Christianity vs. the Profit System

Today I compare and contrast the luminosity and generosity of the world's greatest religion with the normal way of doing business in the country supposedly Christianity's greatest exponent -- the United States.

Recently, I read a poem which describes what a Christian life should be like. Here is the poem:

Salvation is:
liberation from evil,
the defeat of the devil,
the transfiguration of man,
living authentically,
putting on Christ,
the restoration of the image of God in man,
participating in the life of God,
restoration of communion with God,
incorruption,
receiving the Holy Spirit,
becoming temples of the Holy Spirit,
forgiveness of sins,
ascending to the throne of God,
participating in the kingdom of God,
being by grace what God is by nature,
the destruction of death,
seeing the light,
being in a process of growth that never ends,
living life the way God meant it to be.*


I doubt there has ever been a more succinct description of the Christian life or salvation.

Compare what is being said here to the way business is done in America or any other place. How close do the men and women of Wall Street come to this description? Not only are they not close, they are not even in the same world. And, of course, this question can be asked of those all across America as self-centered greed can be found everywhere. By no means do I exempt myself totally from such feelings.

It is not too much to hope that in coming years, the way of doing business so common for so long can be reformed. But let us be clear about just what is wrong and what our goals are. The poem above can be a start as we go through the Christmas period.




* from Introducing the Orthodox Church: Its Faith and Life by Anthony M. Coniaris