Economic Implications of the Didache

[Reader Nilus]

A parish has no business playing the stock market. That money in the stock market could be housing people and feeding them. Where your treasure is there is your heart said Our Lord. Our Lord did not have a place to lay his head, so what does lovely homes have anything to do with a Christian Life? Churches do not need endowments who do you trust; an accountant or The Lord to provide? The Greek Church in Tacoma is in a very rough part of town now, and it looks like a fortress, what a shame! They have not reached out to their crime ridden neighborhood at all.
The Greek Passion a novel by Nikos Kazantakis speaks to the issue of wealthy parishes vs poor ones, it is an absolute masterpiece. One of the best Christian novels ever written IMHO.
It is interesting to note that healers among the Saints in Orthodoxy always are followed by the title the Unmercenary! They were not doctors for money, but for the good of their brothers and sisters. A Christian Doctor who followed the Didache would do his healing in public health clinics, the same with lawyers.
How many resturants feed those with no money? If I make a choice to earn money by playing the market, my choices can and do cause people to lose their livelihood. Is that what the Kingdom of God is about? Making millions so we can build monuments called churches? Or is it making sure every one has food and shelter and clothes, that folks can earn a living? We are called as Christians to live the life that shows where our heart is. My patron saint Nilus of Sora forbid his monks to even beg for bread, saying the Lord provides. He was a lone voice crying in the wilderness of a materialist Russian Church. The monasteries owned serfs! St Nilus was against such things as monasteries owning serfs or huge tracks of land. Because he knew that when that happened the Gospel lost its power, instead of being liberators the Church owned slaves!
Our Lord named one demon, Mammon or Money. He said you can not serve God and Mammon.
Jeff the Finn

 

[MariaRegina]

The Greek Passion a novel by Nikos Kazantakis speaks to the issue of wealthy parishes vs poor ones, it is an absolute masterpiece. One of the best Christian novels ever written IMHO.
Jeff the Finn

I have been advised from priests in the OCA, ROCOR, GOA and Antiochian Church to avoid all books by Nikos Kazantakis. Reading his books can give a person a skewed view on life because Nikos was into Buddhism. I did read his famous Zorba the Greek and was appalled.

I will not debate or discuss his books in this forum. After all, Nikos Kazantakis was excommunicated. The Church doesn't excommunicate a person unless she has a very good reason.

P.S. I do attend retreats, that is why I have met priests from different jurisdications.

 

[MariaRegina]

My dear Jeff:

I think you will agree with me that The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky is probably one of the best Orthodox Christian novels ever written.

Your sister in Christ,

Elizabeth

P.S. I just started reading it, but have read excerpts at retreats.

 

[Oblio]

It is a wonderful book ! I have just started it myself. To read a novel that speaks of the Orthodox way so matter of factly makes you feel at home and alive while reading it.

 

[MariaRegina]

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/didache-roberts.html

The Didache

Chapter 2. The Second Commandment: Grave Sin Forbidden. And the second commandment of the Teaching; You shall not commit murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not commit pederasty, you shall not commit fornication, you shall not steal, you shall not practice magic, you shall not practice witchcraft, you shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill that which is born. You shall not covet the things of your neighbor, you shall not swear, you shall not bear false witness, you shall not speak evil, you shall bear no grudge. You shall not be double-minded nor double-tongued, for to be double-tongued is a snare of death. Your speech shall not be false, nor empty, but fulfilled by deed. You shall not be covetous, nor rapacious, nor a hypocrite, nor evil disposed, nor haughty. You shall not take evil counsel against your neighbor. You shall not hate any man; but some you shall reprove, and concerning some you shall pray, and some you shall love more than your own life.

Dear Jeff and all viewers:

How does this passage affect our economic choices?

I'm not into stocks and bonds, but for those people who dabble with the stock market, isn't it wrong to buy stock in companies like Disney, which attacks Christianity by promoting immoral lifestyles in their movies?

I have been boycotting Disney movies and products.

Any comments! Are there any other companies we should be boycotting?

 

[Papist]

My dear Jeff:

I think you will agree with me that The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky is probably one of the best Orthodox Christian novels ever written.

Your sister in Christ,

Elizabeth

P.S. I just started reading it, but have read excerpts at retreats.

This book had a profound influence on me.

 

[Papist]

My conversion to Christ led me away from right-wing politics.

I am an IT consultant and I am moving into community IT consultancy. It's a pay drop but it provides technology that will seriously improve the quality of life of disadvantaged people.

