Back to Basics.

We have lost sight of all honesty and integrity.

With the advent of Market Values has come a justification of corruption in the name of profit.

Anything that makes money is justified.

Honesty and integrity are no longer required.

It is time to get back to basics.

Basic honesty and an orientation to virtue.

Why?

Because corruption and evil cause untold suffering for the many.

A privileged few may profit from these hidden practices.

But "what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life?"  Matthew 16:26 (NRSV)

In the end our life is in the hands of God.

"and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"  Micah 6:8 (NRSV)

This is basic honesty and compassion.  

The world will tell you to want and to acquire, to spend and to own, to listen and to watch.

They will say, "There is no God."

For money is their god.

But Jesus  said, "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve God and wealth."  Matthew 6:24 (NRSV)

"But" you say "We have to work in order to live."

"And they own everything."

But God is  greater power than the plutocrats who rule our world.

God can get you a job.

You can even work for God. 

He has ways that are beyond the understanding of the masters.

We can even help to make straight the ways of the plutocrats.

So return to your native ideals and virtues.

And pray for the fathers to turn from evil.

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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