In good company

I guess when I started believing that our congregation needed to be confronted with the harsh reality of a New Testament ethic of money I wasn't alone. I stumbled across this article on the CNN Religion Blog this past weekend - they even stole my title! ;)

CNN Belief Blog - Preachers confront the 'last taboo': Condemning Greed amidst Great Recession

It's an interesting article that polls opinions and practices from a number of different perspectives in the American Church. Pastors of all political persuasions and economic philosophies chime in in this discussion and it gives the reader a good sampling of some of the different types of teaching that are out there in the midst of this season of economic crisis. As a pastor myself who has recently finished preaching on this very topic (you can find my three part series The Final Taboo: Stewardship in the 21st Century here) I can tell you that it's a very scary thing to confront. As the article states:

Though millions of Americans are angry over the economy, little moral outrage seems to be coming from the nation’s pulpit, they say. Too many pastors opt for offering pulpit platitudes because they are afraid parishioners will stop giving money if they hear teachings against greed, said the Rev. Robin R. Meyers, senior minister of Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ in Oklahoma City.

As preachers, whether we are dyed in the wool capitalists, bleeding heart socialists, or something in the middle (which is where I like to think I stand) we have an obligation to our people (and ultimately to God) not to shy away from such topics. Ultimately God will be the judge of whether I got it right in all the teaching I presented over our three week journey through the Gospels - but I know that even talking about the issue, the final taboo, that I stand as a preacher in good company.

Just my thoughts for today.