Pope Francis: Greed is an instrument of idolatry (via Raw Story )
Speaking at daily Mass on Monday, Pope Francis condemned the worship of money. Though money itself was not inherently evil, Francis said the attachment to money lead to destruction of families, friends, and the self. “It leads you to idolatry, it…
The English word "poor" there is the Greek 'ptochos' it is translated 'lacking means of subsistence, beggarly' it doesn't have anything to do with "money".
ReplyDeleteIt identifies a state of being 'without means of subsistence' that is all.
A 'means of subsistence' doesn't have anything to do with the English metonym "money".
So when the Pope refers to the Lord 'making himself poor' it is not as if the Lord "gave away all of His money" or something...
the Lord placed himself in a position where He was separated from His "means of subsistence" which as an Israelite was previously provided via His participation in the Israelite economic system... He left that system, and hence lost access to His means...
Paul only uses this word 5 times in his letters. Never in reference to anyone in the nations, but rather in reference to those back in Judea who were also believers in Christ, and found themselves separated from the Israelite system and separated from their 'means of subsistence' also, like the Lord previously...
There is no scriptural reference to anyone being "poor" in the nations, the 'poor' are always among Israel.
Paul's commission was not to open up a bunch of soup kitchens in Greece and Rome as there were no 'poor' among the nations as far as the Greek scriptures are concerned; no one there lacked 'means of subsistence'; 'charity' as we know it today, was apparently not necessary.
rsp,
There is NO nuance to the Pope's message here... it is a mish mash of all sorts of things... chaotic.
ReplyDelete"greed" is 'pleonexia' or 'more-having'... it doesn't have anything to do with "money" either...
This is sad...
TIP: Bypass the Pope, go directly to Paul:
ReplyDelete"17 Those who are rich in the current eon be charging not to be haughty, nor yet to rely on the dubiousness of riches, but on God, Who is tendering us all things richly for our enjoyment;
18 to be doing good acts, to be rich in ideal acts, to be liberal contributors,
19 treasuring up for themselves an ideal foundation for that which is impending, that they may get hold of life really." 1 Tim 6:17-19