God and Mammon: The Addiction to Power and Affluence

Introduction

Man’s dilemma of God or mammon may not be such a rigid dichotomy as one might think at first. Making a decision between God and material wealth seems like a clear choice on the surface for the Bible believing Christian as well as for the pragmatic materialist. When directly faced with the question of God or mammon, one is faced with questions regarding “the intersection of values and money, and the search for meaning among conflicting definitions of success” (Means, 2001, p. 22). In the world today money is equal to power, but power without an ethic rooted in God is a recipe for corruption and social breakdown. Currently, we find ourselves in a “culture obsessed with finding meaning in a world and workplace radically altered by the technological revolution,” which rushes “to embrace the spirituality of the new age” (Means, 2001, p. 22).

The scope of this research looks at the question of God or mammon through the lens of Scripture as it relates to our culture in the areas of economics and specifically capitalism. “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away,” James 1:9,10 (KJV). Money, as our culture worships it, should be degraded to the status of a mere object so that true riches may be discovered. When true riches and true power is found, and an ethic based in honesty toward God and self is maintained, prosperity and affluence are sure to abound. From poverty to affluence the idea of money should be objectified and made subordinate to serving God.

Personal Power

To a certain degree, individuals possess power to influence the world around them, to control the actions of others, and to chart a course of events to suit particular purposes or needs. Individuals or groups of individuals determine what their purposes and needs are based on a values set held by that individual or group. These value sets are sets of principles upon which ideas are deemed good, justified, or acceptable. “If power is a human essence, then power should revolve around the things that people do; that is, how people engage one another in the course of ongoing community life” (Prus, 1999, p. xiv). Individual power, whether power of an individual or an individual group, in almost every case is found within a social context of competing powers—within a community of powers.

Personal Social Power

Within the narrative of history, ancient and recent, many events, engineered or otherwise, connect together to account for the social context or the big picture, which individuals and groups currently find themselves in. “[P]ower is the key to understanding community life,” and “[T]o understand power, you have to look at the ‘big picture,’ to consider structure, institutions, industrialization, class, race, conflict, nation states, politics, and other things of that sort” (Prus, 1999, p. xv). However, this big picture is not the whole story. Because individuals and groups primarily have concerns of self-preservation and utilize power in self-interest, value systems from one individual to the next, or from one group to the next are arbitrary and vary greatly—there are a variety of competing values among community members. The “modern form of humanistic thought leads to pessimism regarding a meaning for life and for fixed values” (Schaeffer, 2005).

Not only the big picture of today, but also all of history, and all future, is nested within a whole story—nested within a meta-narrative. A meta-narrative has no greater story to refer to. It can only refer to either God or itself, in whole or in part, as a god. Within the meta-narrative there is an unchanging value system established by and which rests upon its author—God of the Bible. Humanistic purposes and ends disregard the fixed value system established by God, therefore, are considered to reject God. Humanistic thought is a “general acceptance of selfish values (personal peace and affluence) accompanied [by a] rejection of [the] Christian consensus” (Schaeffer, 2005). Mammonism is a form of humanistic materialism, which rejects God.

Personal Economic Power

A major part of utilizing power in self-interest is obtaining money and things of worldly value. An ethic based on arbitrary principles and selfish values will refer to no greater purpose than its own self-interest of personal peace and affluence.

Personal peace means: I want to be left alone, and I don’t care what happens to the man across the street or across the world. I want my own life-style to be undisturbed regardless of what it will mean — even to my own children and grandchildren. (Schaeffer, 2005)

Money is usually used to secure personal peace, whether it is moving to a gated community, a lobbyist bribing an official to manipulate the legislative process, or taxation in return for the government ensuring, insuring, or securing personal peace. Those who are powerless to secure their own economic power are considered to be in poverty.

Poverty

There are two categories of poverty: income poverty and non-income poverty. In either case poverty describes a living condition, which is below what is standard, comfortable, or normal within a community. The poor or those who are poverty stricken find themselves mostly powerless within the big picture. “There are three main types of poverty in the world” (McQuilkin, 1995, p. 414): collective poverty, cyclical poverty, and individual poverty.

