We are now a good clip into the 21rst century. We have come so far technologically, have expanded our knowledge exponentially so much that the 19th century looks like the Stone Age. But we have not extinguished the need to worship. We never will. We need to worship, we want to worship. it's part of who we are.
And in the 21rst century, we have chosen our god:
MONEY.
Referred to as "mammon" in the New Testament, money was almost personified as a deity. Jesus said you cannot serve both God and mammon. There is but one God, and that isn't money. But we in the West, particularly America, have syncretized our worship of both God and riches, with money being a little higher on the totem pole.
Sometimes a lot higher.
What is on everyone's mind? Money. What do we talk about most? Money. What do we complain most about? Money. What do we wish for? Money.
The stocks are reported Monday-Friday. The "economy" is in the news every day, every hour. The Economy is the driving force in the world. It's all-important! "The Economy" now has deity status, with millions of believers.
The national debt is big news, too, as is personal debt. Lotto is our modern genie. BOGO makes everybody's day. Black Friday deserves no comment. Everyone wants a deal. Why? To save some MONEY.
We fantasize about hitting it big. It's a good fantasy! And lots of money does make life easier. But as a whole, we worship at the altar of mammon. And behind every altar is a demon, and behind every demon is an idolatrous heart that gives the demon permission to act in the world.
"For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil."
So do we get rid of money? No. We relegate it to the place it should be: a tool. To be used to alleviate suffering, to give to good causes, to take care of ourselves and our neighbor. Not to fill an ache in our hearts!
The love of money destroys nations. The Roman Empire fractured because of its addiction to luxury. Wealth becomes pride. Ask Sodom. Money, pride, and perversion all go hand in hand. Ask the politicians and actors who visited Jeffery Epstein's island.
As a nation, it's time to put away false gods and worship the true God. Fake gods provide temporary benefits, but not an eternal one. On our death beds the useless idols will dry up, and what will we have left?
God or nothing?
And in the 21rst century, we have chosen our god:
MONEY.
Referred to as "mammon" in the New Testament, money was almost personified as a deity. Jesus said you cannot serve both God and mammon. There is but one God, and that isn't money. But we in the West, particularly America, have syncretized our worship of both God and riches, with money being a little higher on the totem pole.
Sometimes a lot higher.
What is on everyone's mind? Money. What do we talk about most? Money. What do we complain most about? Money. What do we wish for? Money.
The stocks are reported Monday-Friday. The "economy" is in the news every day, every hour. The Economy is the driving force in the world. It's all-important! "The Economy" now has deity status, with millions of believers.
The national debt is big news, too, as is personal debt. Lotto is our modern genie. BOGO makes everybody's day. Black Friday deserves no comment. Everyone wants a deal. Why? To save some MONEY.
We fantasize about hitting it big. It's a good fantasy! And lots of money does make life easier. But as a whole, we worship at the altar of mammon. And behind every altar is a demon, and behind every demon is an idolatrous heart that gives the demon permission to act in the world.
"For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil."
So do we get rid of money? No. We relegate it to the place it should be: a tool. To be used to alleviate suffering, to give to good causes, to take care of ourselves and our neighbor. Not to fill an ache in our hearts!
The love of money destroys nations. The Roman Empire fractured because of its addiction to luxury. Wealth becomes pride. Ask Sodom. Money, pride, and perversion all go hand in hand. Ask the politicians and actors who visited Jeffery Epstein's island.
As a nation, it's time to put away false gods and worship the true God. Fake gods provide temporary benefits, but not an eternal one. On our death beds the useless idols will dry up, and what will we have left?
God or nothing?
Great blog! Convicted me that if I spent as much time thinking about God that I do about money, I would be in a constant state of worship
ReplyDeleteWe do focus on money a lot, don't we? Do we trust God, or money?
DeleteFilthy Lucre would be a great name for a Heavy Metal band!
ReplyDelete