Archbishop sings hymn in praise of 'holiness of money'

[emad]

Times
By Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent



MONEY, the love of which is often seen by the Church as the root of all evil, can be as much an agent of holiness as an agent of sin, Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said yesterday.

In a sermon at Westminster Abbey to a congregation made up of senior members of the Church of England, Dr Williams said that the Church should not be afraid to address money issues.

The way a person spent their money, he said, was part of how they defined themselves, before God and before the world. Referring to the Church’s relationship with its own £3.9billion assets, he upheld the virtues of “risk-taking innovators” as opposed to those conforming to the “historic mainstream”.

Christian leaders through the ages have condemned materialism on the basis of the text in the New Testament letter 1 Timothy which states: “The love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,174-1344931,00.html

[oneighty]

1. Love of money

OH! That is so yesterday. This is now times change and so does greed.

God says it is OK now to covet thy neighbors Ass.

180

[emad]

2. Matthew VI verse 21: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will

be also.”

Dr Williams’ sermon showed that, while he has a reputation for left-of-centre views on most social issues, he can see the power of money as a means of doing good. He argued that using money wisely to work for justice in the Church would help achieve justice in the world. His hymn of praise to the possibilities of capital assets took place in the context of the tercentenary of Queen Anne’s Bounty, the money that Queen Anne gifted to the Church of England 300 years ago.

The Church, which through the Middle Ages had become fabulously wealthy, was then depleted of its capital resources by King Henry VIII and other monarchs and gentry.

Dr Williams said: “What we do with our money proclaims who we think we are — whether we know it or not, whether we like it or not.All our actions in some degree reveal us. Why should our economic life be different?

“Why should this too not be an area in which we help to shape our eternal destiny, a matter of sin or holiness?”

[xchrom]

5. liberal anglicans are trying a new approach to money

they see it as a wholistic issue -- which really it is.
we all have to deal with money every day -- there's no reason NOT to make a spiritual value question.
conservatives do it -- liberals should to.

[icymist]

10. So what the Hell does that say about people who have to ....

struggle just to make ends meet? That God is punishing them for being so poor? The church is beginning to show it's true colors.

[Benhurst]

3. Killing is all right too, as long as your going after The Leader's

enemies. And adultery is ok if you are, or were, the Mayor of New York.

[Nihil]

4. Weeeelllll ....

> God says it is OK now to covet thy neighbors Ass.

... only if it is a different sex to your own ...!

[theHandpuppet]

6. Christ's own words, from the Sermon on the Mount

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

[emad]

7. Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth?

and "Give nto Caesar what is Ceasar's"...................

[Steelangel]

11. Indeed, indeed

[watercolors]

8. sign on local church

GOD SAVE AMERICA, It just went up yesterday. I don't think bush has all christains in his pocket!

[Tsiyu]

9. Not to play Archbishop's advocate, but....

he has a point when it comes to "putting our money where our mouths are." We can refuse to spend money in WalMart, McDonald's, Home Depot, and to support local businesses friendly to Dem and progressive causes.

This is a wise use of our dollars.


We can prepare for the worst, spending our money on long-term goals and items of real value. We can vacation in blue states and avoid handing any tourist dollars over to bright blood red areas.

So many people are afraid to discuss money. But communicating about practical things is never a "sin" nor is it necessarily the sign of someone who is greedy or covetous.

Budgeting and prioritizing purchases makes you a strong consumer. Choosing to spend in positive ways ( as they relate to YOUR goals) can have a tremendous impact.

[VegasWolf]

12. More money you make the more that you can tithe, simple.