The association of the Church with material wealth and worldly power fundamentally distorts its primary mission and leads to the spiritual degradation of both the community and the individual believer.

Materialism Distorts Faith: Reclaiming the Spiritual Mission

The association of the Church with material wealth and worldly power fundamentally distorts its primary mission and leads to the spiritual degradation of both the community and the individual believer. Such an attachment to money and state authority distracts from the true objective—saving souls and fostering sincere communion with God, who by nature is far removed from the ambitions of dominance and violence.

For example, one text emphasizes that "No one can serve two masters: for either he will hate one and love the other; or be devoted to one and despise the other. [...] Therefore the Lord says: 'You cannot serve God and mammon'" (source: link txt, page: 2435-2436). This clearly expresses the idea that an attachment to wealth (mammon) makes it impossible to devote oneself fully to God, as the individual is torn between two fundamentally opposing interests.

Moreover, another quote draws attention to the fact that "if there exists some profound immorality, [...] perhaps the chief sin of our time, from the Church’s point of view, will be Greed. Undoubtedly, there is something false in our attitude towards money" (source: link txt, page: 159-160). Placing wealth and power at the core of the Church’s organization gives rise to false values, when the material begins to play an important role instead of spiritual development, leading to a weakening of the spiritual drive in the hearts of believers.

At the same time, this association and the transformation of God into a bearer of power and dominion and of the Church into a manifestation of worldly interests contradict the idea of the true nature of God. As stated: "God is not characterized by any authority, nor does He possess a will to omnipotence; He does not require slave-like worship" (source: link txt, page: 10). This underscores that divinity should not become an object of idolatry comparable to human notions of power and coercion, further worsening the situation when the Church itself is linked with worldly objectives.

Thus, the consequences of such an association are as follows:
1. Diverting believers from the true spiritual path, as material well-being and earthly fame become the primary goals.
2. Distorting the image of God, who is not appropriately portrayed as a ruler and dominator, leading to a loss of sincerity in personal communion with Him.
3. Weakening the Church’s spiritual mission, which ceases to serve as a means of soul salvation and becomes an institution susceptible to worldly passions and greed.

This transformation not only destroys the internal unity of the Church but also jeopardizes its capacity to fulfill the noble calling of saving and glorifying people.

Supporting citation(s):
"No one can serve two masters: for either he will hate one and love the other; or be devoted to one and despise the other. [...] Therefore the Lord says: 'You cannot serve God and mammon'" (source: link txt, page: 2435-2436)

"If there exists some profound immorality, [...] perhaps the chief sin of our time, from the Church’s point of view, will be Greed. Undoubtedly, there is something false in our attitude towards money" (source: link txt, page: 159-160)

"God is not characterized by any authority, nor does He possess a will to omnipotence; He does not require slave-like worship" (source: link txt, page: 10)