Invitation to Reflect

FROM ALL SOULS CLUBHOUSE COMMUNITY CENTRE & CHURCH

Advent Reflections on God & Money

I invite you to join a series of Advent Reflections on God and Money. There are two reasons why Advent is a particularly appropriate time for this. First, traditionally Advent is a time of preparation for Christ’s coming but it has become the most intense, extravagant, consumer event of the year. Many people, including Christians, over spend and find themselves in serious debt in the New Year.

Second, Christ said that we cannot serve both God and Money but as his return approaches the choice becomes more acute. In the last book of the Bible, Revelation, ‘Babylon’ is portrayed as both a global financial system and a religion; the ‘Mark of the Beast’ is both evidence of Antichrist worship and mandatory for people to buy and sell. While we may have differing interpretations of these symbols, and how we should respond, the challenge is clear.

Many people have observed that Christ taught more about money and wealth than anything else, except the Kingdom of God. He said that it is harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom than for a camel to crawl through the eye of a needle and he likened the deceitfulness of riches to thorns that choke the word of God and spiritual maturity; the Apostle Paul warned that financial sin puts in jeopardy inheritance in the Kingdom. There is, therefore, plenty to reflect on in the next few weeks.

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‘Using money well is never so important to people as in the run up to Christmas, the most pressurised spending frenzy of the year. Philip’s Reflections promise to be a thought-provoking antidote to the consumerism that surrounds the celebration of Christ’s birth.’

Hugh Palmer

Rector of All Souls, Langham Place

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I began teaching personal finance skills in 2002. Although mainly I visited schools, colleges and training centres for young people, I wanted what I taught to be true to what I believe as a Christian. That began a fascinating investigation into Scripture that continues. Is Spring 2011, I was engaged by All Souls, Langham Place, to teach personal finance and am now based at All Souls Clubhouse, the community centre that has grown out of the youth mission set up here by John Stott in the 1950s: it has been an ideal, immensely supportive environment in which to continue my research.

To subscribe, please send me an e-mail at money-ed@clubhousew1.org. The list of subscribers will contain e-mail addresses only and no other personal details; the list will be kept private and not used for any other purpose. You will be able to un-subscribe by sending an e-mail asking to be removed from the circulation list. The first Reflection will be circulated on Advent Sunday (2 December 2012).

Please tell your friends about this invitation.

Philip Evans

Clubhouse personal finance tutor

20 November 2012

The All Souls Clubhouse Money-Ed Project produces leaflets and runs courses to help people handle money well. More information and literature for free download is available at the website: www.clubhousew1.org/moneyed.

All Souls Clubhouse Community Centre & Church developed from the youth mission started over 50 years ago by John Stott, when he was Rector of All Souls, Langham Place in London.

These Reflections are not intended as a comprehensive guide to handling money well and, where they do touch on personal finance skills, the issues will have been simplified; moreover, resolving debt and other financial problems can be complicated. You cannot hold All Souls, All Souls Clubhouse, the author or anyone else involved in the production of these Advent Reflections responsible for any action you take, or fail to take, based on the Reflections. You should get expert help if you are worried about your financial situation or if you think you could benefit from help with money problems and debt.