Switched Keys

The Shepherd's Guide is a Christian business directory for Tyler that just came out here. Most of the advertisers in it have signed that they have made professions of faith. From Attorneys to Wrecker Services everyone listed is hoping for more business from the religious community because they are believers. Before I comment I need to quote some lyrics from Steve Taylor's song "Guilty by Association".

So you need a new car let your fingers take a walk through the business guide for the 'born again' flock You'll be keeping all your money in the kingdom now and you'll only drink milk from a Christian cow Don't you go casting your bread to keep the heathen well-fed Buy Christian pockets instead...

The biblically minded will probably remember Jesus' words paraphrased "If you love just those that love you what good is it everybody does that. You should be better like your father in heaven." So why The Shepherd's Guide?

From the publisher of the guide selling the advertisements to the business listed the primary goal is to get more customers make more money. Churches ministries businesses and the marketing team of The Shepherd's Guide have taken the Biblical warnings against love of money (or possessions) twisted it a little and used it to focus on how you need to be responsible with it and how you can invest that money in their work. Or by buying from other Christians.

The effort attempts to compare money spent with a business claiming to represent the gospel to seed being sown for the gospel. It is a heresy that's so frequently and so systematically taught that it's easy to rationalize. It is a part of the message of many churches today. I've even heard preachers say they could stand before the throne of God with their checkbook and demonstrate that they've been "financially faithful". I wonder what they'll do when Jesus refers them to Matthew 7:21-23.

In an earlier edition the quote on the cover was a good reminder "My Sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me..." John 10:27.

In the first edition of this new series it is "Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9. But then maybe we'll see Jesus turning over some tables.