IMMORAL

There are those who would, behind smoke and mirrors, convince us that morality only has to do with sex and particularly with whom you sleep and how.  They put that "out there" so that they can hide their truly IMMORAL practices around greed and their idolatry to Mammon (wealth) and Mars (power) and Narcissus (prestige, position, self-importance and promotion), above all others.

The reason that "the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil", is because LOVE is to be reserved for God and Neighbor (who Jesus defines as stranger and even enemy - Luke 10:25, ff.).  But when we give our devotion and make our whole lives about making money for ourselves, or those just like us, especially at the expense (exploitation, trampling down) of others, it is IMMORAL.  When our love is reserved for only self and getting what we can for self at any cost to others around us, it is IMMORAL.

For instance -

31% of Georgians who would be eligible for ACA insurance (ObamaCare) will not receive benefits because Georgia's Republican Governor and Republican Legislature has rejected it in this state and declined to participate.  These 31% are NOT those who are eligible for Medicaid now, who are receiving substandard healthcare, but healthcare none-the-less.  These 31% are those who are WORKING, so they make too much to receive the health insurance from Medicaid, but they do not make enough to be able to afford insurance on their own - you know - those who are the working poor, penalized by low wages and no benefits or job security because they live in this "right to work (for low wages, no benefits and no job security)" state.  Now, they are further penalized, because their Republican politicians in office want to keep them from the affordable healthcare they could have through the ACA.

THAT is IMMORAL.

For instance -

Republicans in Congress who claim to be in the fiscally RESPONSIBLE party, many of whom gleefully got us into 2 wars that have cost us TRILLIONS of dollars and THOUSANDS of lives, will not balance the budget (their self-declared #1 agenda) by raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans and American corporations, or even get them to pay what they owe, calling them ENTITLEMENTS, but rather want to cut aid to the poor and have done so... so that women and children have food taken away from them, head start classes for the poor are shut down, elderly programs slashed, etc., etc..

THAT is IMMORAL.

For instance -

Republicans in Congress shut down government and it cost our nation $24 billion.  This from the party that wants to save a few bucks by cutting individual aid to families.
Republicans are engineering voter suppression, gerrymandering every district they can, spreading misinformation and lies about our President and raping the country's environment for profit, all while claiming their patriotism.
Wealthy individuals and corporations/industries are buying politicians and their votes, in order to further exploit the environment and destroy it at will, and workers here and abroad, while claiming to love democracy. 
And people are being duped into believing those are good things to do.  And people vote for the ones doing those things!

THAT is IMMORAL.

We are becoming an IMMORAL NATION,
NOT because we do not have public prayer in the schools - even WITH that, these "right wing" folks would give their true devotion to Mammon.
NOT because of gay marriage, even WITHOUT these equal rights being recognized, their GREED would drive them.
NOT because of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists or "Liberals"...

BUT because we as a nation, AT BEST, give our LIP SERVICE to God, but give our TRUE DEVOTION to Mammon (wealth), Mars (violence) and Narcissus (self).

"This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines."  Mark 7:6,7    JESUS
"You cannot serve both God and Mammon."  Matthew 6:24    JESUS

IMMORAL.  Unconscionable.  The new norm in American perspective, philosophy and practice.

So, what will WE do about that?

Pastor Jamie

like it is

GREED is America's religion... we will sacrifice many on Mammon's altar in order to garner its favor...
Without conscience, without hesitation or reservation, if some can make more profit on the backs of others, we see nothing wrong with it, because our religion (laissez-faire - limitless Capitalism) helps us serve our god - Mammon.

While giving lip service to Jesus, praising His name and giving Him our tithes to prime that cosmic pump for our selves (what we have reduced Jesus to), we give our devotion to the acquisition of more - always more, with no limits.  

The nature of GREED, is that no matter how much we already have, we will want more because more is out there.  

Jesus warned us about all manner of greed.  
Jesus warned that we cannot serve both God and mammon (wealth).
Jesus warned us not to be rich fools and accumulate more while ignoring others around us.
Jesus warned us not to be those who step over the poor and sick among us.
Jesus taught us about His judgment, and how it is dependent upon how we have treated the hungry, thirsty, naked, stranger, sick and imprisoned (how we treat Him in it).
Jesus warned that it is HARD for the rich to enter the Kingdom.
Jesus made Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the OTHER - God, neighbor) His command.

Greed's nature is all about serving SELF and NOT OTHER, either God or neighbor.

It is time to give up this duplicitous existence.  Choose this day whom you will serve. 
As for me and my house, we will serve THE LORD.

