Early church leaders held a skeptical view of wealth, aligning with Jesus's perspective that one could not be both wealthy and just. In contrast to modern capitalist ideals that often idolize wealth creation, historical views, as articulated by scholars like Helen Rhee, see money as a limited resource that grows usually through the exploitation of the poor. This dichotomy highlights an enduring tension between contemporary financial aspirations and the moral implications rooted in early Christian teachings on wealth and poverty.
Sermon on the Mount E28 – In his third teaching on money, Jesus issues a warning about elevating wealth to the position of God in our lives. To describe wealth, Jesus uses the word “mammon,” which can be translated as “the thing in which you trust.” What happens when we put our trust in our wealth? And what can it look like to be free from the love of money? In this episode, Tim and Jon and special guests explore the power we give our possessions and the upside-down wisdom that sharing, not hoarding, gives us the security we’re seeking.
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Timestamps
- Chapter 1: Ultimate Value and Allegiance (0:00-9:32)
- Chapter 2: What is Mammon? (9:54-15:16)
- Chapter 3: Unrighteous Mammon (15:16-25:00)
- Chapter 4: Can Wealth and Justice Coexist? (25:00-39:29)
- Chapter 5: The Story of Bishop Hannington Bahemuka (39:29-1:01:03)
Referenced Resources
Show Music
- Original Sermon on the Mount music by Richie Kohen
- BibleProject theme song by TENTS
Show Credits
Stephanie Tam is the lead producer for today’s show, and Tim Mackie is the lead scholar. Production of today’s episode is by Lindsey Ponder, producer; Cooper Peltz, managing producer; and Colin Wilson, producer. Aaron Olsen and Tyler Bailey edited today's episode. Tyler Bailey also provided our sound design and mix and served as supervising engineer. Nina Simone does our show notes, and Hannah Woo provides the annotations for our app. Special thanks to Bishop Bahemuka Hannington. Today’s hosts are Jon Collins and Michelle Jones.
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