Taken literally, the Beatitudes found in Matthew are a suicide pact, and they make no exception when it comes to giving all that one has to the poor. It was only after early Christian churches started to depart from the literal Word found in the gospels that they began to accumulate wealth, power, and influence. On this note, Paul is purported to have authored the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians quite some time after the original gospels were written. But for Paul's charismatic and more pragmatic leadership, Christianity in its present form might not have ever come into existence. In its essential form, Christianity is about forgiveness and vicarious atonement. And while charity to those in need is often a natural outspring of a Christian conscience, withholding charity will not thwart one's ability to find salvation. On this note, when a total stranger asks me for money, I have no problem saying, "I'm sorry, but I can't help you."

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	JadedTLC ~gam3r4l!fe~	Jul 21, 2008 01:37AM GMTJuly 21, 2008 01:37:49