Only the Christian Church can offer any rational objection to a complete confidence in the rich. For she has maintained from the beginning that the danger was not in man's environment, but in man. Further, she has maintained that if we come to talk of a dangerous environment, the most dangerous environment of all is the commodious environment. I know that the most modern manufacture has been really occupied in trying to produce an abnormally large needle. I know that the most recent biologists have been chiefly anxious to discover a very small camel. But if we diminish the camel to his smallest, or open the eye of the needle to its largest — if, in short, we assume the words of Christ to have meant the very least that they could mean, His words must at the very least mean this — that rich men are not very likely to be morally trustworthy.
Christianity even when watered down is hot enough to boil all modern society to rags. The mere minimum of the Church would be a deadly ultimatum to the world. For the whole modern world is absolutely based on the assumption, not that the rich are necessary (which is tenable), but that the rich are trustworthy, which (for a Christian) is not tenable. You will hear everlastingly, in all discussions about newspapers, companies, aristocracies, or party politics, this argument that the rich man cannot be bribed. The fact is, of course, that the rich man is bribed; he has been bribed already. That is why he is a rich man. The whole case for Christianity is that a man who is dependent upon the luxuries of this life is a corrupt man, spiritually corrupt, politically corrupt, financially corrupt. There is one thing that Christ and all the Christian saints have said with a sort of savage monotony. They have said simply that to be rich is to be in peculiar danger of moral wreck. It is not demonstrably un-Christian to kill the rich as violators of definable justice. It is not demonstrably un-Christian to crown the rich as convenient rulers of society. It is not certainly un-Christian to rebel against the rich or to submit to the rich. But it is quite certainly un-Christian to trust the rich, to regard the rich as more morally saf”e than the poor."
Archive for September, 2011
How About Commitment
Long ago, a great missionary, C. T. Studd penned some words that have been a great motivation to me in a life of seeking to take the message of Jesus transforming love to marginalized, outcasts, rejects and lonely people. This was part of what he said.… Read the rest
Perfect Match
TVs ‘Perfect Match’ had a surprisingly long run of good ratings given how utterly dehumanising and pathetic most of the questions and answers were. But then, looking for Mr Right or Miss Right is life’s greatest challenge or agony, or even game for many Australians.… Read the rest
What Really Matters?
Two songs come to mind which talk about giving your whole life to a relationship. Bad English sing:
When I see your smile,
I can face the world;
You know I can do anything. 1
Michael Bolton sings:
How am I supposed to live without you…
When all that I’ve been living or is gone?… Read the rest
The Ultimate in Life
The Herald Sun ran an article about Rod Stewart’s wives and lovers; of how they perceived him during the good times and what they had to say about him when it was all over. Among the positive comments were: ‘Our affair will last forever’ ; ‘He’s the most fantastic man I know’ ; and ‘He’s a wonderful man – bright, sensitive and kind’. … Read the rest
Try Before You Buy
Journalist, Ruth Ostrow, has questioned the wisdom of the ‘Try Before You Buy’ approach to sexual relationships. Quoting a friend she makes the point that ‘living together is like letting a buyer over-examine your second-hand car. If you let him take it for six days instead of an hour, he’s bound to turn up trouble.’ Ruth asks, ‘could it be our grandparents were right in hanging out for the wedding night?… Read the rest
De Factos
The majority of young women in Australia between 25-29 are living in a de facto relationship. 1 What does this say about love and relationships? Admittedly, there do exist de facto relationships which have more tenderness and care than many marriages, but statistics show they are short lived and experimental. … Read the rest
I Won’t Make It on My Own
In the song, ‘She Drives Me Crazy’ (Polygram), the Fine Young Cannibals sing:
I won’t make it on my own,
No one likes to be alone.
How true it is that no human beings can reach their full potential or inner satisfaction on their own.… Read the rest
The Good Life
A report has analysed the ingredients of the good life, and found that Australians gained most satisfaction in life from marriage, followed by church attendance, followed by income. Further analysis showed that for a single person to experience the material satisfaction of a marriage, their income would need to increase by $50,000 per year.… Read the rest
Faith and Marriage
‘New Woman’ reminds us that on our wedding day we promised to be many things to each other:
A lover, companion and friend;
partner in parenthood;
ally in conflict;
comrade in adventure;
consolation in adversity;
confidant in uncertainty;
associate in search of meaning
and truth.… Read the rest
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