News-Record.com

No, I don't agree. I think the Bible is right when it says the *love of* money is the root of evil.

This is one of the most mis-quoted sentiments to be found in the English-speaking world, I believe. When you think about the nature of money -- simply as a socially-agreed standard for representing value -- it's hard to see how it can be the source of anything other than convenience.

Now, the love of money -- or perhaps a better term might be simply "greed" -- that's what will get you into trouble more often than not. {;-)

This organization has spent countless millions of dollars due to their systematically damaging countless numbers of children via sexual abuse -and now we read these same villains have stolen and misappropriated more millions of dollars.
Surely, all those who have given money to this organization have enabled and encouraged these vile crimes and surely those who continue to give, continue to encourage.

Eric : “When you think about the nature of money -- simply as a socially-agreed standard for representing value -- it's hard to see how it can be the source of anything other than convenience.”

I agree; money itself is neutral. It is the human propensity to use it for the expression of the sinful passions that presents a problem. Human desire is the God-given means of being fully human, of enjoying and appreciating life generally. But the Scriptures present us with the real human dilemma: the desires, when infected with sin (flesh, Gr. sarx), become the means of all manner of evil and abuse. St. Paul warns Timothy with these words:

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all (kinds of) evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows . . . Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. (I Tim. 6: 6 – 10, 17)

It seems that putting people in juxtaposition with the power (money) to indulge the sinfully used passions incites and enables their areas of weakness in the sin nature. The nature of sin is that, once incited, it has the tendency to want more and more – insatiability – very much like a drug. These priests obviously jettisoned biblical truth and simply decided to indulge their sinful passions – at the expense of their charges. They were not living the Faith, but were rank hypocrites. Such is the ubiquitous and pernicious nature of sin. No one, nowhere is exempt from temptation and the debasing and destructive effects of yielding. This only highlights the need for Christ’s atoning death and its power to overcome sin. And human will is a key element. If God by-passed human volition He would be compromising the Imago Dei. Obviously, these so-called priests willed to disregard God and His ways in the pursuit of their carnal impulses.

And so, Paul exhorts Timothy, his son in the Faith: “O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.” (I Tim. 6: 20,21)

Indeed, grace is the only hope of fallen man. But each one has to embrace it continually and receive its cleansing and sustaining power. It is clear from the Scriptures, that some will fail to do so, and shipwreck their own faith-life and that of others as well. This is especially heinous and regrettable in those who take vows to serve and uphold the flock of God. thank God, most do not fall into this category.