Category: “The LOVE of MONEY”

12 Studies: Why the rich ‘are such a selfish, less empathetic and less altruistic lot’ — Wealth, education and prestige and a higher station in life gave them the freedom to only worry about themselves

On August 14, 2011

From: Daily Mail

Why the rich ‘are such a selfish, less empathetic and less altruistic lot’

Few people have much sympathy for the rich who have lost millions in the latest share price crash.

But then a new study has revealed the wealthy are unlikely to be to bothered about those who are struggling to make ends meet.

According to psychologist and social scientist Dacher Keltner the rich are usually self-obsessed and only worried about their own well being.

Keltner said they were ‘less empathetic, less altruistic and generally more selfish’ as a result of having so much money.

He said they have an ‘ideology of self interest’ and more likely to think about themselves whereas those less well off were more likely to help others.

‘We have now done 12 separate studies measuring empathy in every way imaginable, social behaviour in every way, and some work on compassion and it’s the same story,’ he said.

‘Lower class people just show more empathy, more prosocial behavior, more compassion, no matter how you look at it.’

Entire Article Here

[WordPOWER!] Those who want to be $$$RICH$$$ — Gain the world and lose your soul

By Jeff Fenske

On August 14, 2011

In "The LOVE of MONEY", WordPOWER

Mark 8:36-37

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul?
Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

* * *

James 1:10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low …

But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position,
because he will pass away like a wild flower. …

James 5:1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of …

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because
of the misery that is coming upon you. …

Revelation 3:17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do …

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do
not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. …

1 Timothy 6:9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and …

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish
and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. …

1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world …

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their
hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who …

Luke 6:24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already …

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. … “What sorrow
awaits you who are rich, for you have your only happiness now. …

Luke 18:25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye …

Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God …

Interesting prosperity discussion with Francis Chan: What if we’d get a lot of money like Francis did? (His books are best sellers)

By Jeff Fenske

On July 4, 2011

In "The LOVE of MONEY", Francis Chan

The answer is: “pray about it” —
what I believe the Holy Spirit just told me to write.

It would be different for all of us,
which is what life in the Son is all about.

Can you trust Him,
whatever His answer is?

“Are you willing to give it all away?”
He may not ask you to — really.
But are you willing to if He did?
Would you be willing to find out?

To be free from the love of money/
the root (demonic stronghold) of all evil is paramount!

Jeff : )

Gets really interesting at minute 8[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p-SYMis0-w] Francis Chan interviewed by Mark Driscoll and Joshua Harris

Uploaded by ihatechurchcom on Sep 7, 2010

Driscoll hammers away at Chan’s behavioral patterns in his new endeavor of church expansion. Driscoll and Harris both find large holes in Chan’s theory of why and what he is building after leaving his church in Simi Valley, CA.

[2-minute video] Francis Chan: BASIC.Fellowship – Potlucks?

By Jeff Fenske

On July 4, 2011

In "The LOVE of MONEY", Francis Chan

God isn’t necessarily calling us to do this, right now.

He probably isn’t.

But what if He did, someday?

…especially when things get really bad.

* * *

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yzDIu1yVWU]BASIC.Fellowship Promo – Potlucks

Uploaded by BASICSeries on May 19, 2011

‘Coast’: Vatican Secrets — what happens to the money dropped in the collection basket on Sunday mornings?

By Jeff Fenske

On June 11, 2011

In "The LOVE of MONEY", Catholic Church

From: CoasttoCoastAM.com…

Vatican Secrets

Date:	06-11-11
Host:	Ian Punnett
Guests:	Jason Berry

The Roman Catholic Church is the largest organization in the world, yet the Vatican has never revealed its net worth. The value of its works of art, great churches, properties, and stocks runs into tens of billions of dollars. Author Jason Berry tells Ian Punnett what happens to the money dropped in the collection basket on Sunday mornings.

Render Unto Rome: The Secret Life of Money in the Catholic Church

Gandhi?: “I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

By Jeff Fenske

On May 7, 2011

In "The LOVE of MONEY", 'Church' is the Cause of the Crash, Biblically Disqualified Leaders?, FreedomQuotes, No Enemy, Power OVER or under, Reverse-Christianity Responsible

“I like your Christ;
I do not like your Christians.
Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

– Mahatma Gandhi

* * *

Since posting, I have found that some dispute that Gandhi said this. I found the following:

I can’t find any source for him stating the quote as such. I did find a book, The Knights Templar & the Protestant Reformation, which states that when Stanley Jones, a missionary met with Ghandi he asked him:

Mr. Gandhi, though you quote the words of Christ often, why is that you appear to so adamantly reject becoming his follower?

Gandhi replied:

Oh, I don’t reject Christ. I love Christ. It’s just that so many of you Christians are so unlike Christ.

