I found this piece of litter in the parking lot of my local Costco the Monday after Christmas. Far from being inspired or moved in a religious sense, I was instead inspired to put on a pair of gloves and moved to pick it up and toss it into the trash where it belonged. If anything it reminds me how little thought we give to important matters, such as Christ. Our view of Christianity in this country is so corrupt that it allows evangelical “Christians” to support a corrupt and corrupting president who has no belief in their supposed core values. It some quarters (the same quarters that support a corrupt and corrupting president) certain Protestant sects support what we now call “prosperity theology.” It’s easy for such as they to turn what Christ died for into a glib, empty slogan. Matthew 6 from the Good News is an interesting chapter. Here’s what verses 19 through 21 have to say about earthly wealth vs heavenly treasure:

19. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
20. but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“Treasures in heaven” is not material gain. There’s a lot more to consider, but I’ll leave it there for the time being.

And for those who are interested, I’m a former Southern Baptist turned currently non-practicing United Methodist.