Up to the present days I have always considered religion to be a combination of individual belief and community practice based on a transcendental but non financial fundament.

Visiting some churches in the Southern part of the USA – the so called “Bible Belt” – I have learned to reconsider this assumption.During a service at a Baptist church the guy preaching to a huge audience explained the three levels of communication to us. As to him words are the first level of communication, not very challenging and elaborate (strange enough a presumption). “It’s just talking …”. Actions as a higher level of communication are regarded much more valuable. But the real thing starts from the third level: the heart level communication which is just the best. Walk your talk and even feel for it!

Well, I don’t want to discuss this sort of “communication theory”. What struck me were the consequences he delivered to the audience. Only those people acting in accordance to their declarations and feelings are able to honor the lord appropriately. And only those will receive the “full reward”.

“Full reward”? Actually, that term I have come across several times during my travels. For example in all these international business hotel chains where you can apply for membership and collect points for every night you stay. And I could also read it on the big road billboards along the interstate advertising the local casinos. I was always promised “full reward”.

In that church I had learned that honor and full reward apparently also seem to form sort of a business relation. Taking a look at the little envelope for donations on my seat I was immediately confirmed: “Financial miracle you are believing for” was printed on it. Even a miracle is the result of a business relation. “Give and it shall be given unto you”, says Luke 6,38. Did he really mean it that way?