The book seems to have a reference, although I can’t check what it is as the references page is not on Google Books.

The quote seems to be from the book Mr. Gandhi, the man by Millie Graham Polak although the book is not viewable online.

Searching the book for the first part of the passage quoted in the knights templar book, “Is Mr. Gandhi a Christian?” returns a hit, although searching for “stanley jones” or “reject christ” does not.

In The Christ of the Indian Road by E. Stanley Jones, Stanley Jones asked Gandhi how to naturalize Christianity into India. Gandhi replied in part:

I would suggest first of all that all of you Christians, missionaries and all begin to live more like Jesus Christ.

This could be in part where the quote came from, if it was never said directly by Gandhi.

Given the amount of consistent references to the quote being said in reply to a question from Stanley Jones, I think it is likely something very similar to the oft quoted passage was said. I can’t find anything online that shows this for certain and don’t have access to the books where the quote may appear to check, so it’s hard to say for sure.

Dave A. responds in a comment to this post (below):

The information I have so far attributes the proximate statement in Stanley’s book to Bara Dada and not to Gandhi. I have a first edition copy of “Mr. Gandhi the Man” by Polak (1931) and I assure you that the Gandhi quote is NOT in that book. He speaks to his friend about his attraction to Christianity and the possibility of becoming Christian himself. His reasons for not doing so, he explains, have to do with his sense that he has found, in his “native” Hindu religion, all of the essential values that Christianity promotes. He is in a sense a universalist, believing that a path to God can be found in every major religion. There are no disparaging remarks about Christians in the book. Gandhi’s history is one of reconciliation and marshalling people from many faith communities to promote freedom and justice. That work began in earnest in South Africa, where he brought Christians together with other adherents for his social justice work.

[WordPOWER!] 1 Timothy 6 — "Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called." "Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches…"

By Jeff Fenske

On February 7, 2011

In "The LOVE of MONEY", Doctrines Demystified, Doctrines of Demons?, Lust Freedom!, Who Goes to Heaven, WordPOWER

1 Timothy 6

3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, 4 he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions, 5 constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. 8 But having food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. 13 I command you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession, 14 that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ; 15 which in its own times he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.

17 Charge those who are rich in this present world that they not be haughty, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy; 18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

20 Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of the knowledge which is falsely so called; 21 which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

The love of money gone amuck among preachers: Taking money from the poor by giving them false hope is $$$big$$$ business! Kenneth Copeland – "I am a billionaire."

By Jeff Fenske

On January 16, 2011

In "The LOVE of MONEY", Biblically Disqualified Leaders?, Doctrines of Demons?, The Church is Getting Jacked!

“I have confessed that I am in the billion flow,
and that I am a billionaire.”

– Kenneth Copeland

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmKYpljgWeM]FAke false preachers.wmv

Ebonyqueenstandup | January 04, 2010 | 58 likes, 5 dislikes

WHAT Do THESE PEOPLE TEACH YOU ? all the deception that people are falling for. Absolutely [—-] these FALSE TEACHERS! The modern institution of the church HAS FAILED!

YOU ARE NOT A SLAVE ANYMORE
READ AND DO Research On The BIble

Fine OUT THE TRUTH

Stop believing everything the preacher say

clips from ringo tv and others

David Wilkerson: The Idolatry of Being 'Successful' — The Love of Money Really is the Root of All Evil

By Jeff Fenske

On December 21, 2010

In "The LOVE of MONEY", Demons in Christians?, Lust Freedom!, Revival, Tithing or Spirit-led, Who Goes to Heaven

[Updated] I just thought of something. This is huge!

I’ve often wondered how the love of money can be the root of all evil. Consider this.
David Wilkerson here says:

Idolatry has to do with a much deeper heart issue. The number-one idol among God’s people isn’t adultery, pornography or alcohol. It’s a much more powerful lust. What is this idol? It’s a driving ambition for success. [or in other words: “the love of money”]

So what logically follows is that when people get rid of, excise the root of all evil, the love of money, then the other sins can’t be a bondage, because the ROOT of all evil is gone.
Remember:
“The love of money is the root of all evil.”
The love of money is an actual demonic stronghold that can only influence us if we give it a place.
And the consequences are losing our inheritance:

“It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.”

– Jesus (Mark 10:25)

And the kingdom of God means heaven, you all — just as it means eternal life in Galatians 5. See Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God?

This doesn’t mean that all of us need to sell everything and give it to the poor; though, God is probably telling some to do exactly that. We need to do whatever is necessary so the love of money doesn’t have us — so we can walk free in LOVE.