Pastor Jamie

Enough IS Enough

I am a middle class person.
I have worked in my field (Pastoral Ministry), and related fields (Hospice) for over 27 years, most of which I earned very low wages.
My wife has worked in her field for 31 years, and is also a Pastor.
Together, we live comfortably by American standards, in opulence compared to MANY in the world
     and our own country.
We give our offerings to the small home church we pastor, 70% of which are given away in local (SW Atlanta), national (Common Ground - New Orleans) and international (Food for the Poor -
 Haiti) outreach.
We also support other congregations and causes that we believe help "the least of these".
I do not share this because I want your admiration or accolades, in fact, I believe I do not do as much
    as I should, given all that I have.
I share this because there are MANY who consider themselves Christian people, who claim to follow Jesus and love Jesus, who begrudge "the least of these" ANYTHING they get.  I share this because there are Christians who work to elect those who would systematically, intentionally and without conscience take more away from "the least of these".  I share this because there are Christian pastors and bishops who dupe their members, many of whom ARE "the least of these", to give their tithes (some, their last $10) so that God, the cosmic pump, will be primed to bless them with prosperity, and they have been doing that for decades now.  And those congregations of those pastors and bishops pay those pastors and bishops exorbitant salaries and build bigger barns (as in lavish facilities), rather than help their local or distant poor.  I share this because there are many, some desperate and some greedy, who have been led to believe this is faithfulness to the Jesus of the Gospels, whose concern and commands for the sake of the poor is very clear.
I share this because it sickens me and saddens me.  I would GLADLY pay more taxes, if our government that is elected to represent ALL of us, would EQUALIZE education, healthcare, employment, housing, transportation and safety in the land of "all (people) are created equal".  I would GLADLY pay a little more for my healthcare to see those with NONE get basic healthcare as a HUMAN RIGHT.  I would GLADLY give a bit more to "feed the hungry, clothe the naked, welcome (and not exploit and then deport) the stranger, and visit the sick and imprisoned (to liberate them both from their plight).
I am not wealthy, and I have worked a long time to have what I have, many years with very little to show for my efforts. 
I am also a FOLLOWER OF JESUS and JESUS' WAY.  I must submit my will to Jesus' Will for the world, and conform my Way to Jesus' way for me to be in THIS PART of God's Kingdom.
God promised DAILY BREAD - enough.  Most American Christians have MUCH MORE THAN ENOUGH... instead of being THANKFUL, SATISFIED and CONTENT with having more than enough, SOME will always want MORE, because MORE is out there - that is the nature of Greed and idolatry to wealth, power or prestige/position.  When that takes over our hearts and souls, then our concern for the poor, commanded by Jesus in Agape Love, is gone, because we cannot see past self - what I can get, what I can have, what I can become.  So we adopt political philosophies and economic principles, vote for and advocate only for OURSELVES, even at the expense of the most poor and vulnerable around us, even blaming them for their own victimization and scapegoating them for us not having more - always more... and we twist The Word to suit our desires...
What we are becoming is ruthlessly selfish and hatefully mean-spirited, while claiming to be people who follow Jesus.  That won't work.
Pastor Jamie

Your Standard

What is the standard,
what is the code,
what is the set of principles
that guides how you live in the world around you?
...
What informs how you
participate in society,
politically,
economically,
engage in your work and
live every other aspect of your life?

For me,
it is the Good News of Jesus –
what Jesus taught and exemplified,
as we have it in the Gospels.
Rev. Jamie Kaufman

connected

So, I have often heard the statement that, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend.", and have even accepted its adaptation to college football - "My two favorite teams are Ohio State and whoever is playing Michigan." 

I believe Agape Love compels me to something a bit deeper.

Anyone who is hurt, exploited, neglected or ignored is my sister/brother.

If I indeed LOVE MY NEIGHBOR AS MYSELF, then I will no more want to see my neighbor (defined by Jesus in Luke 10:25-37 as even stranger or enemy) be hurt than I would want that for myself or my closest loved ones.  If I LOVE MY NEIGHBOR AS MYSELF, I will no more want to see my neighbor go without what he/she needs than I would want that for myself or my closest loved ones.

Jesus' teachings do not allow for us to only take care of "ourselves and our own".  Jesus' teachings do not allow us to callously exploit another so that we can have more for ourselves, neglect the needs of another that are clearly before us or exclude another from community because he/she is different.

So, for a politician to claim a faith in Jesus, and then actively write or uphold laws that hurt ANY of Jesus' sisters and brothers, who are his/her own sisters or brothers also... goes against Jesus.

For a business person to lay off employees to keep more profit for him/herself or stockholders, or to get bonuses as an executive, or pay them at a less than living wage, or keep them from getting healthcare coverage, or prevent them from living fully in any way... goes against Jesus.

For a voter to vote in folks who speak War over Diplomacy, Greed over Generosity, Hubris over Humility, Isolationism or Exclusivism over Inclusion, Injustice for some and Exemption for others, Exploitation and Inequality over Equity and Equality for all, keeping some down so that others may rise on their backs... GOES AGAINST JESUS.

We stand before Jesus.  There is no, "it's nothing personal, it's just business."  There is no, "only for me and my own."  There is no, "let them fend for themselves."  The command of Jesus to live Agape Love does not allow it.

"By their fruits you will know them."
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
JESUS commands Agape Love for Neighbor (even stranger and enemy).
Jesus' sisters and brothers are OUR sisters and brothers.
It is all... we are all... CONNECTED.

Pastor Jamie