Income Poverty

“Collective poverty (which includes class and regional poverty) is the semi-permanent insufficiency of the material means of life for an entire population and can be applied to nations such as India” (McQuilkin, 1995, p. 414). Within the big picture India is a third world country with an economy based on a caste system. The four divisions of the system include laborers, merchants and farmers, warriors, and priests. Even though it is not a strictly materialistic society, the Hindu religion varies from village to village and the value systems are arbitrary. India as a third world nation has less power than second or first world nations in the big picture.

Non-income Poverty

“Cyclical poverty is the widespread but temporary deprivation caused by disease, crop failure, or economic breakdown such as occurred in the 1930s” (McQuilkin, 1995, p. 414). The U.S. economy is based on divisions such as blue collar workers, white collar workers, military, and government officials, but at times cannot escape natural disasters, droughts, disease, or economic breakdown. There are government and private organizations, which specialize in disaster relief. The U.S. and other first world nations have great power among the community of nations, but cyclical poverty has a significant impact within these nations. Cyclical poverty has a grater impact on nations, groups, or areas, which already suffer from collective poverty.

“Individual poverty is a condition of want that results from an individuals misfortune or inability to work, including widows, orphans, physically handicapped, outcasts, aged, mentally deficient, and alcoholics” (McQuilkin, 1995, p. 414). Individual poverty is mostly thought of when poverty is mentioned. Although, it can result from an individual’s misfortune or inability to work, sometimes it is propagated by sheer apathy, a poverty mindset, or a generational entitlement mentality. Those who find themselves in individual poverty that is compounded by cyclical poverty, collective poverty, or both, are those who most desperately need poverty relief. However, humanistic poverty relief—affluence—disregards fixed values and rejects God.

Affluence

A Marxist utilitarian definition and approach to affluence is government satisfying the needs of members on a societal level. Just as the caste system, a Marxist system is compulsory and there is no freedom for individuals to choose or concern themselves with the author of the meta-narrative or to find themselves in relation to God.

In some modern societies there may be numerous needs, but also the material abundance and productivity to meet those needs. In others, technology may be at its most primitive pre-agricultural level, yet these societies may also be described as ‘affluent’ in the sense that they satisfy the needs of their members. (Rigby, 1998, p. 118)

A capitalist approach to affluence can be strictly materialistic, but its definition leaves the door open for individual freedom and a personal realization that there is an author, a meta-narrative, and a fixed value system for it. “Affluence means things, things, things, always more things — and success is seen as an abundance of things” (Schaeffer, 2005).

Social Success

Most who have escaped the condition of want have done so through sheer individual ambition. “A hunger for opportunity and personal freedom was awakening at the same time that western Europe began to provide the means for fulfilling individual ambition” (Means, 2001, p. 18). The emergence of a business-based economy during the eleventh and twelfth centuries provided individuals and nations with the opportunity to accumulate wealth at an astounding rate. In this day and age the U.S. business-based economy provides individuals with that same opportunity to acquire wealth. The values question still lingers. The question of God and mammon is still there. The questions of, “How much income is enough?” and, “How much income is too much?” are still there.

Income Success

John Wesley, a prominent preacher during the 1700’s, tried to resolve not only the values question of, “How much income is too much?” but also, “How affluent can one be while preserving a right standing before God?” He determined affluent businessmen “could keep back only the necessities and conveniences of life, reasonable provision for dependants after their death, working capital and just enough over to avoid falling into debt” (Jeremy, 1998, p 137). What exceeded these moral parameters of success was to be given away to organized charity, or the church, or to those in poverty. He encouraged his followers to “gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can.” Still many who, not by accident, but by honoring God through an honest work ethic and by a knowledge of how a risk vs. reward business-based economy worked, built personal financial empires and found themselves providing for and protecting self-interests of personal peace while meeting Wesley’s guidelines. By the last decade of Wesley’s life “a number of Methodist businessmen had followed his injunctions about thrift and hard work and found themselves with comfortable fortunes; they regarded it as their right to derive pleasure from the rewards of their labours” (Jeremy, 1998, p 137). Wesley “deplored the growing affluence of many of his followers towards the end of his life and quite deliberately pitched his appeal to the poor” (Ditchfield, 1998, p. 84). The question of God and mammon at the intersection of values and money, and to which an affluent person is devoted, still remained unanswered and unresolved.

