Forgive Our Debts

Our Father, who art in heaven ... forgive us our debts. 

In fact, tell you what, how about we just don't pay our debts? Really, it's a great plan. By refusing to pay for what we already bought, I'm sure we will learn not to go into debt, and then you won't have to forgive us. Wouldn't that be better for everybody? Even you? Maybe especially you?

Of course, we'll pay the important bills. We'll pay bonuses to the oil companies, don't worry about that. I mean they are almost God, so we wouldn't want to disappoint them. And of course we will increase what we pay to the companies that manufacturer tools for killing people. That after all is for our defense. We wouldn't think of bothering you for that. It would be too much of a burden, even for you. So we'll make sure that we spend ten times as much as our worst enemy on that. Maybe even up that a bit, hey?

But we'll stop payment on caring for the earth, this home you've provided for us. This world is not my home, after all, I'm just a-passing through. It's creation, which is not important. You kicked us out of Eden, so the opposite of Paradise is clearly your goal. And it's ours too! As a creator you know how important creators are. We have plans to benefit the wealth creators, so I'm sure you are good with that. Creators over creation, that's our motto.

Obviously, you don't like poor widows and orphans or they wouldn't be poor. So you can agree that any funding for them is of low importance. If we don't let them feed their children, that will teach them how much you dislike them. Education is OK, I guess, but really it should be restricted to those of us who can afford it. As you said, the poor are always with us, and if they get educated they might get out of poverty and then we'd make a liar out of you.

That story your Son told about the widow who gave her last penny has been an inspiration to me. The point of that story was that the poorer you are, the greater percentage you should pay in taxes. Church taxes in her case, and that's OK. I take this to mean for government taxes too. The poor should subsidize the rest of us. That way, the most blessed will be blessed the most. Thank you, Father, that I am not like that widow. 

Our Father, who art in heaven ... lead us not into temptation. 

For mine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory (I think that's how it goes). Amen!

Sincerely,

Kevin McCarthy