The Discovery of the Secret Gospel of the Rich and Powerful: The Gospel of Saint Avarice

By Gary Tutty

Have you ever wondered from just what gospel our political leaders, who proudly proclaim they are devout Christians, get their inspiration when they espouse hate and intolerance and seek revenge on anyone who disagrees with them? How about those self-proclaimed devoted Christian business leaders who work hard to increase profits by suppressing their workers' wages and denying them benefits? What about those fiery evangelical preachers, who are complicit in the actions of these leaders by their avid support or even their silence? Wonder no longer! In this satirical novel, The Discovery of the Secret Gospel of the Rich and Powerful: the Gospel of Saint Avarice, you will meet Brett, a young man who is introduced to that very gospel by his billionaire father. You encounter the Jesus these leaders are emulating. He is a Jesus who teaches his apostles to mock others, to never admit guilt, and to create their own version of the truth. With our discovery of this new Jesus, known only to the most rich and powerful until now, we begin to realize that these leaders have been emulating Jesus all along and actually are doing God's work after all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Outskirts Press
• Release date: Jun 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781977229823

Gary Tutty

Gary Tutty is a retired Superintendent of Schools. He was named a Distinguished Alumni at the State University of New York at Oneonta, from which he earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in English Education. During his career, he taught English at the high school and college levels. Between his years as a teacher and school administrator, he was a sales representative, regional manager, and national sales and management trainer for a major medical company. He is also the author of The Sins of Father Riley. He lives in Ilion, New York and Newport Beach, California.

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The Discovery of the Secret Gospel of the Rich and Powerful

The Gospel of Saint Avarice

All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2020 Gary Tutty

v3.0

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

To Jesus: in the very sincere hope he appreciates satire

Contents

Introduction by Dr. Henry Lesworth

1. The Gospel of Saint Avarice to Be Revealed: The Real Jesus

2. Introduction of Brett and His Father

3. Jesus Teaches Who Really Are the Blessed

4. Jesus Teaches the Importance of An Eye for an Eye

5. Jesus Teaches About Divorce

6. Jesus Teaches Why Health Insurance for All Is Not Part of God’s Plan

7. Jesus Teaches the Art of Mocking

8. Jesus Teaches the Real Meaning of All

9. Jesus Teaches the Importance of Walls

10. Jesus Learns of John’s Fear He Cannot Love Others as Much as He Loves Himself

11. Jesus Defends the Wealthy

12. Jesus Teaches the Benefits of Bankruptcy: The Parable of the Prodigal Son

13. Jesus Teaches the Strategy of Forgiveness

14. Jesus Preaches the Parable of the Good Samaritan

15. Jesus Teaches a Separate Set of Rules for the Rich and Powerful and the Need for Wage Suppression

16. Jesus Teaches the Second Amendment to the Commandments

17. Jesus Sends Out Apostles to Fundraise

18. Jesus Brings a Little Girl to Life

19. Jesus Cures Hemorrhaging Woman

20. Jesus Confronts the Money Changers

21. Jesus Teaches a Lesson in Real Estate Development

22. Jesus Encourages Apostles to Show Off Good Deeds

23. Jesus Admonishes a Leper

24. Jesus Cures Peter’s Mother-in-Law in Time for Dinner

25. Jesus Offers Apostles Tips on Managing Their New Lives

26. Jesus Performs His First Miracle at the Wedding Feast

27. Jesus Meets the Samaritan Woman at the Well

28. Jesus Teaches First-Stone-Throwing Protocol

29. Jesus Teaches the Parable of the Plentiful Harvest

30. Jesus Walks on Water -- Peter Sinks

31. Jesus Teaches More About Truth and the Empathy Strategy

32. Jesus Shares a Story About Humility

33. Jesus Shares Some Tough Expectations for His Followers

34. Jesus Teaches the Importance of Praying Always

35. Jesus Brings Zacchaeus, the Tax Collector, Down from the Tree

36. Jesus Warns Followers of Persecution in Their Future

37. Jesus Preaches Guilt and Shame Are Unnecessary for His Chosen

38. Jesus Preaches the Seed Parables

39. Jesus Heals the Centurion’s Servant and Brett’s Father Leaves

40. Jesus Inspires Brett to Become a New Man and Brett’s Mother Arrives – and Leaves

Epilogue

A Note From the Author

Introduction by Dr. Henry Lesworth

In The Discovery of the Secret Gospel of the Rich and Powerful: The Gospel of Saint Avarice, you will read about a young man of means who discovers from his father that none of the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John are the actual gospels utilized by the rich and powerful. Instead, he shares with his son a special gospel, which has been hidden for centuries from millions of Christians around the world.