Devotion

Through analyzing personal power, poverty, and affluence, patterns emerge as to how individuals fit within groups, how groups fit within communities, how communities fit within the big picture, and how the big picture fits within the meta-narrative. One pattern that emerges is man’s devotedness to his particular purposes or needs and whether those purposes are derived from an arbitrary humanistic philosophy, or a God fearing Christian consensus.

Effects Of Devotion

The effects of devotion can be seen in Wesley’s followers, who were devoted to duty through a fixed ethic, as they became successful and affluent, and gave to the poor. In Wesley’s case, even though the ethic was fixed the interpretation of it was not as some questions were left unresolved. However, the effects of humanistic philosophy are apparent, whether applied as an individual or as a group within the big picture, as self-interests become the sole principle upon which success is based. Because the ethic itself is arbitrary, its meaning is subjective and has an even wider range of interpretation.

The success of individuals or groups can be prevented or hindered by competing powers within the greater community of powers. When there is not a clear purpose of meeting a defined need, apathy sets in and a sense of powerlessness can overcome individuals and groups. Apathy propagates powerlessness, which propagates poverty.

Objects Of Devotion

Objects of devotion range from physical things, abstract ideals, to particular people. A person might aspire to be like someone else who is perceived as successful. A poor person might devote to working hard so his or her children can get an education. A generation can be devoted to a certain ideal such as the hippy generation and its culture of sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

An arbitrary and relativistic value system multiplied by subjective meaning, which is subject to interpretation, will generate an innumerable number of objects of devotion. A fixed value system, which rests upon a fixed foundation—Jesus Christ—, is necessary for an individual or group to define a clear purpose, which has God given meaning, of meeting a defined need.

Subordination

The author of the meta-narrative, the—as Aristotle describes—unmovable mover is needed to reveal the fixed foundation and the fixed value system, which rests upon it. Man, in all his power, and in his natural order, to escape the chaos of this world must subordinate himself and all that is within his power, including rewards of labor, to God.

A Mere Object

Money and things are not in the same category as God. Money can be used to acquire power, but only a power that cannot compete with God. The power of money and appeal of affluence can only manipulate the purposes of man. Money and things are not intrinsically evil, but when they are relied upon to determine a values set, that values set is corrupt, shifty, contradictory, arbitrary, and has subjective meaning. When money and things are placed below man, and man subordinates himself to God, true power and true riches are discovered in the faithfulness of God.

God’s Faith and Constancy

Faith in God and confidence in the revelation of His unmovable foundation, Jesus Christ, is essential in discovering true riches and true power, which cannot be manipulated and do not appeal to man’s emotional addiction to power. Such a faith borne of living life in devotion to God, demonstrates His truth, His existence as the author, and His constancy, even through the trials of our faith. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low... “The idea … is, that there is a great and important trial of faith in any reverse of circumstances; a trial in being elevated from poverty to riches, or in being depressed from a state of affluence to want” (Barnes, 1847, p. 26).

References

Barnes, A. (1847). Notes, explanatory and practical, on the general epistles of James, Peter, John and Jude. New York: Harper.

Ditchfield, G. M. (1998). The Evangelical Revival. Introductions to history. London: UCL Press.

Jeremy, D. J. (1998). Religion, business, and wealth in modern Britain. Routledge international studies in business history, 4. London: Routledge.

McQuilkin, J. R. (1995). An introduction to biblical ethics. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House.

Means, H. B. (2001). Money & power the history of business. New York: Wiley.

Prus, R. C. (1999). Beyond the power mystique power as intersubjective accomplishment. Albany: State University of New York Press.

Rigby, S. H. (1998). Marxism and history: a critical introduction. Manchester: Manchester University Press.

Schaeffer, F. A. (2005). How should we then live? [video recording]. Muskegon, Mich: Gospel Communications International.

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Perfect in Christ Jesus

Often times teachers will use questions to teach their students. On one such occasion God put a question in me that was meant for my edification, and further for the edification of the church through the teaching ministry He has called me to. The question being, "Which is more important, that Christ is in you or that you are in Christ?"

