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The Reappearance of the Christ - Chapter VII - Preparation for the Reappearance of the Christ
Money - as with all else in human living - has been tainted by selfishness and grabbed for selfish individual or national ends. Of this, the World War (1914-1945) is the proof, for, although there was much talk of "saving the world for democracy" and "fighting a war to end war," the main motive was self protection and self-preservation, the hope of gain and the satisfaction of ancient hatreds, and the regaining of territory. The years which have elapsed since the war have proved this to be so. The United Nations is unfortunately perforce occupied with rapacious demands from all sides, with the angling [175] of the nations for position and power, and for the possession of the natural resources of the earth - coal, oil, etc., and also with the underground activities of the great Powers and of the capitalists which they all create. Yet all the time, the one humanity - no matter what the place of residence, what the color of the skin, or what the religious belief - is clamoring for peace, justice and a sense of security. This, the right use of money and a realization on the part of many of their financial responsibility (a responsibility based on the spiritual values) would rapidly give them. With the exception of a few great farsighted philanthropists and of a mere handful of enlightened statesmen, churchmen and educators, this sense of financial responsibility is to be found nowhere. The time has now come when money must be reevaluated and its usefulness channeled into new directions. The voice of the people must prevail, but it must be a people educated in the true values, in the significances of a right culture and in the need for right human relations. It is, therefore, essentially a question of right education and correct training in world citizenship - a thing that has not yet been undertaken. Who can give this training? Russia would gladly train the world in the ideals of communism, and would gather all the money in the world into the coffers of the proletariat, eventually producing the greatest capitalistic system the world has ever seen; Great Britain would gladly train the world in the British concepts of justice and fair play and world trade, and would do it more correctly than any other nation because of vast experience but always too with an eye to profit. The United States would also gladly undertake to force the American brand of democracy upon the world, using her vast capital and resources in so doing, and gathering into her banks the financial results of her widespread financial [176] dealings, preserving them safely by the threat of the atomic bomb and the shaking of the mailed fist over the rest of the world. France will keep Europe in a state of unrest as she seeks to regain her lost prestige and garner all she can from the victory of the other allied nations. Thus the story goes - each nation fighting for itself, and all rating each other in terms of resources and finance. In the meantime, humanity starves, remains uneducated, and is brought up on false values and the wrong use of money. Until these things are in process of being righted, the return of the Christ is not possible. In the face of this disturbing financial situation - what is the answer to the problem? There are men and women to be found in every land, every government, every church and religion, and every educational foundation who have the answer. What hope is there for them and for the work with which they have been entrusted? How can the people of the world, the men of goodwill and of spiritual vision help? Is there anything they can do to change the thinking of the world in regard to money, thus deflecting it into channels where it will be more correctly used? The answer must be found. There are two groups who can do much: those already using the financial resources of the world, if they will catch the new vision and also see the handwriting on the wall which is bringing the old order down in destruction, and, secondly, the mass of the good, kindly, people in all classes and spheres of influence. Men of goodwill and of spiritual inclination must reject the thought of their relative uselessness, insignificance and futility, and realize that now (in the critical and crucial moment that has come) they can work potently. The Forces of Evil are defeated, though not yet "sealed" behind the door where humanity can put them [177] and which The New Testament foretold would happen. Evil is seeking every avenue available for a new approach but - and this we can say with confidence and insistence - the little people of the world, enlightened and selfless in their viewpoint, exist in sufficient numbers to make their power felt - if they will. There are millions of spiritually-minded men and women in every country who, when they come to the point of approaching in mass formation this question of money, can permanently rechannel it. There are writers and thinkers in all lands who can add their powerful help, and who will, if correctly approached. There are esoteric students and devoted church people to whom appeal can be made for aid in preparing the way for the return of Christ, particularly if the aid required is the expenditure of money and time for the establishing of right human relations and the growth and spread of goodwill. A great campaign to raise money is not demanded, but the selfless work of thousands of apparently unimportant people is required. I would say that the most needed quality is courage; it takes courage to put aside diffidence, shyness and the dislike of presenting a point of view, particularly a point of view connected with money. It is here that the majority fail. It is relatively easy today to raise money for the Red Cross, for hospitals and for educational institutions. It is exceedingly difficult to raise money for the spread of goodwill, or to secure the right use of money for forward looking ideas, such as the return of the Christ. Therefore, I say that the first prerequisite is Courage. The second requirement for the workers of the Christ is to make those sacrifices and arrangements which will enable them to give to the limit of their capacity; there must not be simply a trained ability to present the subject, [178] but each worker must practice what he preaches. If, for instance, the millions of people who love the Christ and seek to serve His cause gave at least a tiny sum of money each year, there would be adequate funds for His work; the needed trusts and spiritually-minded trustees would then automatically appear. The difficulty is not with the organizing of the money and work; it lies with the seeming inability of people to give. For one reason or another, they give little or nothing, even when interested in such a cause as that of the return of Christ; fear of the future or the love of purchasing, or the desire to give presents, or failure to realize that many small sums mount up into very large sums - all these things militate against financial generosity and the reason always seems adequate. Therefore, the second prerequisite is for everyone to give as they can. Thirdly, the metaphysical schools and the esoteric groups have given much thought to this business of directing money into channels which appeal to them. The question is often asked: Why do the Unity School of thought, the Christian Science Church, and many New Thought movements always manage to accumulate the required funds whilst other groups, and particularly the esoteric groups, do not? Why do truly spiritual workers seem unable to materialize what they need? The answer is a simple one. Those groups and workers who are the closest to the spiritual ideal are as a house divided against itself. Their main interest is on abstract, spiritual levels and they have not apparently grasped the fact that the physical plane, when motivated from the spiritual levels, is of equal importance. The large metaphysical schools are focused on making a material demonstration, and so great is their emphasis and so one-pointed is their approach that they get what they demand; they have to learn that [179] the demand and its answer must be the result of spiritual purpose, and that that which is demanded must not be for the use of the separated self or for a separative organization or church. In the new age which is upon us, prior to the return of the Christ, the demand for financial support must be for the bringing about of right human relations and goodwill, and not for the growth of any particular organization. The organizations so demanding must work with the minimum of overhead and central plant, and the workers for the minimum yet reasonable salary. Not many such organizations exist today, but the few now functioning can set an example which will be rapidly followed, as the desire for the return of Christ grows. Therefore the third prerequisite is the service of the one humanity.
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