"they tell me the preacher's there for me
he's a crook, with a book
that muthafucka never cared for me
he's only here to be sure
I dont drop a dime to God
'bout the crimes he's committing on the poor." (2pac)
A far departure from the vow of poverty that has been a historical part of Catholic monastical living... in the 20th century, a new American "theology" emerged... surrounding a new perception of the way God wants you to live your life. No longer are people giving up their worldly possessions like the monks and nuns, people are being taught to seek them. And if you do not have them, it is because you do not have the strength of faith like others who truly believe on God and are thus rewarded for their trust in Him.
The above quote is merely an example of the growing perception of the church, based on this new focus on material wealth. Its not to say that foresaking all worldly material is a practical way for most people to live... I certainly dont believe so, however, this is merely to poing out a strong shift from those who didn't want to be distracted by material, and those who now focus their teachings on obtaining it. Some who teach these things cling to the branch that "money is just part of it" as if to say... they teach about the power of faith in many things, and financial/material blessing is one small part of it. I, personally, find this to be dishonest, disengenous and self-serving. "Oh, okay... apparently, you only talk about money when I HAPPEN to catch you speaking." No matter how often its taught (more than they let on) should it be taught at all? Is it biblical? Is it even moral?
The strangest part of this thinking... it completely (probably blatantly) overlooks the socio-economic situation of the writers of the bible. The New Testament Jews were not a free people. They were under the occupation of the Roman empire. Part of the way the Romans expanded and financed their empire was by heavily taxing those who became apart of it. The reason the Publicans were hated, they were Jews working with the Roman's taxing their people. Public tax... publican... get it? I've heard no biblical scholar, or anthropologist or historian who has claimed that the first century Jews were in the middle of some economic "golden" age. People need to stop trying to make verses say what they want them to say, but take them... now this will be a strange concept to many... IN THE CONTEXT of which they were originally written. No biblical scholar takes a preacher serious who says: the New Testament writers who mentioned "blessings" to his first century audience attended them to believe that great financial gain would overtake them if they would have more faith, or that ANY group of first century readers misinterpreted it as such. Now, undoubtedly, there is always some bozo who will mention King Solomon and his wealth. Let me knock this out really quick... HE WAS KING, MORON.
Now, compare Americans (of all social classes) to most of the world's population of today. Another example of Americans who buy into this garbage not taking our "me, me, me" goggles off. Even lower class Americans' average yearly income is greater than 2/3's of the world's population. And God is telling us we need to have more? Wealth is based on inequality: you have so much because others have so little, and its God telling you to go get more? The saddest irony is that the people who are being fed this theology are ALREADY so blessed, compared to people in first century Jerusalem and people in 21st centuary... well, 21st century darn near everywhere! Too many Americans... who watch celebrities and other aristocrats, covet other people's wealth and consider themselves to be have-nots, when... from a global perspective, they have so much already. People die from starvation everyday in 3rd world countries... and you're praying to God that you can replace your Camry with a BMW?
And what of the preacher as one who can tell me how to gain wealth? This is humorous at best, since the preacher operates OUTSIDE the normal job sector of his parishoners. Preaching isn't a job, its a service. There are many preachers in small churches who still work regular jobs (because they have to), but many preachers today are supported by a salary (and blessings) from the church. People are going to men and women, who have never been rich outside the realm of church... giving the preacher more money... thus making them richer... because they believe these shmos will tell them how they too can be blessed. You see the lack of logic here? He gets money only because you give it to him. But, you have a salaried job, your income doesn't operate like that. The preacher's "job" if you want to call it that, gives him opportunities to get money based on promises. The real world doesn't operate like that. He's selling a dream, so you buy in (literally!) and you percieve him to be blessed. But you, who operate in the real world, dont have the ability to faith your salary to double. So you keep believing and giving. And the preacher gets fatter and fatter in wealth. Now, if there is any change in that church, the only change will be, poorer people leave the church in disgust of their inability to gain wealth, and those with money, decide to go to the church, because they like what they're hearing. That will give the "PERCEPTION" that the church is now blessed, when the demographics change.
Finally, and perhaps the SCARIEST question: how can the "man of God" sleep so well in his big mansion while people are homeless? How can you be the servant of God in your big warm compound, while people are on streets? And he or she's teaching people of morale fortitude? Preaching isn't a job. He didn't earn that money. A minister means one who serves. He serves the people. This concept of "full-time" upper class ministers is foreign to the bible. People in the bible had regular jobs. Jesus was a carpenter, and even when he went into ministy, he had the ability to feed thousands of people with a few fish and a few loaves of broad! Nowadays the preacher sits back and lets people feed him. Paul was a tent-maker. He asked for donations (for his minitry, not wealth building) but he also made tents that he actively sold in certain places he ministered. The apostles were fishermen. I suppose you could "try" and mention the old testament priests, but there are no more sacrifices being done. No specific ceremonies that need to be done to a tee, lest you die while trying to enter the most "holy of holies." What does the preacher do all day? Pray? Even when the Thessalonians took that very same mindset... when they stopped working because they thought the end of the world was coming and Jesus soon returning... Paul wrote to them in Thessalonians: if anyone doesn't work... let him not eat.
"What have you been doing all day, minister?"
"I've been praying..."
"All day...?"
"Um... well... yeah..."
"You dont think you should work?"
"I couldn't... too... too busy... er... um... praying..."
"About what...?"
"Um... about stuff...."
"I could, kinda buy that, if you had to go on behalf of God in the temple, like Aaron... but each man has his own relationship... he goes before God on his own. You dont even have to worry about setting up any sacrifice ceremonies. You pray more than those who had to prepare themselves to go directly into the presense of God. You can pray... and do other things... like work."
"Hmmm... i'll pray on that."
"Grrr..."
This is not an indictment on money. Joseph of Arimethea, who clothed the crucified Jesus was mentioned as a wealthy man. I'm not someone who says that money (in and of itself) is the root of all evil. That would be the other extreme belief, those who have inherent disdain of money, because they PURPOSELY misquote the verse that says THE LOVE OF MONEY is the root of all evil. But this is exactly that. A theology that focuses on heavenly blessings from God being realized in the form of material gain can be called nothing short of evil.