The other day, I was chatting to a few folk at a Saturday afternoon church social. After a few worship songs and the obligatory Bible reading, we adjourned to shoot the breeze, enjoying a time of fellowship over a cup of coffee with cake and biscuits. That’s how we Christians roll.
Our conversation rambled from the latest movies to the previous weekend’s sporting triumphs and the legendary players who scored the winning goals and touchdowns. We discussed the latest tech innovations and all the cool new gadgets being released on the market. A few folk even chimed in with some comments about their favorite TV shows and the upcoming movies being released in cinemas that month.
From there the conversation turned to online shopping and how dependent we have become on the internet. We chatted about innovations like Amazon, Zoom and Social Media and how they have forever changed our lives — for better or for worse. Off the back of that, someone mentioned that visionary leaders, like Jeff Bezos and Steve Jobs have changed the world.
Someone pointed out that Steve Jobs had achieved success in two spheres by investing in both Apple and Pixar. This is where things went awry. Based on the comments about both Apple and Pixar, I asserted that Steve Jobs appeared to have the “Midas Touch”, in that everything he touched turned to gold. Just shooting the breeze. Just chatting. It took about five seconds…
… before the first well-meaning believer in our midst responded to the collective Built-in Christian Love of Money Alarm Bell my passing comment had triggered.
‘Yes,’ he said with a suitable air of holiness. ‘But… you know. You can’t take it with you. All the money in the world won’t buy you happiness. Even all those billions of dollars couldn’t save Steve Jobs from the cancer that took his life.’
Downer! But, come on. This was my fault. I have been a Christian for more than forty years now; I really should have known better. Pointing out that a well-known billionaire was rich and had a knack for making money? What did I think was going to happen?
So, here comes my rant for the week.
With all due respect to fellow-believers whose built-in Christian Love of Money Alarm Bells start to ring the moment the subject of wealth is mentioned in any shape or form, I have had about all I can take of this sanctimonious attitude in the church. Especially from middle-class believers who fail to recognize how unbelievably wealthy and blessed they are in the great scheme of things. It really gets my goat. In fact, I’ve been confronted with it so many times that it’s started to get my sheep and chickens as well.
Let’s lead with the fact that being middle-class and living from paycheck to paycheck didn’t save a dear departed brother in our local church from cancer either. And did being a billionaire automatically disqualify Steve Jobs from God’s grace and salvation? Last time I checked my Bible, Jesus died for everyone, rich and poor alike.
Money can be a blessing or a curse — and the only factor that determines which, is our attitude towards it. Why wouldn’t Christians talk about money?
Rich Abba, Holy Abba
‘Nuff said. But if this is the way our Christian conversations are supposed to go then why stop at the love of money? Here are a few more segues I suggest we add to our repertoire.
The next time one of your Christian peers mentions the great game on Saturday, why not point out that victory can only be found in Jesus; winning Saturday’s game is not going to get that team into heaven, brother / sister. Take care to deliver this with a gentle tone. You’re aiming for a pitch that is not overtly judgmental but one that still makes it clear that you have achieved a level of holiness on the subject of sporting prowess that your brother, or sister, has not.
If you don’t get it right the first time, don’t lose heart. It takes practice. Keep at it and, before long, you will deliver the line with that perfect balance of aplomb and humility.
On the other hand, if your Christian conversationalist skips the great game and goes straight to the great sporting hero who scored the winning touchdown or won the title cup — they’ll probably call out that person by name — you can revert to the Success vs Happiness ploy. This is a simple variation on the Wealth vs Happiness gambit above. Say something like, ‘You know, success in this world doesn’t bring happiness. That sporting cup or trophy won’t buy them a place in heaven.’ This will immediately bring said sporting hero down a peg or two and up your own standing in the holiness sweepstakes.
The subject of online shopping is a little trickier, as the internet has no soul and can’t go to heaven — or hell for that matter. Difficult, but not impossible. A good way to handle the tech and innovation topic is via the Paraphrased Scripture device. The moment your Christian conversationalist mentions Amazon, Ebay or anything gadget-related, say something like ‘You know, brother / sister, man shall not live by online shopping alone…’ See what I did there? 😉
Timing is critical here. You need to get the statement in fast. Any hesitation might send the message that you are in some way complicit in your counterpart’s worldliness, and that you too have indulged in online shopping. Also, be sure to paraphrase a well-known verse; one that most, if not all of your audience will have heard many times over. A more obscure Bible verse may go unrecognized by the less spiritual members of your audience and lose its impact as a result. However, done right, the Paraphrased Scripture device will always get a polite laugh from the other Christians in your conversation circle.
What about TV? Too easy! It’s the devil’s eye. Movies? Well! Where do I begin? Is there anything more unwholesome than the violence, foul language and immorality portrayed on the big screen? We could have a field-day tearing into the Hollywood engine.
It’s not that I think we should value money. After being a believer for most of my life, I am well aware of the dangers surrounding the love of money in our lives. However, we won’t overcome the love of money by shutting down the conversation every time the subject comes up.
The fact is money can be a blessing or a curse — and the only factor that determines which, is our attitude towards it. Why wouldn’t Christians talk about money?
I’ll stop now. Rant over.