Mammon is a demon who, according to Christian theology, embodies the cardinal sin of greed. Mammon's greed is so powerful that innocents can be drawn into it and corrupted, so that like Mammon they will focus all their attention on building up worldly treasure as opposed to those virtues they can take with them into the kingdom of heaven.
In many churches today, all kinds of entertainment accompanied by an entrance fee is offered with the desperate hope that God and Mammon can both be embraced, and this in spite of our being warned (Matthew . 6 24) that together they cannot be worshipped for the simple reason that we will come to love the one and despise the other. In many pulpits, a diluted version of the Gospels is preached, with the abundant blooms of Gospel Truths being severely pruned to make them better fit the garden of the understanding (or so it is hoped) of ordinary folk.
Paul, who kick-started faith in Christ in the pagan gentiles had no illusions about that which should be preached. Paul preached the Cross of Christ and Him crucified followed by His death defeating resurrection that opened up to all believers the hope of eternal life and it was that which he unfailingly preached to his hearers, for he knew full well that within those words is where the real power of the Gospels to strengthen the faithful and to convert and save the unbeliever resides. Enabling Paul to do that required the visionary understanding of his faith that God will work with and strengthen all those who believe in Him and will work His wonders through them.
If Gospel Truths were preached on each and every occasion from each and every pulpit there would be no need for spurious events to be held which might put a few bottoms on seats but which detract from the real purpose of churches which is the 'Salvation of Souls' for that is the real and only means of Glorifying God.
In many churches today, all kinds of entertainment accompanied by an entrance fee is offered with the desperate hope that God and Mammon can both be embraced, and this in spite of our being warned (Matthew . 6 24) that together they cannot be worshipped for the simple reason that we will come to love the one and despise the other. In many pulpits, a diluted version of the Gospels is preached, with the abundant blooms of Gospel Truths being severely pruned to make them better fit the garden of the understanding (or so it is hoped) of ordinary folk.
Paul, who kick-started faith in Christ in the pagan gentiles had no illusions about that which should be preached. Paul preached the Cross of Christ and Him crucified followed by His death defeating resurrection that opened up to all believers the hope of eternal life and it was that which he unfailingly preached to his hearers, for he knew full well that within those words is where the real power of the Gospels to strengthen the faithful and to convert and save the unbeliever resides. Enabling Paul to do that required the visionary understanding of his faith that God will work with and strengthen all those who believe in Him and will work His wonders through them.
If Gospel Truths were preached on each and every occasion from each and every pulpit there would be no need for spurious events to be held which might put a few bottoms on seats but which detract from the real purpose of churches which is the 'Salvation of Souls' for that is the real and only means of Glorifying God.