Really, you can think of now warnings that Jesus gives against wealth and the accumulation of stuff? Have you read any of Jesus words?

 

Looks like you insinuated I haven't read any of Jesus words?

 

Then don't participate. FWIW I passed no judgment on you at all. I make no claims to know your heart. I responded to a question you asked in your post, which I found incredulous. How is that passing judgment? As to my computer, if you noticed in the first post I asked why 'we' do not live that way. Why is our paradigm different from what Jesus talks about?

 

What was incredulous?

Looks like you insinuated I haven't read any of Jesus words?

 

 

 

What was incredulous?

 

When you asked where in the Bible it said about giving things away and not accumulate to be a Christian.

It would be nice if we could live by the Bible. The fact of the matter is we can't, not even ACE, but we should try. We will sin, that is inevitable. Some, if not all of us will fall short in what we give to our fellow man. Again, thank God for His Grace. Without His Grace, we are ALL doomed.

 

So I can do whatever I want, not try to live correctly and I can rely on God's grace. That is an easy escape seems to me. The fact that we all sin, does that absolve me from responsibility.

So I can do whatever I want, not try to live correctly and I can rely on God's grace. That is an easy escape seems to me. The fact that we all sin, does that absolve me from responsibility.

 

Gee Whiz man! Where did anyone say that? There is one thing I can say about you ace, you are by far the best word placer I have ever had any dealings with. :ohbrother:

Jesus also said something about removing the "plank from your own eye". Thread starter. :idunno:

Nor do you have the right to tell me not to participate. Go find someone that needs everything you have, give it to them, borrow their computer and get back with me.

 

:ylsuper::ylsuper::ylsuper::ylsuper::ylsuper::ylsuper:

 

Cafeteria style Christians (or those posing as such) amuse me.

MATHEW 19:16-26

 

When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

 

I agree with the sentiments of your quoting this. I've argued before here that I don't believe Christians should be in the business of determining who amongst us are destined for hell, especially when I believe all of us are equally guilty.

 

However, I do find something curious regarding the thread subject from a political angle. The great majority of those who identify themselves as socially conservative also have libertarian to supply-side economic beliefs. The great majority of those who identify themselves as socially conservative have religious views underpinning those beliefs, yet they do not extend these religious views to economic policy. I wish to know why this is. Thoughts?

I agree with the sentiments of your quoting this. I've argued before here that I don't believe Christians should be in the business of determining who amongst us are destined for hell, especially when I believe all of us are equally guilty.

 

However, I do find something curious regarding the thread subject from a political angle. The great majority of those who identify themselves as socially conservative also have libertarian to supply-side economic beliefs. The great majority of those who identify themselves as socially conservative have religious views underpinning those beliefs, yet they do not extend these religious views to economic policy. I wish to know why this is. Thoughts?

 

Don't you know? Wealth is directly tied to the amount of blessings God bestows upon a person.

I agree with the sentiments of your quoting this. I've argued before here that I don't believe Christians should be in the business of determining who amongst us are destined for hell, especially when I believe all of us are equally guilty.

 

However, I do find something curious regarding the thread subject from a political angle. The great majority of those who identify themselves as socially conservative also have libertarian to supply-side economic beliefs. The great majority of those who identify themselves as socially conservative have religious views underpinning those beliefs, yet they do not extend these religious views to economic policy. I wish to know why this is. Thoughts?

 

Not sure I'm following you. Please elaborate.

I think folks are misunderstanding what Ace is asking. He is asking why "WE" who say we are Christians do not live the way GOD ask us too?

 

 

I can tell the reason, I don't want to pay the price. I say I am a Christian. I attend Church, I tidth my money, I will volunteer because it makes me feel good. I leave Sundays thinking I have done what God ask.

 

When in fact I drive by everyone I see holding a sign that says "Hungry". Why? Because I guess I don't truly trust what Jesus us trying to teach me. I am more concerned that the person holding the sign wants to take advantage of me, rather than to help. Fear that the individual may want to rob me.

 

Best way to say it is "Everyone wants to go to Heaven, but not everyone is willing to die to get there!"

I think folks are misunderstanding what Ace is asking. He is asking why "WE" who say we are Christians do not live the way GOD ask us too?