The Quick Answer

On the surface the quick answer is both are important, even equally important. But, God does not ask because he needs to know from us, He asks because we need to learn from Him. So, a deeper analysis of the question is necessary. The nature of the question signifies a distinct difference between Christ in you and you in Christ.

Christ in you

"Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col 1:27) Hope is the feeling or expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. In this case hope is the hope of perfection or the absolutely perfect inward or personal excellency. Christ being our high priest sets in order those things that are in us, as our bodies are tabernacles that God dwells in. Is God pleased to dwell in you? Do you resist the Spirit of Christ as He sets things in order within you?

I recall a certain time when God was trying to deal with me in a certain area. I did not realize he was trying to deal with me in that area until He showed me specifically. Up until then I had no desire or conviction to quit what I was doing. That thing was bound and tied up by the Spirit of God, then I would walk by and spring that thing back open by my own free will. When I realized that God was dealing with me in that area I had to stop and think, "If God is doing His part I better do my part and leave that thing alone." Once God placed conviction in my heart by His Holy Spirit I had a choice to step up to the expectations of God and stop doing what he wanted me to stop doing.

Through the years it seems I rearrange the spiritual furniture of the temple as I would have it instead of how God has arranged it. But, when the furniture of the temple is not set in the right order, I cannot please God. After a time of struggling with things set up my own way, I find it of vital importance to pray as the psalmist prayed "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Psalms 51:10 Hence the relationship between the high priest of the temple and man, as he is a living sacrifice dead to sin but alive unto God, is vital to worship and pleasing God.

You in Christ

As a living sacrifice, dead to sin but alive unto God, we find ourselves purified from sin but still lacking. Some might feel this lack as lack of enough love for God. So, the inevitable question arises, "Do I love God enough?" Most would feel somewhat arrogant to say, "Yes, I love God enough." I say though that someone either loves God or does not. There are no degrees of loving God. You are either for Him or against Him. You either love Him or you don't. What gets in the way of the Christian who sincerely claims to love God is not lack of enough love, but the presence of character flaws within. Character flaws perhaps are a lack of certain characteristics. Character flaws hinder relationships we have with ourselves, others, and God. There is not one of us who does not have character flaws.

Our best is flawed before God. Our best sacrifice, even self sacrifice, is flawed before God. If the best we could possibly bring to the high priest Christ in us is flawed, how then is He able to make a sacrifice out of us? Those under the old covenant were condemned for making the table of the LORD contemptible by offering flawed sacrifices on the alter. Jesus Christ did not offer and will not offer a contemptible sacrifice before God. Consider these verses:

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Rom 8:1

"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"Col 2:10

What we lack in and of ourselves, Christ compensates for. Where we are lacking we are not condemned but are made complete by the fullness of God. Walking after the Spirit entering into the flawless temple, the body of Christ, we ourselves as living sacrifices dead to sin but alive unto God, are made complete in Him and an acceptable sacrifices to God.
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Ignorance Is Not An Option

A debtor?

One day I was thinking about a particular person who earlier happened to cross my path. This particular person was not living right before God. As I was listing in my mind unsavory details of character and spirit this particular person had, the Lord asked me a simple question. He asked, "Are you saying then he is a debtor?"

"Yes," was my sheepish response as I know the debt that I owe.

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The Lamb and Sacrifice

After a series of worthless sinful thoughts my heart sank as God drew near. He said, "Someone has died because of you today." It was as if I returned to Him that very moment the pronouncement would somehow not happen, but I knew it was spoken forth by God and could not and would not be changed. I was convicted in my heart and thought because I allowed sin, even in my mind, that some evil thing would happen that day. At that moment I heard the sound of a butcher's cleaver and saw the image of an animal being cut apart on a butcher's block. I thought of the Old Testament and how sacrifices had to be made to cover the sins of the people. "Jesus," I said, "it was you who died because of me today." The Lord confirmed this word. It was a spiritual moment.

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How I Plan to Use My Education

I completed the Associate Degree program from Cornerstone University on 04-14-08. One of the last assignments was to write a one page summary of "How I Plan to Use My Education."

