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You probably haven't met very many Christians.

While I can see this picture being true of some people, the vast majority of Christians I know (and I know a lot) give a lot more money than they're actually able to give, both to the church and to charities. It's an important act of worship in Christianity, believe it or not...most people assume that the money either goes to buy the pastor nice things or make the church attractive, but actually, more than half of what's donated ends up going to various charities and to helping people.

So...really, while ignorance would cause people to assume that picture is true, it's just that--ignorance.

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Half my family and about 50% of my school and their families are Christian.

The ones I know well, personally, are not very Christian in that sense.

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♥Kayla/Sarah/Allie
I've got a feeling
That I was put here
For you

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Half my family and about 50% of my school and their families are Christian.

The ones I know well, personally, are not very Christian in that sense.

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It's all very well and good, that, but have you looked at their bank accounts to see where their money goes? Have you looked at their churches' books to see where that money goes?

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Let yourself be enchanted,
You just might break through
To ever ever after

That is not to say that there are not tons of Christians out there who are giving faithfully to the lord and are doing all the right things, but you cannot deny there is a percentage of the population that spends money..lots of money.

Is it ethical for a christian to own a mercedes?
Is it ethical for a Christian to Drive an SUV?
Is it ethical for a Christian to take vacations?

I dont know the answers to any of these questions, and i am not speaking to it one way or another, but I do find myself convicted by this passage:

Matthew 25

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31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

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I'm not seeing, however, where it says that we're not to own nice things. While I'm not a fan of fancy SUVs myself, there's nothing more holy about living a life of poverty than there is living a life where you're able to enjoy some material things (note that I said some...materialism absolutely is sinful, but there's a difference between materialism and owning nice things).

-------
Let yourself be enchanted,
You just might break through
To ever ever after

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Regarding that passage, it's obviously saying that we need to give of our time and money...God blesses us and so we need to bless others.  

I'm not seeing, however, where it says that we're not to own nice things. While I'm not a fan of fancy SUVs myself, there's nothing more holy about living a life of poverty than there is living a life where you're able to enjoy some material things (note that I said some...materialism absolutely is sinful, but there's a difference between materialism and owning nice things).

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oh agreed. but I always wonder what that line is? when is too much too much? how do you quantify what it is ok to own?

I never said the passage said anything about owning nice things.

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Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money
come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and
without cost.-Isaiah 55:1
www.wateringmalawi.com

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heart direction or motives is always an excellent place to draw the line, becuase it gets at the issue so much more than a mere tally list or checksheet of "you can do this" or "you can't do that"

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*nods* That tends to be my problem with more legalistic churches and people...they're more concerned with what you're doing than with the state of your heart. They're more interested in treating the symptoms rather than the actual disease.

-------
Let yourself be enchanted,
You just might break through
To ever ever after

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It's all very well and good, that, but have you looked at their bank accounts to see where their money goes? Have you looked at their churches' books to see where that money goes?

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I know enough to realise that while they think they may be making a difference, a church that has shiny new pews and such every few months isn't very likely to be giving its money to charity very often.

-------
♥Kayla/Sarah/Allie
I've got a feeling
That I was put here
For you

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Quote: from exceedinglyrare at 10:22 pm on Sep. 9, 2008

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It's all very well and good, that, but have you looked at their bank accounts to see where their money goes? Have you looked at their churches' books to see where that money goes?

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I know enough to realise that while they think they may be making a difference, a church that has shiny new pews and such every few months isn't very likely to be giving its money to charity very often.

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Granted, I have ran across a number of ministries I wouldn't trust to balance my checkbook much less be honest as to where their finances go, but I wouldn't be bold enough to accuse every congregation with newer furnishings to be neglecting their perspective communities.

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"You wait in vain for a disputation over things you are
obligated to believe." (Luther)

Granted, I have ran across a number of ministries I wouldn't trust to balance my checkbook much less be honest as to where their finances go, but I wouldn't be bold enough to accuse every congregation with newer furnishings to be neglecting their perspective communities.

The churches that I do know people go to are in relatively well-off places. Granted, there is one church in my suburb that holds a soup kitchen every Friday. But as far as I know, the other churches spend their money on fixtures.

I mean, a solid oak lectern with gold trim? You tell me how much that would have cost.

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♥Kayla/Sarah/Allie
I've got a feeling
That I was put here
For you

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Quote: from exceedinglyrare at 10:22 pm on Sep. 9, 2008

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It's all very well and good, that, but have you looked at their bank accounts to see where their money goes? Have you looked at their churches' books to see where that money goes?

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I know enough to realise that while they think they may be making a difference, a church that has shiny new pews and such every few months isn't very likely to be giving its money to charity very often.

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That, quite frankly, is bullshit. There's really not much else to say beyond that, except that if you make these assumptions without even thinking about looking at their books, you're an idiot.

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Let yourself be enchanted,
You just might break through
To ever ever after

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Quote: from exceedinglyrare at 10:22 pm on Sep. 9, 2008

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It's all very well and good, that, but have you looked at their bank accounts to see where their money goes? Have you looked at their churches' books to see where that money goes?

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I know enough to realise that while they think they may be making a difference, a church that has shiny new pews and such every few months isn't very likely to be giving its money to charity very often.

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Why replace them evry few months? They may clean them but new ones

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Doctor who - Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey!
used to show time travel's effects.

Christmas avatars FTW