The following is Blog number forty-eight and is part of our ongoing Racial Reconciliation in America Series. It is entitled: The Root Cause of our Divisions – The Church of America – Part Five Capitalism and the Church.

RACIAL RECONCILIATION

The Root Cause of Our Divisions

The Church of America – Part Five

Capitalism and the Church

[The following is taken from the book BECOME PERFECT 2007©]

“With all of our many, many flaws at our core, the United States wants to be a Christian nation; that is our only hope of survival. Unfortunately, seeds of greed and moral corruption have been sowed throughout our history. Our divisions that have never been reconciled; particularly, Slavery will be this nation’s downfall unless it is addressed. As a preacher, it is very difficult as, we do heartily embrace capitalism: yet, it is not in line with the construct of how Christianity is supposed to function.

As it is written: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.” (Acts 2:41-45, KJV).

Now, this is a description of the Church and not the State of course; within America, God has produced a country, which allows the believer in Jesus Christ to flourish unto the great achievement of their vision and dreams given by an Almighty God.

America is a nation among nations allowing true freedom of worship of what ever belief system that one has. It is likely an arrogant statement putting it in this fashion, but only in America is there an opportunity for belief competition to take place freely; then let the belief best preferred by the individual win the day! That is not to suggest that in America there is not some ugliness from time to time that comes from the misguided and hate ridden. Of course we endure this.

We are yet free to worship as we please; perhaps, that is one of the reasons why the Christian Faith must be so diligent to demonstrate the likeness of Jesus Christ. As we prove Christ Jesus, we make an open show of all other beliefs as to which is truly in service to a God who loves all of His human creation!

And conversely, if we by our lack of demonstrating Jesus Christ allow ourselves to be outperformed: in comity, goodwill, love, forgiveness, truth and mercy then what does this represent to our nation of different beliefs and the world who looks from without? One must not allow one’s Christian Faith to become polluted by that which our Father would consider pagan; nor can one disgrace God by not keeping His Son’s precepts of; “loving thy neighbor.” Whatever the belief system of that neighbor might be, for if he is an enemy he is yet to be loved; therefore, convert him by the love and power of Jesus Christ demonstrated through us the believer.

Our freely associated religious, spiritual, and ethnic diversity is truly the great difference between America and the world. Think not for a second that Jehovah God cannot win the day; His only issue is one of using human beings called Christians and Jews to represent His Will. Therefore, let us exemplify Jesus Christ, for the sake of God’s most holy and righteous name.

You know beloved, this is the wonderful nature of America; it is a blessing of God, in order that we can be a blessing to the citizens of this country and to other nations of people. The Church of America, that is so allowed to flourish, should be like the Book of Acts Church; so should Christian Churches be throughout the plantation. For every Church is intended to be an organizational fellowship with an economic vision that is communal in nature; this means, obviously, that it is not an individualistic construct!

Such a Church structure is meant to be internally self-sustaining, without government dependence and absolutely apolitical. It is a spiritual construct based on collective sharing that eliminates a mind and conscience of greed, for there should be no need for such. The Church is meant to be the organization that solves the material and spiritual needs of its community; the Church is a community! However, the Church of America is not a nation State!

People are to go to work and people are to abundantly care for the Church community with a portion of the proceeds of our labor. Can you imagine what would happen if the Catholic Church and all other property rich Churches sold all of their assets to help the poor in their charge, worshiping in tents and houses rather than huge cathedrals that are such sources of pride and opulence? What a dream that is! A very foolish dream certainly. But poverty would be less, hunger would likely not exist; maybe the cause of crime would evaporate altogether. What a dreamer, but you get our drift!

It is not the government who is responsible for the needy in society; it is the Church that is so responsible! The government’s responsibility is to protect the Church; those who do not belong to it and all who pay their taxes. Children of the Church should be: educated by the Church, the elderly should be cared for by the Church; widows and orphans should be ministered to by the Church; the poor should be given a leg up by the Church; good health care should be at the hands of the Church, and spiritual food should be provided by the Church.

But, of course, this cannot happen; for like governments and most economic players on this plantation, the Church is corrupted by greed, division, pride and the thirst for power. There are tears in the eyes of Peter this day whose: “rock of affirmation” on which the Church was built; as he watches the Church engaged in: conquest, control and the amassing of resources just as aggressively as the natural world of business. Rather, than dispensing such to those in need!

The truth hurts; only in truth are we truly free! Of course, the devil is watching and laughing at the Church; as his strategy of greed and pride continues to produce evil fruit, the sorrow of the ungodly. There, will always be consequences! The failure of the Church is the need for the government. Sad but true.