After reading this gospel, I believe you will understand how so many political, business, and evangelical leaders can justify their actions, which at times might seem contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ of the better-known New Testament.

When the author first asked me to write this Introduction, he shared his fear that some readers might be offended by the way Jesus of Nazareth is portrayed in this book. After my reading of the book, I am not sure why he feared that.

Before reading Saint Avarice’s gospel, my perception of Jesus of Nazareth was a man who went up against anyone who took advantage of people. He spoke on behalf of the poor and the oppressed. He irritated the Romans. Don’t get me wrong. Those are all wonderful things, except maybe to the Romans, of course. But, for me, Jesus’s teachings did not always make common sense. As I grew older and began to understand the real world, as much as I liked that Jesus, I worried that his teachings might be a little out of touch and too extreme.

For a moment, imagine Jesus as a man who understands the necessity of poverty and the futility of trying to totally eliminate it. Imagine, also, a Jesus who appreciates the need to be mean and intolerant at times because people do not always respond positively to kindness and understanding. That might sound horrible at first, and maybe that is what worried the author. However, rather than being appalling or offensive to the modern Christian believer in the common gospels, I believe this long-hidden gospel of Saint Avarice shows Jesus Christ’s remarkable insight into human nature.

We have become so sensitive in our society that bullying, using hate-filled rhetoric, and being judgmental and exclusionary, are very often considered negative. What we learn in Saint Avarice’s gospel is that these are actually all techniques Jesus thought were necessary at times. It is much easier following this Jesus than trying to live a life as prescribed in the common New Testament. Unlike what my mother told me about putting others first, Jesus teaches in this gospel that life really does revolve around me. This is extremely gratifying. It is more in line with what young people are taught about themselves today. It makes me wonder why so few of them go to church. I am sure that if they knew about the message of this gospel, they would return in flocks. I do know that many parents do not make their children go to church to be taught about the Bible. Because of that lack of training, they end up being tolerant, non-judgmental, and supportive of everyone; even believing that everyone should have equal rights (for instance, unbelievably, even if they are non-Christian or gay). It becomes almost impossible for them to be drawn to Christianity, which proclaims the absolute truth that only Christians are going to heaven and all non-believers have been condemned by God to go to hell.

I am sure you are going to enjoy many of the key stories and teachings in The Discovery of the Secret Gospel of the Rich and Powerful: The Gospel of Saint Avarice. It presents a gospel of practicality and hope that I have to admit has strengthened my Christian faith and is making me consider coming back as an active member of a church. I think you will find that this is a Jesus in whom you can truly believe, and one who is worthy of emulation.

Henry Lesworth

Special Advisor to Communications Majors

SCAMWAY On-line University

(Dr. LesWorth has been a key promoter of for-profit universities for many years. He is a major lobbyist for making on-line universities tax-exempt and not liable for any past on-line university frauds. There are also thousands from SCAMWAY who have taken courses on creating wealth through real estate investment. In his early years, Mr. Lesworth was a key and proud player in one of the largest multi-level marketing schemes in our country’s history. He is the author of numerous books including:

Becoming Rich: Life at the Top of the Pyramid

The Vision and Inspiration of Charles Ponzi

The Art of Persuasion: Make Them Think You Care

Creating Your Own Truth: The Art of Legal Deception

Start Your Own On-Line University: Ten Steps to Instant Wealth

Building Wealth Through Bankruptcy: A Method to Your Badness

Yes, I Do Need Ten Yachts: The Challenge of Being Rich in a Threatening Environment

In Service to Your Country: Why the Government Needs More Billionaires in Office

Chapter One

The Gospel of Saint Avarice to Be Revealed: The Real Jesus

It is a beautiful, snowy day in the mountains of Switzerland near Saint Moritz; a lovely town nestled in the majestic Engadin valley. The sun is making the snow glisten on the ski slopes. Many of the rich and powerful have descended on this beautiful resort village to spend the Christmas holidays. As one of the most expensive places in the world to visit, they are guaranteed that only the very richest among them will be there.

Among the visitors on this beautiful day, is a young man named Brett, who has come to join his father at his chalet. Brett has grown up in a wealthy family, and he goes to a prestigious private academy in southern New Hampshire, as did his father and grandfather. In the summer and on holidays, he spends time at one of his father’s homes in Switzerland, Jamaica, The Keys, the Hamptons, or Newport Beach in Southern California. When he wants to be near some of his closer friends, he stays in his father’s luxury apartment in New York City. He often asks if he can visit his father’s homes in Lake Como, the South of France, or Mexico. Unfortunately, his father’s ex-wives live in these, as part of their divorce agreements.

