin' sonofabitch.
How and someone who has to rely on Social Security for their retirement believe in the Republican party? I exist on it and I draw more than some of my friends do and I have to go to the food bank for help and the local church that was giving out food boxes has had to stop because who ever was giving them the food stopped. I watch every penny I spend and yet it doesn't go far enough...
Rich? I would settle for being able to work again to earn enough to live half way what most do...
Just because they call themselves Christians does not make them so, their actions speak louder than their words do!
:O\
Devin, so is it your job to make the rich, "poor"?
Who made you God?
"thou shalt not covet thy neighbors goods.........."
Got something against the other religions? What happens to their rich?
Should everybody make only $40,000(or whatever you don't think as rich) a year? And if they don't, should the government take way any amount over that?
Should people with talents that society wants to reward(Chris Rock, Shaq Oneal, Babs Streisand) or work hard enough to get rich (John Edwards) be taken down to the income level of the "Working man" because they are evil? Is it the government's responsiblity to do so? How about the "rich" who just are rich because their family was rich?(John Kerry, Ted Kennedy)
And why do you hate so many folks
You are missing the point. Please refer back to my comment.
Jesus told the rich man to give his money to the poor and follow him. By your logic I guess we must assume Jesus "hated" that rich man. Your assumption that my writing is motivated by envy or hatred for rich people is completely wrong. I write out of desire for justice. I personally do just fine financially, it's for those who are not doing fine that I write and advocate.
I think your assumption that my writings about justice for the poor must mean that I too am poor reveals where your mind set is.
Regarding the "I give to charity" cop out . Ask a Democrat to talk about charity and you'll hear about how it is a good thing to help the disadvantaged and infirmed. Ask a Republican and you'll hear a testimonial about how often and how much "they" give to charity.
Couldn't have said it better myself. But the point of my article Winston is how does a wealthy person who claims to be a Christian justify hording so much wealth for them selves in the face of so much human suffering? My article was not about taxes.
If said "popular" person gained all of those friends by making the lonely person out to be a loser and a nerd, then that would be "Unchristian" wouldn't you say. And if he is a good Christian, he would at least make an effort to reach out to the less popular and offer friendship.
Is it fair that my neighbor should have such a large backyard while so many are stuck living in an apartment.
If the neighbor used some eminent domain clause to build level a neighborhood in order to build a big shopping center and housing project for the rich it would indeed be unfair.
And lets not forget my cousin who has nothing but time on his hands. Please let us find a way to force these people with all this free time to do some of my many chores - from shopping to fixing my leaky faucet.
If said cousin is living in your house and not working, then he should get off his butt and do chores.
Again, it isn't the wealth itself that is the issue. It is how you behave once you have it. It's easy for a millionaire to dismiss the housing crisis by saying everyone should just get a second job. But when said millionaire is outsourcing all the jobs to third world countries its hard to take his advice, wouldn't you say?
It simply isnt fair!
Thanks Sandy...
Our judicial system is equally unbalanced. The level of a crime is based on a dollar amount. If you rob a man of his last dollar, it is a lesser crime than a more valuable item from a man who would either not miss it or could easily replace it.
Having known a couple of rich people I don't think being rich means a straight shot to hell. Your lifestyle and use of your wealth may have something to do with it but aside from envy (a deadly sin if I remember correctly) what is the reason most of you hate them so much?
I would be happy to start with a few simple things, like not offering tax incentives for having big families. Why should the people who use the most resources pay less in taxes? And removing the tax exempt status from churches, which are really big businesses.
Perhaps to make justifications, "Others have more, I do what I've been told to do, it isn't fair..."
Social engineering by taxation is essential in a world of sad young men (and women) whose justifications and value systems are influenced by a commercial society. None of us are exempt (except the few who have left everything to follow Him) - we just have to reflect on what is a justification - the difference between real 'needs and wants' - because of this limitation - once our needs are met we should try to met the needs of others.