“Those who are led by the Spirit are the children of God.” Paul in Romans 8:

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God. 15 For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God; 17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us. 19 For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

So what is the Holy Spirit telling us — to be right-with-God-and-people, going-to-heaven children of God?
And pastors, why are you still teaching old covenant tithing, putting this weight of bondage on the people, keeping them from being led by the Holy Spirit in this important issue: what to do with their money?

Let’s be free from all of the weights that encumber — every willful sin that leads to death — by making sure we are free of the root of all evil — the love of money!

Let us be ONE in Him!

“Then the world will know” — Jesus heart-cry for us in John 17.

Jeff : )

——

From: World Challenge

IT BEGAN WITH REPENTANCE

by David Wilkerson | December 20, 2010

The church as we know it today began with repentance. When Peter preached the cross at Pentecost, thousands came to Christ. This new church was made up of one body, consisting of all races, filled with love for one another. Its corporate life was marked by evangelism, a spirit of sacrifice, even martyrdom.

The wonderful beginning reflects God’s word to Jeremiah: “I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed” (Jeremiah 2:21). Yet the Lord’s next words describe what often happens to such works: “How then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?” (2:21). God was saying, “I planted you right. You were mine, bearing my name and nature. But now you’ve turned degenerate.”

What caused this degeneration in the church? It always has been, and will continue to be, idolatry. God is speaking of idolatry when he says to Jeremiah, “My people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit” (2:11).

Most Christian teaching today identifies an idol as anything that comes between God’s people and himself. Yet that’s only a partial description of idolatry.

Idolatry has to do with a much deeper heart issue. The number-one idol among God’s people isn’t adultery, pornography or alcohol. It’s a much more powerful lust. What is this idol? It’s a driving ambition for success. And it even has a doctrine to justify it.

The idolatry of being successful describes many in God’s house today. These people are upright, morally clean, full of good works. But they’ve set up an idol of ambition in their hearts, and they can’t be shaken from it.

God loves to bless his people. He wants his people to succeed in all they undertake honestly. But there is now a raging spirit in the land that is overtaking multitudes—this is the spirit of love for recognition and acquiring of things.

A man of the world said recently, “He who dies with the most toys—wins.” Tragically, Christians, too, are caught up in this pursuit.

How far we have strayed from the gospel of living through dying to self, ego, and worldly ambition.

"Generation Me": Today's College Students Lack Empathy — "In the last days, grievous times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant…"

By Jeff Fenske

On May 28, 2010

In "The LOVE of MONEY", Freedom

2 Timothy 3:

1 But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power. Turn away from these….

From: Yahoo News

…today’s students scored 40 percent lower on a measure of empathy than their elders did.

The findings are based on a review of 72 studies of 14,000 American college students overall conducted between 1979 and 2009.

“We found the biggest drop in empathy after the year 2000,” said Sara Konrath, a researcher at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research.

The study was presented this week at the annual meeting of the Association for Psychological Science in Boston.

Is “generation me” all about me?

Compared with college students of the late 1970s, current students are less likely to agree with statements such as “I sometimes try to understand my friends better by imagining how things look from their perspective,” and “I often have tender, concerned feelings for people less fortunate than me.”

“Many people see the current group of college students – sometimes called ‘Generation Me’ – as one of the most self-centered, narcissistic, competitive, confident and individualistic in recent history,” said Konrath, who is also affiliated with the University of Rochester Department of Psychiatry.

Konrath’s colleague graduate student Edward O’Brien added, “It’s not surprising that this growing emphasis on the self is accompanied by a corresponding devaluation of others.”

Entire Article Here

International banksters twist Jesus’ 2nd Greatest Commandment as if it’s no longer hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven

By Jeff Fenske

On November 8, 2009

In "The LOVE of MONEY", Doctrines of Demons?, Who Goes to Heaven

From: National Post

Bankers say Jesus would have approved of fat paycheques

.
“Profit is not satanic,” Barclays chief executive John Varley said at the historic St. Martin-in-the- Fields church on London’s Trafalgar Square, one of several top executives to argue that Jesus would have approved of their pay packages.

Bloomberg reports:

The 53-year-old head of Britain’s second-biggest bank said banks are the “backbone” of the economy. Rewarding high- performing bankers with more pay doesn’t conflict with Christian values, he said. Varley was paid 1.08 million pounds ($1.77 million) and no bonus in 2008. …

True enough, maybe, but is the church the place to make the argument? Jesus wasn’t famous for his love of money-lenders. Wasn’t there something about chasing them out of the temple? …

Brian Griffiths of Goldman Sachs spoke at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Bloomberg reports, where he argued that “The injunction of Jesus to love others as ourselves is an endorsement of self-interest…We have to tolerate the inequality as a way to achieving greater prosperity and opportunity for all.”

Entire Article Here

Related:

Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas): “Greed is Good”

Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way