Alex Jones, Gerald Celente, Pastor Lindsey Williams, Eric Sprott, Greg Hunter, and a host of others who have for years been warning about the dire state of the economy (with much good reason, I must admit) have nonetheless fallen into a terrible soul-destroying trap. They recommend that every "patriot, freedom loving, Christian, Bible Believing" person get their hands on as much physical Gold and Silver as they possibly can to protect, save, and deliver them in the great economic and likely war-torn tribulation that they say is just around the corner. I want to totally counter their claims with this advice from the Holy Fathers and the Sacred Scriptures that I recently wrote to friend of mine who asked me about this and who had become quite agitated and fearful about the future:
"Buy Gold and Silver NOW! The Economy is About to Collapse!"
Dear X,
In regards to what Alex Jones and others like him say about "the urgency of the hour" -- not to repent and seek Christ and His Kingdom and to cultivate virtue and drive out passions, but rather -- to heap up that, "trusty saviour in times of trouble," Gold and Silver -- I have sent you these words of wisdom from the Holy Fathers for Tomorrow's Sunday Reading (see below). Also, I shall provide two more witnesses on this point:
Remember the holy Prophet Ezekiel who prophesies saying, "They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity." (Eze. 7:19)
And Righteous Job says, "If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; If I rejoice because my wealth was great, and because mine hand had gotten much...This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judge: for I should have denied the God that is above." (Job 31:24-28)
By the mercy of God,
Matthew
Where is the most secure place to store your goods?
"Seekest thou where to store thy fruits? Thou hast secure storehouses, shouldst thou wish them - the bellies of the poor. They are capable of holding a large quantity; in them there is no loss, no spoilage; they last forever." Thus says Saint Philotheos of Constantinople.
Later in the same Commentary he says:
"Every man who strives and struggles for transitory things, labours in vain. Everything in nature is wasted and rotted by time; all of life is full of bustle which has death as its end. A man is rich toward God when he hopes in Him, and has Him as his wealth, glory and boast. He is rich toward God when he believes with all his heart and trusts in Him, that even if he should give away and exhaust all his possessions, he would not lack anything that he needs, but when he will be in need, he will receive from God all that is necessary. But he who lays up treasure for himself, trusts in the greatness of his wealth and is established in his vain way of life; such a fool will hear and suffer the same things heard and suffered by the rich man of the parable. Let us, then, brethren, not lay up treasures for ourselves, nor let us bestow them upon the belly which will only empty them out, nor let us send away empty the poor who come to us. Let us not enrich ourselves wrongly, but rightly, believing that we shall have riches from God. For, Better is a little with justice than great revenues with iniquity (Prov. 16:8, Douay). And, Ye shall have just weights, and just measures, and just measurements (Deut. 25:15, altered). Instead of tearing down and building up material storehouses, let us strive to destroy the stores of sin in the soul, since with their destruction the buildings of virtue increase. And let us not deprive God of His own goods, which He has given us in order that we may supply the needs of those who are in want. For the gifts of good deeds return back to the giver, and unfailing is the wealth of charity. That which is given is received, and that which is spent is saved. In this way we hope to obtain those everlasting good things of the age to come, through the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ; to Whom, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be glory, dominion and adoration, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen."
Gospel Commentary, Compiled and Authored by the Holy Patriarch Philotheos of Constantinople ✠1379, On the 9th Sunday of Saint Luke (12:16-21), pp. 520 and 524-52