Some of you may be familiar with the idea of 'selfless love', or even 'brotherly love'...in the long run, these are ideals that do not speak louder than money, but they sound good and soothing to the ears to hear, and easy for the mouths to say. I am referring to the way far too many so-called Christians behave. Perhaps members of other religions behave similarly...I know that non-believers don't have a problem doing what they want without worrying about a higher power or directive interfering.
I have been an employee and volunteer for a certain Christian denomination which makes many and great claims about themselves. I am also a member of that same denomination, but may be considered a back-slider at this point because of my disgust with the smell of hypocrisy. While they charge a pretty penny for their private education, they seldom update their materials, and they do not pay their teachers much at all. Not only that...they do not provide any benefits to their employees either. The particular area I worked at had teachers on an annual contract, where a teacher could be replaced at the whim of the superintendent of the 'district'...no matter the success or desirability to have that teacher by the local staff and administration, parents, school board, and even future students. The same denomination has a racially segregated congregation. Not only to the point of having separate churches, but they have separate conferences or unions (organizational units above the individual or city-wide church level). The schools are separated too. Where is the brotherly love in our day? No wonder the Muslims have issues with our Christian ways...of course blowing people up for non-belief goes against God too....
I know this blog is supposed to be more about society and politics today...but this kind of ties in to that. I have a few more things to say about the organized religion situation before I get to where I was trying to be.
My church is rich by society's standards. Yet, a pastor I know would rather kick a homeless person out of the 'potluck' than share the bountiful blessings and invite him in to join us. Revelation 3:17-20
"Because you say, 'I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; ' and don't know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see" (v. 20) "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me."
Many of the people I know who work for this denomination need to have second sources of income. The amount of tuition for a child is about 4 times the amount a public school receives from the government for your child to attend. What is the value difference for? In monetary terms, public school teachers and administrators get paid much more. The old text books (especially science and social studies circa 1970's) are obsolete in private school. The math books are exactly the same as your public school math book...5 or more years ago. The private school does not teach what the denomination preaches because it would chase off the high paying non-church members children. Where does the money go? Does it go to pay for the 8 year old computers in the computer lab? Does it go to pay for the transportation expenses (oh wait they don't provide transportation)? It must go toward the secretary's salary...? Hmmm...oh wait a minute, the superintendent seems to be well off. The silk suits and nice cars have to be paid for somehow. The presidents of the conferences get to travel the world.... The denomination is known for a health message and standard; I have not seen many of those presidents or superintendents or other upper echelon people looking fit and trim. Why is this denomination in the top 5 list of the world's richest churches? If Christ was like that pastor or those superintendents, would He be the religious icon we know today? Can we hear that knock at the door to our hearts? Can we let that homeless guy in and eat with him? Money is talking too loud!
So now, I have attacked my church and others like it. I want to see all of us walk the walk, not just talk the talk...following God's Will is a lifestyle. Following the sound of Money is our society's reality.
Whew! I totally lost my point there. Hope I can remember what it was for the next post.
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