The affluent are literally possessed by their possessions. Money and the things it can buy stalks the rich countries like a demon. Mammon offers comforts and pleasures to delight the flesh but demands the soul in return. The attachment of Americans to their standard of living has become an addiction. We can’t stop shopping, eating, consuming….
A successful life leads not to love, wisdom and maturity; progress and success in our society is instead based on adding more to one’s pile of possessions. Our natural course is toward a better job, bigger house and richer lifestyle….
Material goods have become substitutes for faith. It’s not that people literally place their cars on the altar; rather, it is the function of these goods in a consumer society. They function as idols, even though most affluent U.S. Christians, like rich Christians throughout history, would deny it.
Jim Wallis, The Call to Conversion (with thanks to Inward/Outward)
And we wonder, sometimes, why the current economic crisis feels like a crisis of faith...
3 comments:
And I have that book; maybe I should read it?
Amen. And to this have you read The Way of the Disciple by Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis? Brilliant. He substantially lays out why following any will but the will of the Father will be a burden, and there is only freedom in God's will. Your quote makes that point. All this stuff is but rocks around our necks. Hericlitus had it right when he saw a man drinking with his hands and tossed his cup out.
-Ann
How aware do you think people are of the ultimate dissatisfaction? Or is it just mindlessly looking for the next hit to ease the hole, or whatever the motives are?
Sheesh, shopping bores the shit out of me and I don't care all that much for a big everything. But oh, a new job. A new job. I could go one of those!!!
Good quote. And we have been warned about the deceitfulness of riches but we still don't really believe it, do we?
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