Brett is waiting to go skiing. But before he goes, his father is about to share with him something of which very few people are even aware. It is the Gospel of Saint Avarice, which has only been revealed to the richest and most powerful people in the world.

For years, many business leaders and politicians have made it a point to publicly proclaim the importance of their faith in Jesus Christ. Often, they will justify their thoughts and actions on their belief in the Bible and the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth in the New Testament. Because their actions sometimes seem to be the antithesis of Jesus Christ, some have wondered from just what Bible these business and political leaders are getting their inspiration. Young Brett is about to find out.

Chapter Two

Introduction of Brett and His Father

Brett heard his father enter the large living room where he was sitting near the fireplace warming himself before he went out skiing. How are you, Father?

I am great, my boy, just great.

You seem to be in a very upbeat mood. I thought that the end of the year was a very stressful time for you.

It usually is, but my companies have all had a very big year. Every one of them was given some wonderful new tax cuts.

I can see why you would feel good, as it must have helped you avoid those year-end layoffs. Were you even able to hire more people?

No, no, not at all. We still had the layoffs. My boards of directors all agreed with me, that instead of hiring more people, we should buy back a lot of the companies’ stocks, which enriched all of us greatly. In any case, I am sorry that I missed the last two Christmases here with you. I am happy I am here now.

I am glad you are here, too. I can’t wait to do some skiing with you.

I look forward to that, also. And if I cannot go, I hired a pro skier at the resort to spend the day with you. I am sure he will be much more fun and able to give you some great tips on skiing.

Father, I would much rather spend the day with you.

Of course, of course. But before we hit the slopes, I wanted to share something very special with you. Time moves so quickly and this is something that is extremely important for you to hear about.

Wow, that sounds really good or really bad, Brett laughed.

Oh, no, it is very good. I am going to share with you a secret book that only a very elite group of men have a copy.

Father, when you say ‘very elite,’ what does that mean?

It means extremely affluent or powerful. Nowadays that is usually both. Some men are in the public eye while others use their money to influence the government behind the scenes in the guise of a foundation or institute or a lobbying group with a misleading name. Take, for example, the group, ‘Concerned Citizens of the Environment.’

That sounds like a very important group. Knowing what is going on with climate change and all that, do they have any trouble with the oil companies?

Brett’s father laughed. Absolutely not. It is the oil companies who fund them.

From all that I hear, I didn’t think the environment was on the top of the oil companies’ list of concerns. So they do care about the environment?

Of course, they do. They work hard to make sure people understand that claims about the environment being threatened by fossil fuels is fake news.

Brett was confused, but decided that he did not want to get any further into that discussion. He saw that his father had a Bible in his hand. That’s the Bible. That is not a secret book. I mean, I have never read it, but it isn’t secret.

Yes. This is a copy of the Bible, but this is not the exact book to which I was referring.

I know there are a few kids at boarding school who have read it. Occasionally, it will come up in class discussions. Some of the kids even go to the chapel every day. They don’t make us go unless it is Sunday. They say there was a time when everyone was forced to go quite a lot.

Yes. When I went there, we were awakened every morning at 6:15 a.m. and had to be in our pew in the chapel at 7. The headmaster and the chaplain would meet us for morning prayers before breakfast. Each of us had the opportunity during the year to read a prayer or a verse to the group from the Bible.

I can assure you that it doesn’t happen anymore. Guys get on their cellphones first thing after getting up.

You see, Son, when I was younger, some thought it was important to go to church, especially if you were a politician and were trying to impress your constituents. I know things have changed, but the importance of the Bible has not. I want to show you a gospel that is not in this Bible. The gospel that I am going to show you was handed down, as I said, to only a few elite families. It was given to us so that we could lead others. This Bible that I am holding has the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Our Bible has an additional gospel not contained in the common version, The Gospel of Saint Avarice.

I will admit that I never knew there were other gospels.

Yes, his father said. There are other gospels that were found later that some experts didn’t believe were authentic; or, in some cases, church leaders didn’t like, so they made sure they were not included in what I will call the common New Testament. They were extremely cautious with any writings they surmised were written by women. Let’s face it; the gospels are by men and for men. A woman’s perspective might contradict much of what we read in our gospel. For example, there was a gospel purportedly written by Mary Magdalene. In a way, it suggested that women probably had prominent roles in the early Church.

Wasn’t Mary Magdalene a prostitute?

