For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.(1 Timothy 6:10).
I have to tell you that I hate money, I really do. I hate money because without it there is not a lot most people can do in this world. I also hate money because of how it is used to control people in one fashion or another. We need money to be able to live some where, we need money to be able to eat, sleep, drink, have a good time. Without money you cannot have transportation either private or public. The Government wants our money. Private businesses want our money. Churches want money. Gay friendly businesses and organizations want and need money. There are so many people including myself who are unemployed at this point in time and in need of money and are just wondering how we will be able to make it through one day to the next.
Money is like most things, when it is used to do good things, good comes out of it. When money is used and manipulated for evil, it's destruction is some of the worst. No storm, fire, flood, bombing or shooting can do as much damage to people, as money can when it is misused. The love of money is often the motivation for crimes, politics, and untold arm twisting.
We have been seeing this year how when the love of money is more important than people, just how destructive it can be. Health insurance executives more concerned about keeping their billion dollar profits than about those who needed affordable health care, were able to convince our government to not include a public option in health care reform. Wall Street money bullies are trying to do everything they can to weaken the present Finance reform bill. The Deep Water Horizon Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico and the slow response of BP and the Federal Government has been mostly about the love of money. They really could care less about the wild life that is dying, the water that is polluted for years to come, the people who's jobs and homelands are destroyed. The love of money is so destructive it makes hearts about important things harden, while those who are under the spell of those who have money, are left helpless.
When it comes to the equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people, I cannot help but ask the following question. There are many businesses and corporations that fund Gay Pride events, conferences, advocacy groups, and so and so forth. For many of these, is it the cause of equal rights for LGBT people, or the love of money that many businesses and corporations fund equal rights causes? Here in Minneapolis and St. Paul we have many businesses that advertise for Twin Cities Pride, such as Target. I tend to shop at Target quite a bit. Yet, I have heard stories in other parts of the country, where Target store managers are not all that kind to LGBT people. Comcast has been known to advertise for LGBT organizations. Yet, included in their channel line up is things like the 700 Club, EWTN, Fox Noise, and the WORD network. Yesterday, I was just blown away that a local radio station AM 950 that is known as the progressive station, and supportive of the LGBT community had a radio advertisement for Michele Bachmann. Are such business for real, or do they just say so for the love of money?
There are many politicians who claim to be supportive of LGBT rights. Are they supportive because it is the right thing to do, or because of their love of the money that supportive voice tends to bring in for their campaigns?
It is important for the LGBT community to seek those organizations and even companies that support our cause. As much as I hate money, the community does need it to pursue our goals. However, I do believe we have every business pushing those who say they support LGBT equality, to not just do it for the love of money, but because it is the right thing to do.
Here is a recent example of some of what I am talking about. This morning it was announced that the President of Malawi has pardoned the gay couple that was sentenced to 14 years prison and hard labor. Did he do it because it is the right thing to do, or because of how much his country is dependent upon foreign money to care for his citizens?
While we understand that money is not a root of many evils, but the love of money is, it is important to be sure that our hearts are in the right place. God calls us in Jesus Christ to place God as our first priority. God calls upon us to use the resources God has given us to do the best good we can do for ourselves and others. Where money is needed to help in the cause of LGBT equality, indeed it should be used. Let it be used with a sense of honesty, integrity and a true desire for equality for everyone. When it is used only to gain a sense of stature and not give a damn about anything or anyone, let that be called out for what it is.
In the movie "For the Bible Tells Me So" Bishop Holloway calls attention to the fact that most of the anti-gay Biblical literalist's are capitalist's with billions of dollars in revenue. When anti-gay bias earns money, prestige and popularity, we have to ask the question, have Biblical literalist's really taken to heart Paul's statement that the love of money is a root of many evils? When Evangelicals from America get money from Uganda to go and promote an atmosphere of intolerance and hate, so that the Parliament of Uganda would consider a bill that could put open homosexuals in prison or kill them by hanging, is that an example of how the love of money is a root of many evils?
As LGBT Christians and individuals of good will, we are challenged today to be people who use our heart, not just our money to do the right thing. We are called to love God and our neighbor unconditionally and all inclusively. Because we are human, we need the help of God, the Holy Spirit to discern what she knows is the right and best thing to do. Are we open to what the Spirit has to say to us and the Church today?
Grant, O Lord, that the course of this world may be peaceably governed by your providence; and that your Church may joyfully serve you in confidence and serenity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for Proper 3, Book of Common Prayer, Page 229).
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, Page 823).
Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, Page 826).
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