I left a wealthy parish that cut its support to a neighbouring parish in a very poor part of Glasgow so that it could spend the money on refurbishment instead.

I am not saying these things out of pride but to witness to Christ growing a spirit of povery within me.

 

[MariaRegina]

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/didache-roberts.html

The Didache

Chapter 3. Other Sins Forbidden. My child, flee from every evil thing, and from every likeness of it. Be not prone to anger, for anger leads to murder. Be neither jealous, nor quarrelsome, nor of hot temper, for out of all these murders are engendered. My child, be not a lustful one. for lust leads to fornication. Be neither a filthy talker, nor of lofty eye, for out of all these adulteries are engendered. My child, be not an observer of omens, since it leads to idolatry. Be neither an enchanter, nor an astrologer, nor a purifier, nor be willing to took at these things, for out of all these idolatry is engendered. My child, be not a liar, since a lie leads to theft. Be neither money-loving, nor vainglorious, for out of all these thefts are engendered. My child, be not a murmurer, since it leads the way to blasphemy. Be neither self-willed nor evil-minded, for out of all these blasphemies are engendered.

Rather, be meek, since the meek shall inherit the earth. Be long-suffering and pitiful and guileless and gentle and good and always trembling at the words which you have heard. You shall not exalt yourself, nor give over-confidence to your soul. Your soul shall not be joined with lofty ones, but with just and lowly ones shall it have its intercourse. Accept whatever happens to you as good, knowing that apart from God nothing comes to pass. [emphasis mine]

What are the economic implications in Chapter 3 of the Didache?

 

[MariaRegina]

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/didache-roberts.html

The Didache

Chapter 4. Various Precepts. My child, remember night and day him who speaks the word of God to you, and honor him as you do the Lord. For wherever the lordly rule is uttered, there is the Lord. And seek out day by day the faces of the saints, in order that you may rest upon their words. Do not long for division, but rather bring those who contend to peace. Judge righteously, and do not respect persons in reproving for transgressions. You shall not be undecided whether or not it shall be. Be not a stretcher forth of the hands to receive and a drawer of them back to give. If you have anything, through your hands you shall give ransom for your sins. Do not hesitate to give, nor complain when you give; for you shall know who is the good repayer of the hire. Do not turn away from him who is in want; rather, share all things with your brother, and do not say that they are your own. For if you are partakers in that which is immortal, how much more in things which are mortal? Do not remove your hand from your son or daughter; rather, teach them the fear of God from their youth. Do not enjoin anything in your bitterness upon your bondman or maidservant, who hope in the same God, lest ever they shall fear not God who is over both; for he comes not to call according to the outward appearance, but to them whom the Spirit has prepared. And you bondmen shall be subject to your masters as to a type of God, in modesty and fear. You shall hate all hypocrisy and everything which is not pleasing to the Lord. Do not in any way forsake the commandments of the Lord; but keep what you have received, neither adding thereto nor taking away therefrom. In the church you shall acknowledge your transgressions, and you shall not come near for your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life.

(Emphasis in bold mine.)

Look at the quotes put in bold. These passages have a lot of economic importance.

Does anyone have any comments to make? Or is this all very clear?

 

[MariaRegina]

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/didache-roberts.html

The Didache[/B]]
Chapter 5. The Way of Death. And the way of death is this: First of all it is evil and accursed: murders, adultery, lust, fornication, thefts, idolatries, magic arts, witchcrafts, rape, false witness, hypocrisy, double-heartedness, deceit, haughtiness, depravity, self-will, greediness, filthy talking, jealousy, over-confidence, loftiness, boastfulness; persecutors of the good, hating truth, loving a lie, not knowing a reward for righteousness, not cleaving to good nor to righteous judgment, watching not for that which is good, but for that which is evil; from whom meekness and endurance are far, loving vanities, pursuing revenge, not pitying a poor man, not laboring for the afflicted, not knowing Him Who made them, murderers of children, destroyers of the handiwork of God, turning away from him who is in want, afflicting him who is distressed, advocates of the rich, lawless judges of the poor, utter sinners. Be delivered, children, from all these.

Chapter 6.. Against False Teachers, and Food Offered to Idols. See that no one causes you to err from this way of the Teaching, since apart from God it teaches you. For if you are able to bear the entire yoke of the Lord, you will be perfect; but if you are not able to do this, do what you are able. And concerning food, bear what you are able; but against that which is sacrificed to idols be exceedingly careful; for it is the service of dead gods.

[emphasis mine]

Does anyone have any quotes or comments regarding the economical implications expressed here in Chapters 5 and 6 of The Didache?