Why do people not see the contradiction between ...?

Question

Why do people not see the contradiction between their religion and how they live their life? I'm talking about the people who call themselves christians (our whatever they are) meanwhile they have a huge three story house with 3 hummers and can never have enough money.

I'm am not making any generalizations here, I'm not saying that all christians are like this and I'm not just talking about Christians. Sheesh. It seems everytime I put something in this part of the website someone always thinks that I'm attacking them.

And I also never said that you need to give away everything that you own. Do not make any assumptions.

Answer 1

No problem. God gave us dominion over all them trees and the worlds coming to an end *any day now* so no need to worry about whether there's enough fuel for *after* the rapture.

It is paradoxical that in the earlier part of the last century the religious types could be counted on to vote in favor of conservation and against wars that weren't purely defensive. The times they are a changing and I don't like how the Christians have rolled over on those particular issues.

Edit and then there's issues like torture and human rights. I haven't heard one church stand up against torture or rendition in Iraq. Praise god indeed. [and I'll make one exception here, those Amish folks who lost a daughter to some crazed lunatic gunmen showed some real balls when they forgave his family - my hat's off to them. I would like to be like them. I don't say that for many Christians].

Answer 2

What is wrong with having nice things? And how many Christians do you know that actually have a three story house and three hummers. This is a generalization, a stereotype. But let's just say I'm the president of a fortune 500 company and I just so happen to be a Christian, am I supposed to live in a shack and ride a bike to work? Don't hate. You don't know how much money those people are (or aren'ts) giving away to charity or their church.

Answer 3

I must have missed something..I have a 1990 ford van, 1985 dodge pickup that needs an engine and a 2 room house, and live on $500 dollars a month. Where are my hummers and big house?? And my salary?? I am also a missionary and very happy,
Maybe I should have sent money to the TV evangleist that only needed 6 million more to buy his private jet???

Answer 4

It's a constant struggle between religion and the way we live. You could choose to see Christians living in a sprawling mansion as overly lavish, or you could see Christians being blessed with an entrepreneurial spirit by God. Either ways, they still live in that sprawling mansion.

I think the whole idea of accepting the habit of being enterprising started with the Protestant Ethic. It encourages enterprise and hardwork. It somehow gives Christians the illusion that accumulation of wealth would be a good yardstick for the amount of hardwork they put in.

The bottom line is, at the end of our lives, God will only ask us one question: How much good have we done for our Mankind every day? It's not going to be about the house we reside in or the designer gear we own.

Answer 5

Where is the contradiction? As a Christian you are a steward, God's representative, here on earth and the true owner of nothing. God has a purpose and a plan for every ones life. Maybe they are on the center of the path that God made just for them. Are you centered in God's will for your life and on the path He has created just for you? Do you know what the purpose of your creation is and are pursuing it with all that you are, body, soul and spirit? Have you conquered sin in your own life and have learned how to be less so that God can be more and do His good works through you, living life abundantly? Maybe we should be more concerned with the contradictions in our own life more so than in the lives of others.

Answer 6

Then there are those of us that God blesses with enough to tithe, pay bills, get gas in our car, groceries, and have $125 at the most left. I thank God for what He gives me. If I had an abundance, I'd likely forget who it came from. When the 1st of the month comes around, I've usually got between $20 and $30. Sometimes that doesn't last to
the next deposit, but God blesses me in another way. I never have too much, and I like it that way. I rely on God completely. For everything. (I'm disabled) Praise His Holy name.

Answer 7

There are lots of contradictions between some people and the religion they supposedly believe in; thats because alot of so-called "christians" aren't anything except people who like to "play church". God knows who they are, fear not.
However, keep in mind that a person blessed of God may prosper quite well, and have a great house and cars, etc. If it is not ill-gotten gain, then they have nothing to apologize for - the blessings of God are fantastic. Those folks who are rich with money, etc. who run others over for a buck, those are the ones in trouble with God. Again: there is nothing wrong with being rich with the blessings of God.

Answer 8

What's wrong with money? And how is this a contradiction of how they are living? It's not a sin to have money or make lots of money. So the I see it there is no problem. Of course I am NOT one of those people with the big house and 3 hummers. But if I had them I would enjoy them.

Answer 9

Please do not put us all in a category like that. I am a Christian, live on the 2nd and 3rd floor of an apartment with my husband and three kids. We struggle everyday, and would be so worse off if we didn't put our faith in our Lord.

I also know very rich Christians, they give and give and give, and still have the money for a nice house, but they are very humble. Not all rich Christians are contradictory. Just some of them...and remember, NO one is perfect, not even Christians.

Answer 10

But are they also sending money to the poor and paying tithes? What I mean to say is judging is the Lord's job and when He does we will all fall short. If you were busy like you should be taking your own moral inventory do you think you would still have time to worry about what others do. We cannot change other people. If we want change we have to change ourselves. I don't know about you but that is where God comes in for me. Once He shows me what He wants changed and I moan and groan for a while and then become willing to change only then does He change me.