Divine Administration is Spiritual Activistm. The 'Prophet' Motive Versus the 'Profit' Motive
by Gabriel of Urantia
When we look at many of the great leaders of history we recognize that they were men and women who were not only the spiritual leaders of the people but were also involved in the social and political welfare of those they served.
In recent twentieth-century history, India’s Mahatma Gandhi (assassinated in India) employed non-violent tactics to liberate an entire continent from British colonial rule. Catholic brothers Daniel (1921-, Jesuit priest) and Philip Berrigan (1923-2002, former priest) were frequently imprisoned for their resistance to war and nuclear weapons. Catholic Archbishop Oscar Romero (assassinated in El Salvador) spoke out against the exploitation of the poor by the wealthy and powerful. Baptist minister Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee) led the civil rights movement.
Past history too has its spiritual, social leaders in biblical prophets such as Moses, Joseph (one of the twelve sons of Jacob), and King David of Israel. Social, political, and spiritual awakenings throughout Europe in centuries past were spearheaded by reformers such as Francis of Assisi who gave up all his wealth and made a vow of poverty to make a powerful statement against materialism and neglect of those less fortunate; Martin Luther who defied the Catholic stranglehold on the masses; and John Wesley who renewed basic Christian tenets.
You cannot profess to know and love God without wanting to serve humankind. The first commandment to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself" is spiritual activism if obeyed. The separation of church and state, or, more accurately the separation of spirituality and state, is impossible for Godly leaders to comply with. No Godly leader can separate God’s will from the social concern of his or her constituents.
The Preamble of the Constitution of the United States states:
We, the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Because of the misunderstanding of the separation of church and state, many people think spiritual leaders are not supposed to get involved in the affairs of the social welfare of individuals; however, spiritual activism in feeding, housing, and clothing the needy is a command of Jesus Christ to His disciples.
In a Divine Administration—an administration founded upon Godly foundations and divine directives—physical, mindal, and spiritual needs are provided. Before any culture can progress intellectually and socially, physical needs must first be satisfied; therefore, in Divine Administration health needs are provided. Nutritious foods, pure water, and quality housing are provided.
The profit motive speaks of a career.
The prophet motive speaks of a destiny.
Spiritual activism champions free education. Divine Administration endeavors to provide all the tools necessary for children to meet their destiny in God. With the profit motive in education, the underlying principle is success rather than service. In the current system, students who have a sense of destiny and the true ambition to follow their heart are often discouraged when they can’t afford to attend the university of their choice that provides the best instruments for their chosen education.
The profit motive advertises and lies, selling you products you don’t really need. The prophet motive spreads the word about products that are really beneficial to your health and total welfare.
Joseph Smith rocked the boat with his revolutionary teachings and was eventually assassinated. Hence, the beginning Mormon Church suffered much persecution, as did the Bruderhof Community in Germany and the United States. These and other true spiritual communities came together and helped build each others’ homes and barns, shared many of their tools, grew their own food, and raised their own livestock.
Today, big corporations get nervous when you try to live a more sustainable lifestyle and don’t buy their products. They don’t like it if you are not dependent upon them to hire their employees, buy their energy to light and heat your homes, or become dependent on drinking their privatized water. They lobby to influence political leaders to take more of an interest in their profit instead of the welfare of the people.
The profit motive in false religion is interested in membership. The prophet motive is interested in the true soul growth and spiritual ascension of all people.
Most mainline institutional church denominations don’t like it when you don’t attend their churches. They lose your tithe and other donations.
Truth often divides before it unites. You cannot right a wrong unless you are willing to accept the darts of misrepresentation by those intent on keeping the status quo. Pioneers of new spiritual concepts and social programs are copied by lesser souls or spiritual wolves who use these profound terms and programs for their own aggrandizement. In time, many thousands jump on the copycat’s band wagon, and the true spiritual activist and innovator is seldom given credit.
The profit motive is based on what is called "free enterprise"—the right to steal and use someone’s else’s idea. The prophet motive is based on originality and hearing from GOD.
Free enterprise is currently understood to be "the freedom of private businesses to operate competitively for profit with minimal government regulation." Unfortun-ately, there are many things that copyrights, trademarks, etc. just cannot protect, especially when competition turns cutthroat. Nor does government want to appropriately regulate in a free enterprise society. An English proverb says, An enterprising fool needs little wit. All one needs is to be a good copycat.
Spirituality is not just reading holy writings and studying scriptures; it’s taking action and being proactive in trying to right the wrongs of a fallen and selfish society.
The profit motive is based on greed. The prophet motive is based on love.
Divine Administration cannot happen on a planetary level until all the inhabitants, particularly the leaders first, follow the simple principle of "Being thy brothers’ and sisters’ keeper." We must be our neighbors’ keeper. Their children in need are your children in need. Every grandmother and grandfather are your grandmother and grandfather.
The profit motive says this land is my land, this property my property. These material possessions are my material possessions. The prophet motive says that I’m the present temporary steward of God’s land and property and possessions until I am directed to move on to something greater and someone else is appointed as the new steward.
We must consider our work a sacred work, not only for the common good of ourselves or even our own immediate nuclear family, but for the common good of all the people and families of the planet. Indeed one day the higher consciousness of the masses might even understand the cosmic statement, "For the common good of all in the system of Satania."
“John Wesley holds love feasts modeled on rites of the primitive church. He…journeyed on horseback through England to organize Methodist societies, and holds the first conference of Methodists. Beginning in 1747, Wesley will make 42 trips to Ireland, beginning in 1751 he will make 22 trips to Scotland, and he will use his annual income of about £1,400 from his cheap books to help the needy and unemployed, in loans to debtors and businessmen, and to open dispensaries.”
The People's Chronology is licensed from Henry Holt and Company, Inc. Copyright © 1994 by James Trager. All rights reserved.