The Golden Calf.

We are constantly told to work harder, compete, cope, consume, accumulate, watch, and spend.....

We are told to be tough, ruthless, strong, selfish, and aggressive.....

We are never told to follow the ways of God:
to show loving-kindness, mercy, compassion, consideration, honesty, justice, forgiveness, truthfulness, and love.....

"Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord alone.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.  Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart.  Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.  Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house, and on your gates."  Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NRSV)

This is telling Israel, God's chosen people, to follow the ways of God at all times.

If this kind of love was shown between people on earth we would all be in heaven!

But we don't.

We follow the golden calf of materialism.

And the world is in darkness.


[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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