 

 

I can tell the reason, I don't want to pay the price. I say I am a Christian. I attend Church, I tidth my money, I will volunteer because it makes me feel good. I leave Sundays thinking I have done what God ask.

 

When in fact I drive by everyone I see holding a sign that says "Hungry". Why? Because I guess I don't truly trust what Jesus us trying to teach me. I am more concerned that the person holding the sign wants to take advantage of me, rather than to help. Fear that the individual may want to rob me.

 

Best way to say it is "Everyone wants to go to Heaven, but not everyone is willing to die to get there!"

 

Thanks Coach. This was not meant as a finger pointing exercise, especially one where "I" am pointing out to everyone else what they are doing wrong. My sentiments flow directly from your post and from Habib's. My pastor is working to get us to focus on "living like Christ", not simply believing in Christ. It causes me to struggle, so I ask why is it so hard. Are there not enough good examples, or have we been so "transformed by the world" that we can no longer live like Christ.

 

Apparently, there was some nerve struck because people got awfully defensive, awfully fast.

Not sure I'm following you. Please elaborate.

 

I simply mean that many who hold socially conservative views have religious views underpinning them - i.e. gay marriage, abortion, the upholding of traditional Judeo-Christian values, prayer in school, creationism, etc. - but do not have religious views underpinning their economic views, yet those who hold conservative social views typically favor the same type of economic policy. For example, those who believe creationism should be taught in school do so because their belief is informed by the bible, but these same people typically hold laissez-fair economic views with secular justifications. I'm curious as to why this is.

I get what acemona is saying. There are those who, as Christians, give their dollars to their churches as per the recommend tithing percentage. Others give a little more, some give the tithing and give to additional causes that for which the church may be collecting. Many of us limit our giving to what we give to churches. Many others of us also give to causes we deem worthy by our own set of standards.

 

Many of us look at homeless people and turn up our noses, maybe even walk by without speaking or acknowledging them. A lot of us look upon them as nusiances.

 

Many of us begrudge people who rely on our social aid programs. Many of us give sparingly to alternative programs, maybe a bag of canned goods stripped from our own full pantries, or even stuff we don't like and we feel it's a good way to get it off our hands.

 

How many of us buy carloads of groceries to take to regulary deliver to food banks? How many of us give a dollar to the homeless person, without thinking they're asking for money for booze? How many of us see reports on TV of agencies that serve the homeless or disadvantaged and say, "Hey, that's a good organization. Kudos to them!" but never do anything similar?

 

I think we're so fortunate in this country, that we forget or literally don't understand how many unfortunate there are. I've even heard people say "but they're better off than people in other countries." as if it's an excuse to leave them in whatever plight they are in.

 

It's truly as struggle, ace. And it's an absolutely great topic to discuss. As to myself, I fail in many ways. I could do more. I could give more. I could give more money and time. Why don't I?

I get what acemona is saying. There are those who, as Christians, give their dollars to their churches as per the recommend tithing percentage. Others give a little more, some give the tithing and give to additional causes that for which the church may be collecting. Many of us limit our giving to what we give to churches. Many others of us also give to causes we deem worthy by our own set of standards.

 

Many of us look at homeless people and turn up our noses, maybe even walk by without speaking or acknowledging them. A lot of us look upon them as nusiances.

 

Many of us begrudge people who rely on our social aid programs. Many of us give sparingly to alternative programs, maybe a bag of canned goods stripped from our own full pantries, or even stuff we don't like and we feel it's a good way to get it off our hands.

 

How many of us buy carloads of groceries to take to regulary deliver to food banks? How many of us give a dollar to the homeless person, without thinking they're asking for money for booze? How many of us see reports on TV of agencies that serve the homeless or disadvantaged and say, "Hey, that's a good organization. Kudos to them!" but never do anything similar?

 

I think we're so fortunate in this country, that we forget or literally don't understand how many unfortunate there are. I've even heard people say "but they're better off than people in other countries." as if it's an excuse to leave them in whatever plight they are in.

 

It's truly as struggle, ace. And it's an absolutely great topic to discuss. As to myself, I fail in many ways. I could do more. I could give more. I could give more money and time. Why don't I?

 

We, all of us, now live with the wrong paradigm. Why are we not followers of "The Way" or even "Kingdom" people?

To be honest, I am probably more guilty than most.