Posted on 08/04/2003 8:15:48 AM PDT by TastyManatees
God or Mammon?
In Matthew's New Testament gospel, he writes:
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." Matt. 6:24
Mammon translates to money. The message is that you cannot worship both God and money. Ok to have money, just don't worship the green stuff. A fairly simple, but important theme of Christianity referenced throughout the gospels.
Alabama's Govenor, Republican Bob Riley gets the message. Calling for a little extra donation to the community offering plate to help pay for medicine for the ill and medicaid assistance for seniors living in nursing homes, Rilely asked people to support his new tax plan out of "Christian duty." Conventional wisdom would tell you that a Republican govenor in a Bible-belt state like Alabama would be praised for relying on Christian teachings for his policy ideas. However, as noted in the above linked articles, Riley was blasted by the Christian Coalition and other fellow Republicans. What gives? It seems to me that the consistent opposition of many in the GOP, and the so-called Christian Coalition, to providing money to help the sick and poor makes clear which master they have chosen to serve.
Kind of reminds me of this Woody Guthrie tune written around 1940...
// posted by Ben @ 7/30/2003 02:16:13 PM
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