Well, in the common gospels one might get that impression. There are others who think she was actually very close to Jesus and not a prostitute at all. But let’s get back to our gospel. The one I am going to show you is the one Jesus wanted only a few people to see. The Jesus in our gospel is much different than the one in the gospels in this Bible. I think after you hear some of the wonderful stories from this secret gospel, you will begin to fully appreciate the deep faith and commitment so many of our richest and most powerful friends have, as they carry out the true Word of God.

In what way is Jesus different?

Well, I won’t tell you all the ways, as you will hear about them when we read this gospel. But, for instance, in the common gospels you never find out that Jesus really said, ‘Blessed are the richest most powerful 1%, for they shall inherit 90% of the riches of the earth and the other 99% can fight over the other 10%.’ How is that for a great prophet? Also, it was Jesus who said, ‘This woman had nothing, yet gave the only two coins she had. That is the way it should be. The rich know better how to spend those two coins.’

What else did he say or do that is different?

You might be surprised to learn that when Jesus came upon the group of men who were stoning a woman, he said, ‘He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone,’ and most of the men in that crowd thought Jesus was referring to them and started to stone the woman. That was a little awkward.

Brett’s father continued. In our gospel, Jesus tries to explain to his disciples that if you are guilty of a specific offense, which someone is going to accuse you of, it is your duty to immediately blame that person of the same offense first. I was in amazement when I first read that story. Jesus was always one step ahead. And while the U.S. Constitution had not been written yet, Christ already knew the importance of the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution. Christ believed that every person had the right to bear knives, swords, or other weapons to defend themselves. He preached that if his followers were denied the right to bear arms only non-Christians would have weapons. Try to imagine those good Christians today who would not be able to defend their churches without the help of automatic weapons.

That certainly is a different Jesus. I haven’t read the gospels that much, but from what I have read or heard, he was a man of love and mercy, who cared for the most lowly and down-trodden.

That is exactly why it is so difficult to have people understand those of us with money and power. They do not understand that when we do some of the things we do, we are just carrying out the message and the example given to us in our Saint Avarice’s gospel.

Speaking of which, Father, who is Saint Avarice, and did she write this gospel or find it?

I am glad you asked, as it is a beautiful and heartwarming story. Saint Avarice is a little-known saint who grew up in the South of France in Provence to the rich and powerful Altiere family.

Before you tell the rest of the story, can you explain why they would give their daughter the name ‘Avarice’? Isn’t that a little negative?

"Avarice? Bad? You see, Son, her parents, like us, did not see avarice as bad at all. Without avarice, it would be difficult to garner the riches we do. Avarice motivates us to earn or take even more. Without avarice, our feelings might start to get in the way of what we need to do to stay the richest, most powerful people in the world.

"In any case, when Avarice was twelve years old, an angel appeared to her, while she and her parents were vacationing at a spa in Cassis on the Mediterranean. Avarice said she saw the angel above one of the hot steam baths. She said that it gave her a special gospel that only the very rich and the most powerful could read. She claimed that the angel reappeared whenever her family came to the spa, and gave her additional chapters with each visit.

"With money from a trust fund given to her by her father, which had actually been passed down by her grandfather, Avarice left her family at sixteen years of age and founded a new order of nuns. She built a beautiful convent at the top of a hill near Cassis. It is here she spent her life writing down the words of the gospel from her memory of the angel’s visits. Those of great wealth and power are forever grateful to Avarice.

"For many years the convent thrived, but due to the liberal debauchery that prevailed in the nineteen sixties, when people started to lose their way, vocations to the Sisters of Avarice began to dwindle, as special prayers for the rich and powerful were no longer needed, as the subjects of the nuns’ prayers had already had such tremendous success in taking over the wealth and power in the world. At that point, most of the younger nuns left the convent to lead lives in the ‘real’ world. Most were married off to wealthy men because the former nuns had such knowledge and empathy for the very rich. After all, they knew the secret gospel almost by heart. Avarice and a few of the remaining older nuns began to create one-of-a-kind religious objects, like special purple amethyst rosaries and crucifixes, many of which actually were made by migrant children, who were allowed to live in tents near the convent.

"Unfortunately, even that began to fade when the migrants had to leave, as authorities said they were beginning to need health care and other benefits the nuns were not able to afford. Luckily, the nuns were able to find a Chinese company to make the rosaries and crucifixes. Thus, their products are still available online.

When the last of Sister Mary Avarice’s nuns died, the order was dissolved and the convent was converted to a five-star resort for retreats for the rich and famous. An original sign over the entrance door of the convent remains: ‘Poverty is Not a Crime, but Neither is Avarice.’

That is an amazing story, Father.

"Yes, it is. Due to the faith and hard work of Avarice, the rich and powerful have a