I have not wavered from my original purpose for going to school. During our first class of step one I wrote out my purpose it goes as follows, ``My purpose for going to college...is to acquire the necessary education to fulfill my life's work according to the calling of Jesus Christ." I have picked up five secondary specific goals I use as litmus tests to check whether I'm fulfilling my general umbrella purpose and calling.

First, I plan to use my education to glorify Jesus Christ. It is essential to glorify God first and foremost in all things. Because God blesses all things that I put my hand to It is imperative that I stay in close communion with Him and be found walking in His will doing what He has called me to do. As a pastor at an inner city outreach I have been and plan to continue to use skills that I've attained through school to undergird the work of the ministry.

Second, I plan to use my education to affect other peoples lives. Not only through ministry but also through fellowship. This means that I carry a witness among believers and unbelievers alike. This witness has carried over into the secular workplace. An educated Christian can be a very effective witness to unbelievers.

Third, I plan to find creative ways to make money. This is an interesting concept. Mostly this applies to the ministry and other non-profit entities that I am part of, i.e. Bible Gazette Network. It is a way to keep the Gospel funded without having to beg the audience or run a share-a-thon every other month.

Fourth, stop being a consumer. This is somewhat like a life commandment that I heard from a financial radio host. It has bumped me out of a consumerism materialistic mentality.

Fifth, start being a producer. This goes hand in hand with number four. It is also from the same financial radio host, but applies to more areas than just finances. It applies to school, work, home, ministry, and anything else I put my hands or mind to.

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Good or Bad Idea? You Decide.

One snowy winter evening I had an idea. I knew the next morning I would have to scrape and brush the snow off of my windshield before going to work. So, I thought, "Why not put a small space heater in the van overnight. That way the windows will stay clear and the ride to work in the morning will be nice and cozy warm." That evening I ran an extension cord to the van and placed a small space heater on a piece of board propped up between the two front seats. I directed the small heater so it gently blew warm air toward the windshield. That night I went to bed with high expectations.

You Decide. Was heating the van with a space heater overnight a good or bad idea?

Well, the next morning I made my way out through the snow to the van. The windows were clear. Small drops of water formed when a snowflake landed on the glass. But wait! Those small drops of water ran down the side of the vehicle and refroze making a two inch thick sheet of ice that covered the locks and door handles. The door was sloidly frozen shut and my ice scraper was inside.

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Understanding the Consequences of Being a Minority Group Member

Prejudice and Discrimination

1. Prejudice:

To form an opinion on an issue, person, and so forth prematurely without having adequate information. Preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. These definitions of prejudice speak more about the person making judgments than the person against whom the judgement is made. Some red flags in the definition include preconceived opinion , not based on reason , and without having adequate information.

2. Discrimination:

Recognize a distinction, differentiate. Unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people of things. Recognition or understanding of the difference between one thing and another. Within the definition of discrimination there is two strands. The first being beneficial as we are taught to differentiate between one thing and another, and the second being quite corrosive as it is unjust or prejudicial. However, when we move into the realm of what is just or unjust we are moving into the realm of what is morally right or morally wrong.

3. Just or Unjust

It is interesting to me that a culture which prides itself on moral relativity should think itself capable of differentiating between what is just or unjust. As I was reading through the text, Men and women of the corporation, about the men who quarantined the women by only going to men only clubs, or the one woman who stayed silent while the men were telling dirty jokes, I began to understand that there is no discrimination between right and wrong at the basic level of a moral standard. As morally free agents, especially in this age of existentialism, men and women whatever race, color, or creed do not have the moral foundation which supports and declares what is just or unjust.

Experienced Consequences of Prejudice and Discrimination

On the front porch of many homes there is a doormat that says, "Welcome". From time to time I come across a doormat when I'm at the hardware store which says "Go Away". I chuckle when I see it because of its blunt candid message of not wanting visitors. This same message of "Go Away" is often bluntly told to minority or token members of a group. "'But the fact that all of us were having the same kinds of feelings' means something more systemic was at work."(Cose) Systemic racism of white supremacy in corporations is thought to be a norm that was built in. "The problem is the system of white supremacy. Every company contains norms that were built into its culture long ago."(Wetlaufer) Strongholds of white supremacy, white superiority, and white dominance are evidence of moral downfalls of mankind and evidence of preconceived opinions that are not based on reason or actual experience. Since white dominance is a statistical fact in 98% of corporate America, minorities must not depend solely upon establishments to correct themselves. "...it becomes incumbent upon the employee to say look, this is the culture of this place."(Wetlaufer) Wether it is getting out onto the golf course with white coworkers or forming coalitions within the corporation.

