It most certainly isn't ungodly to aspire to material comfort in tandem with the aspiration to attain religious and spiritual equilibrium. What is most vile (pardon any perceived presumption) is to hide inside the cloak of religion and adorn the balaclava of moral purity to actively deceive the very 'flock' that the vast majority of our contemporary 'men of God' (MOGs) are responsible for. It has been a trend for quite a while now for these MOGs not to take the welfare and spiritual well-being of their flock seriously; but instead selfishly pursue, without shame or remorse, their own interests in business and the amassing of wealth. Religion, without any shadow of a doubt, is now big business. But who pays the price for the desecration of the very ideals of Christ?
Suffering predisposes the mind to devoutness, and it is this very predisposition that these gluttonous MOGs brazenly exploit, preaching their gospel of prosperity. These MOGs are actually validating Karl Marx's submission that "religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of the soulless solutions. It is the opium of the people."
It is now with depressing regularity that we learn of, or hear about, the obscene excesses of MOGs to the detriment of their flock, and the society at large. When MOGs engage in the most unsacerdotal of pursuits, they attract scorn (and rightfully so) and their message of eternal salvation begins to ring hollow. How many of these MOGs are courageous enough to come out to justify the immense wealth they are amassing, and the opulent lifestyle they and their families enjoy while the overwhelming majority of their flock go hungry and are sick from worry? We all know that sermons don't a saint make.
For the avoidance of doubt, this writer is a Christian and this piece must not be perceived as an attack on Christendom, or any other religious realm for that matter. However, to deny the existence of corrupting influences of MOGs on the wider society is to bury one's head in sand. Corrupt politicians rob the people dry and make large donations to the Church, and the Pastor gleefully accepts without any questions asked. Thieving bank managers and other public officials are ordained as deacons just because of their 'generous' donations to the Church. MOGs purchasing private jets and innumerable mansions while they open their foul mouths to preach to people that all shall be well; that patience is a Christian virtue. They preach love and they show scant care; they preach tolerance and show irritation when they are challenged. They preach humility when they senselessly display arrogance, or else why would a MOG physically assault a female parishioner he had accused of being a witch, and when challenged, said he would do it again! Why doesn't he go to a true democracy and do such? As Matthew Arnold said, "The true meaning of religion is thus, not simply morality, but morality touched by emotion." This was echoed by Ralph Waldo Emerson when he said "The fatal trait is the divorce between religion and morality." These MOGs are so emotionally-detached that they raise serious questions about the state of mind of their ardent followers.
Jesus gave hope, MOGs snatch hope. Jesus showed love, MOGs display contempt. Jesus gave succour, MOGs administer pain. Jesus gave life, MOGs snuff it. Jesus healed, MOGs infect. Jesus fed thousands with little, MOGs feed themselves at the expense of millions. Isn't it time for us to question where our loyalty lies: is it with God or with MOGs? Are we content to keep on feeding their insatiable quest for wealth and influence while we suffer in silence, and remain in an insane awe of them?
MOGs don't do God, it's all a gigantic rip-off. Bigotry is every bit as contemptible as hypocrisy.
Time we stood up for God, and stood up to MOGs!
It is now with depressing regularity that we learn of, or hear about, the obscene excesses of MOGs to the detriment of their flock, and the society at large. When MOGs engage in the most unsacerdotal of pursuits, they attract scorn (and rightfully so) and their message of eternal salvation begins to ring hollow. How many of these MOGs are courageous enough to come out to justify the immense wealth they are amassing, and the opulent lifestyle they and their families enjoy while the overwhelming majority of their flock go hungry and are sick from worry? We all know that sermons don't a saint make.
For the avoidance of doubt, this writer is a Christian and this piece must not be perceived as an attack on Christendom, or any other religious realm for that matter. However, to deny the existence of corrupting influences of MOGs on the wider society is to bury one's head in sand. Corrupt politicians rob the people dry and make large donations to the Church, and the Pastor gleefully accepts without any questions asked. Thieving bank managers and other public officials are ordained as deacons just because of their 'generous' donations to the Church. MOGs purchasing private jets and innumerable mansions while they open their foul mouths to preach to people that all shall be well; that patience is a Christian virtue. They preach love and they show scant care; they preach tolerance and show irritation when they are challenged. They preach humility when they senselessly display arrogance, or else why would a MOG physically assault a female parishioner he had accused of being a witch, and when challenged, said he would do it again! Why doesn't he go to a true democracy and do such? As Matthew Arnold said, "The true meaning of religion is thus, not simply morality, but morality touched by emotion." This was echoed by Ralph Waldo Emerson when he said "The fatal trait is the divorce between religion and morality." These MOGs are so emotionally-detached that they raise serious questions about the state of mind of their ardent followers.
Jesus gave hope, MOGs snatch hope. Jesus showed love, MOGs display contempt. Jesus gave succour, MOGs administer pain. Jesus gave life, MOGs snuff it. Jesus healed, MOGs infect. Jesus fed thousands with little, MOGs feed themselves at the expense of millions. Isn't it time for us to question where our loyalty lies: is it with God or with MOGs? Are we content to keep on feeding their insatiable quest for wealth and influence while we suffer in silence, and remain in an insane awe of them?
MOGs don't do God, it's all a gigantic rip-off. Bigotry is every bit as contemptible as hypocrisy.
Time we stood up for God, and stood up to MOGs!
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