"Minority members have potential allies among each other, can form coalitions, and can affect the culture of the group." (Kanter) Cultural movements are not some unseen force that accomplishes an agenda, they are individuals who move forward one step at a time. There are many difficulties in forming a coalition of individuals who move forward in unity, especially if there are very few individuals to be in unity with. "...if there are two tokens in a skewed group, it is difficult for them to generate an alliance that can become powerful in the group...." (Kanter)

The message "Go Away" can seem subtle if noticed at all by the majority, but to a minority it can be loud and clear and blunt as ever. "...they [managers] may decide not to promote an African American man as early in his career as a white man...."(Wetlaufer) Many minorities in the workforce are eclipsed time after time because of no other criteria than race or gender. "For many black professionals, these are not so much isolated incidents as insistent and galling reminders that whatever they may accomplish in life, race remains their most salient feature as far as much of America is concerned."(Cose) Those who have made it past certain barriers feel they have betrayed others and abandoned the cause of people who are struggling with upward mobility. While not finding a systemic cure for white supremacy individuals can make a difference with the power and authority they are given as long as it appears they are not vocal about it. "He had quietly made it his business to cultivate a few young blacks in the corporation and bring their careers along: and he could point to some who were doing very well and would have been doing considerably worse without his intervention." (Cose) Sometimes minority or token people with power and authority do not want to draw attention to themselves or raise concerns of being an activist. "These women also found it hard to interest some other, secretly sympathetic managerial women in active advocacy of upward mobility for women because of the latter's own fears of getting too identified with a single issue. (Others, though, seized on it as a way to express their values or to get visbility.)"(Kanter)

Understanding the Consequences of being a Minority Group Member

Racial or sexist prejudice and discrimination are not the only concerns of minority members of a group. "...pressures and processes can occur around people of any social category who find themselves few of their kind among others of a different social type...."(Kanter) Currently many corporations work with a human resource department or the workers develop an internal network to ensure equality among members of differing social categories. "At Polaroid, we have a group called the Diversity Network Alliance. The alliance is in all parts of the company and includes blacks, Hispanics, and gays, and it's truly not a senior-management movement. It's an initiative run by and for the people at every level of the organization. It's everywhere, and it's great."(Wetlaufer)

The problem of supposed white superiority still hurts among racial lines as prejudicial treatment, unexamined assumptions and opinions that are not based on reason or actual experience, is used as the moral standard of how others are treated within a mixed or skewed social group. "It stems more from an unexamined assumption that whites, purely because they are white, are likely to fit in while blacks and other minority group members are not."(Cose) There are real issues of social communication and interaction between tokens and the majority within a skewed group. Even if an equality of persons is reached. "Tokens cannot be assumed to share the same unspoken understandings that the rest of the members share because of their common membership in a social category....", "For smooth interaction, groups require both discretion (the ability to put statements in their proper perspective) and a shared vocabulary of attitudes (the ability to take feelings and sentiments for granted) so that they can avoid the time-consuming process of translation."(Kanter) Society as a whole has a long way to go until an equality of persons is reached. This is especially true when our society cannot define what a person is or when a person becomes a person. As many blacks or women or any social category who find themselves few of their kind among others of a different social type feel that they are treated as less than a person, the question our society cannot answer is being asked.

"...there are a lot of destructive traps out there for people of color. And if you fall into them -- if you become angry or vengeful or defeated or complacent -- you lose."(Wetlaufer) As society continues to ethnically reject blacks, many concerns arise from those who see a world which their children and grandchildren have to grow up in. "With so many black men in jail or beaten down by society, whom would his daughters marry? With prejudice still such a force, who could ensure their succcss?"(Cose) Those of any social category who find themselves few of their kind among others of a different social type usually find themselves in a state of emotional fatigue. "...how emotionally draining it can be to exist in a near constant state of adapting to another culture's view of the world, or of having to keep an upbeat attitude in a sometimes hostile environment."(Wetlaufer)

What tokens have in common with other tokens are that... "Tokens are the quintessential 'individuals' "(Kanter) Being isolated as an individual within a group is a lonely place to be. An underlying unity among diversity is needed. Unity is quite different than uniformity. Tokens and minorities may have trouble finding common ground within a skewed group even though a Diversity Network Alliance or human resource department exist. "In short, outside intervention is required to break the cycles created by the social composition of groups."(Kanter) Political correctness has been designated as outside intervention. Laws are written and put in the books not because it is the right thing to do, with moral relativism there is no right and wrong, but because it is the politically correct thing or the pragmatic thing or the most expedient thing to do at the moment for politicians to avoid controversy. America is putting judgments of morally in the hands of politicians who are being manipulated one way or another. "It may very well be that the civil rights debate has been so distorted by strategies designed to engender guilt...", "Let us decide, from here on out, that no one need feel guilty about the sins of the past." (Cose) Not feeling guilty about the sins of the past does not erase the sins of the past neither does it remove the cultural ghosts of discrimination and prejudice that often come back to haunt.

A Biblical Perspective

This unity among diversity needs to start from an agreed upon moral standard of what is just and unjust apart from relativism and political correctness. God delivered His moral standard to Moses, and Moses delivered it to the nation of Israel, however, after many years of rejecting this moral code some very harsh words were spoken against the nation.

"Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint." Isaiah 1:4,5 (KJV)

The systemic corruption that has infiltrated America on all levels has to do with the rejection of God's moral standards by individuals. Jesus taught that the corruption that is in the world is of the world and not for those who have the love of God in them.

"15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." 1 John 2:15-17(KJV)

If we are to be healed of this haunting cultural ghost of discrimination and prejudice outside intervention is required. Not the intervention of a corrupt double minded manipulated government, but an intervention by God through the prayers of His people.

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14(KJV)

We are called upon to trade the pride of life for humility, corruption for holiness, and the lust of the flesh for the love of God. Without this basic level of a moral standard our culture will continue to chaotically transgress and continuously redefine what is right, good, and just.

References

Cose, E. (1993). The rage of a privileged class. New York: HarperCollins.

Kanter, R. M. (1977). Men and women of the corporation. New York: Basic Books.

The Holy Bible King James Version. (2004). [Ottawa]: eBooksLib.

Thomas, D. A., & Wetlaufer, S. (1997). A question of color: A debate on race in the U.S. workplace. Harvard Business Review. 75(5), 118.

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Quantum Physics and Alternative Universes

Abstract

Physicists ranging from Isaac Newton to Albert Einstein to current day have been examining and exploring with observation and cutting edge mathematics and technology everything from the motion of objects through our space and time to the shape and nature of atoms to the nature of our universe to the possible existence of alternative universes. The many mysteries and phenomena of the universe in which we exist are being probed deeper and deeper as technology and mathematics advance in the 21st century. The advancements we achieve today are built on the foundations of the ideas and theories of the past. Even if theories are proven wrong the critical analysis' which disprove provide information which may lead to correct theories.

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Relative Values & The Ecumenical Community

The Ecumenical Community

Pastor's and believer's main concern is building and maintaining an ecumenical community of believers.

John 15:16, 17. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

How is one inducted into this community of believers? Why is the ecumenical community special?

The community of believers are a special people, holy and sanctified by the shed blood of Jesus Christ through the redemption process outlined in the Holy Bible.

Romans 5:8-11. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

1 John 2:15-17. 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Holiness: Dedicated and consecrated to God. Devoted to the service of God. Morally and spiritually excellent.

Moral Decay and Spiritual Wickedness

The world seeks to be free of ob jective truth and ob jective values. In a world of moral relativity Christian values and beliefs are impugned.

John 15:18, 19. 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Romans 5:13-17. 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adams transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one mans offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Ephesians 5:15-21. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, butPastor Winterhalter Relative Values & The Ecumenical Community 4 understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

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